Levinson and Link who made it big with Columbo, wrote this one. A man is hit on the head with a board which falls from a construction scaffold. He is stunned but driven. He meets a little vagrant and can't tell him his name. He has amnesia. He ends up at a doctor's office trying to get help. Eventually the lights come on. Although the ending was pretty obvious, it was a nicely done effort.
8 Reviews
Who am i?
kapelusznik1815 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** One of the best of the "Alfred Hitchock Presents" episodes with the original "Man with no name" Stephen Dunne who after suffering an accident at a city construction site, a wooden plank hit him on the head, totally forgot who he is and during the next 30 minutes desperately tries to find himself. Dazed and taken advantage off by this alcoholic hustler Cyrus Rutherford, Percy Helton, he met in the park who tries to get "The man with no name" to buy him a couple of free drinks at a local bar he realizes that he not only doesn't have a name but a place to go home ether. All that he finds on him is a $1,000.00 bill and a slip of paper with the name Dr. Ralph Mannick together with his address written on it.
Not knowing if he's Dr. Mannick or not "The with no name" goes to his office and tries to find out if he's him, Dr. Mannick, or a patient of his. Dr Mannick, Hough Marlow,has no idea at all to who "The man with no name" is but he tries to help him out but to no avail in trying to find out his identity. Frustrated and confused "The man with no name" goes to the elevator too check out of the building and suddenly it hits him! Not only does he know who he is but what kind of connection he has with Dr. Mannick! And it has nothing to do in being treated by him!
***SPOILERS***It would have been much better for everyone involved if "The man with no name " lost his memory permanently but sadly for Dr. Mannick as well as himself he didn't. Mind blowing ending to an up until the very end mindless, for "The man with no name". Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode. Like a man under hypnosis given the word to snap out of it he not only became aware of his surroundings but the reason he was there in the first place. And like a mind controlled zombie the now memory restored "Man with no name" sprung right into action.
Not knowing if he's Dr. Mannick or not "The with no name" goes to his office and tries to find out if he's him, Dr. Mannick, or a patient of his. Dr Mannick, Hough Marlow,has no idea at all to who "The man with no name" is but he tries to help him out but to no avail in trying to find out his identity. Frustrated and confused "The man with no name" goes to the elevator too check out of the building and suddenly it hits him! Not only does he know who he is but what kind of connection he has with Dr. Mannick! And it has nothing to do in being treated by him!
***SPOILERS***It would have been much better for everyone involved if "The man with no name " lost his memory permanently but sadly for Dr. Mannick as well as himself he didn't. Mind blowing ending to an up until the very end mindless, for "The man with no name". Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode. Like a man under hypnosis given the word to snap out of it he not only became aware of his surroundings but the reason he was there in the first place. And like a mind controlled zombie the now memory restored "Man with no name" sprung right into action.
Amnesia does occur...just not quite as often in real life as it does on TV and in films.
planktonrules19 April 2021
Like many episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", this one is directed by Paul Henreid, the famous Warner Brothers actor who made such distinguished movies as "Casablanca" and "Now, Voyager". In all, he directed 28 episodes of the show...more than those directed by Hitchcock himself.
The story idea is one that is very, very unlikely...though how it occurs is definitely possible, to the overused trope works. A man is walking down the street when a falling board konks him on the head. He seems okay at first, but his memory is gone....and he has no idea who he is. Using a piece of pape a $1000 bill and a key, all things in his pockets, he tries to piece together who he is. The big clue is the name of a doctor...so he goes to see the man.
While the story idea could have worked (temporary amnesia due to head injuries can occur), the ending came as no surprise at all. My wife and I watched it together....and we both guessed the surprising ending. Regardless, it is entertaining and worth seeing....just nothing all that special.
The story idea is one that is very, very unlikely...though how it occurs is definitely possible, to the overused trope works. A man is walking down the street when a falling board konks him on the head. He seems okay at first, but his memory is gone....and he has no idea who he is. Using a piece of pape a $1000 bill and a key, all things in his pockets, he tries to piece together who he is. The big clue is the name of a doctor...so he goes to see the man.
