Triggers in Leash
- Episode aired Oct 16, 1955
- TV-14
- 30m
A cook tries everything she can think of to end a dispute between two gunmen who have sworn to kill each other.A cook tries everything she can think of to end a dispute between two gunmen who have sworn to kill each other.A cook tries everything she can think of to end a dispute between two gunmen who have sworn to kill each other.
Photos
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Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsMaggie grabs the handles of hot items such as the skillet and coffee pot with no insulation to protect her from burns.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Himself - Host: [Alfred Hitchcock loads one bullet into a revolver and spins the cylinder. He aims the gun off stage left while holding it up to his ear and pulls the trigger - click. He spins the barrel again, and pulls the trigger - click. He shrugs] That's precisely why I don't care for Russian roulette. I never seem to win. There are two revolvers, such as this, which play a part in tonight's story. It is what you might call a Western, although there isn't a horse to be seen. We intended to get horses, but they couldn't remember the lines. So you'll be seeing people instead. The cast is a very small one and threatens to become smaller with every passing moment. You see, two of the characters have threatened to eliminate each other on sight. Now, I am sure there are some of you who don't want to see them do that. So, I suggest instead that you listen to our sponsor's message.
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
"Triggers in Leash" unfortunately struck me as disappointing. There are many fine episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but this is not one of them. If anything, it's one of the misfires and one of the lesser episodes of the first season. Also a big letdown after two great previous episodes. It does have its moments definitely, but "Triggers in Leash" could have been a lot better and there is just something about it that makes it feel like it doesn't belong in the series.
Am going to get the good out of the way. It is slickly photographed. The theme tune is masterly use of pre-existing classical music, one of the best. Ellen Corby gives a very strong and dignified performance, one that deserved a better episode and a better rest of the