While the story idea could have worked (temporary amnesia due to head injuries can occur), the ending came as no surprise at all. My wife and I watched it together....and we both guessed the surprising ending. Regardless, it is entertaining and worth seeing....just nothing all that special.
Fascinating and simple at the same time
rms125a3 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Link and Levinson do it again. Without convolution (or too much, anyway) and following a remorseless and inexorable logic to its shocking end, "Services Rendered" is quite brilliant.
The last few minutes when the "Young Man" (we never learn his name) remembers exactly who he is and what his disturbing mission is are fascinating; they rush by so quickly the viewer can only absorb what he or she is meant to absorb in the half hour format, and then it is over. An oversized photo of a not particularly happy looking woman is a key that few viewers will recognize until they replay the story in their minds.
Hugh Marlowe is, of course, a tad enigmatic at first when the viewer doesn't know if Dr. Mannick is telling "the Young Man" the truth about not knowing him and never having seen him before (Dr. Mannick WAS telling the truth) but soon shows himself to be a caring and concerned doctor. Steve Dunne, who appeared in four episodes of the Hitchock half hour show, is masterful as the man with no name, no memory, but with an incisive confidence and stubborn refusal to go to the police, which will later make perfect sense in retrospect. The looks that pass across his face at the end by the elevator when his memory comes back and the amnesia fades and his body language and facial expressions as he returns to the doctor's office should be re-studied by anyone who can replay the episode and move into slow motion for the last few minutes.
The ending was, for me, a shocker. I make no claims, unlike others who have posted here, to have found the story easy to foretell from the beginning. I very often catch clues in crime and mystery shows, and sometimes they give me the info I need and sometimes they don't. Here, they didn't. The conclusion ('nuff said) was cruel but not disappointing. Logical and spare, there was, surprisingly, NO phony Hitchcock "summing up" for the sponsors and censors to assure everyone that the baddie got his or her comeuppance.
The last few minutes when the "Young Man" (we never learn his name) remembers exactly who he is and what his disturbing mission is are fascinating; they rush by so quickly the viewer can only absorb what he or she is meant to absorb in the half hour format, and then it is over. An oversized photo of a not particularly happy looking woman is a key that few viewers will recognize until they replay the story in their minds.
Hugh Marlowe is, of course, a tad enigmatic at first when the viewer doesn't know if Dr. Mannick is telling "the Young Man" the truth about not knowing him and never having seen him before (Dr. Mannick WAS telling the truth) but soon shows himself to be a caring and concerned doctor. Steve Dunne, who appeared in four episodes of the Hitchock half hour show, is masterful as the man with no name, no memory, but with an incisive confidence and stubborn refusal to go to the police, which will later make perfect sense in retrospect. The looks that pass across his face at the end by the elevator when his memory comes back and the amnesia fades and his body language and facial expressions as he returns to the doctor's office should be re-studied by anyone who can replay the episode and move into slow motion for the last few minutes.
The ending was, for me, a shocker. I make no claims, unlike others who have posted here, to have found the story easy to foretell from the beginning. I very often catch clues in crime and mystery shows, and sometimes they give me the info I need and sometimes they don't. Here, they didn't. The conclusion ('nuff said) was cruel but not disappointing. Logical and spare, there was, surprisingly, NO phony Hitchcock "summing up" for the sponsors and censors to assure everyone that the baddie got his or her comeuppance.
WHERE CAN I FIND A GOOD DOCTOR?
tcchelsey12 January 2024
Without too, too much surprise, legendary writer William Link, who co-created COLUMBO, MURDER SHE WROTE, and also had a hand in creating MANNIX, wrote this unforgettable episode for Hitch.
Steve Dunne, who appeared many times on the show, I think was chosen by Hitchcock because he had that "nice guy, have a beer with" look. He was a very popular actor, in some classic films, and a Hollywood DJ for years. Dunne, interestingly, plays the man with NO name, a victim of circumstances?
He's involved in an accident --which robs him of his memory. He also has a 1,000 bill on him, which gets you wondering what the deal is. It is such an intriguing premise, and you feel sorry for Dunne, again faithfully playing that everyday guy caught in a strange situation.
All roads lead to a doctor, played by Hugh Marlowe, who always reminded me of Richard Carlson. Obviously, Dunne does need some medical help... and... watch how it all falls together. Truly, if you guess how it all ends, you deserve the very best kewpie doll!
Again, this shows why William Link was such as masterful writer, and he must have given Hitch a few chuckles at lunch. You could only imagine these two icons sitting down together to chat.
A must, no execuses. See this one. SEASON 7, EPISODE 10 remastered Universal dvd box set.
Steve Dunne, who appeared many times on the show, I think was chosen by Hitchcock because he had that "nice guy, have a beer with" look. He was a very popular actor, in some classic films, and a Hollywood DJ for years. Dunne, interestingly, plays the man with NO name, a victim of circumstances?
He's involved in an accident --which robs him of his memory. He also has a 1,000 bill on him, which gets you wondering what the deal is. It is such an intriguing premise, and you feel sorry for Dunne, again faithfully playing that everyday guy caught in a strange situation.
All roads lead to a doctor, played by Hugh Marlowe, who always reminded me of Richard Carlson. Obviously, Dunne does need some medical help... and... watch how it all falls together. Truly, if you guess how it all ends, you deserve the very best kewpie doll!
Again, this shows why William Link was such as masterful writer, and he must have given Hitch a few chuckles at lunch. You could only imagine these two icons sitting down together to chat.
A must, no execuses. See this one. SEASON 7, EPISODE 10 remastered Universal dvd box set.
One very silly thing about the ending
ColonelPuntridge29 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's a very nice episode, very absorbing, with a likeable protagonist and some fine character-acting in minor roles by actors who are always fun to see. But it triggers one of my pet peeves in this kind of show. Which is: (SPOILER ALERT!!!! The next sentence I write will contain a BIG SPOILER!! Do not read if you want to watch it and guess how it ends!) A scalpel is not a good weapon for murdering someone. No hired killer would use a scalpel as a murder-weapon unless the target were already unconscious or already in restraints. Anyone who has ever handled a scalpel will laugh at the idea. The blade of a scalpel is very sharp, but also very easy to break, and very small. While you're trying to cut your victim with a scalpel, he'll be punching you in the face. This silliness is not unique to this particular show, it happens frequently in many shows, but it annoys me every time.
"... if I knew my name, I wouldn't be here."
classicsoncall14 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I get a kick out of the hypothetical situations these Hitchcock stories come up with. Not that something like induced amnesia couldn't happen by getting hit in the head with a board, but what are the odds? Especially when those odds involve an affair with a woman who paid to have her husband killed. The set up for this story proceeded smoothly enough, right up until the time the unnamed amnesiac (Stephen Dunne) tried to get on the elevator and it all suddenly came back to him. That thousand dollar bill for the hit job struck me as a little suspect too. Smaller bills would have been more credible, the larger note probably easier to trace back to the source. Biggest mystery of all though, the no name guy and the bar fly Cyrus (Percy Helton) got four drinks together for a total of $3.90! And they weren't even paid for!
obvious ending
grizzledgeezer8 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This review drops a hint as to the ending, without giving it away.
William Link and Richard Levinson were successful producers of TV series and movies, with such shows as "Columbo" to their credit. This "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode, for which they wrote the short story and teleplay, is nothing to write home about, though.
Once it was revealed what was in the amnesiac's pockets -- and what wasn't -- it was obvious what was going on. There was only one possible explanation -- and, to my smug satisfaction, I was right. See if you can figure it out.
William Link and Richard Levinson were successful producers of TV series and movies, with such shows as "Columbo" to their credit. This "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode, for which they wrote the short story and teleplay, is nothing to write home about, though.
Once it was revealed what was in the amnesiac's pockets -- and what wasn't -- it was obvious what was going on. There was only one possible explanation -- and, to my smug satisfaction, I was right. See if you can figure it out.
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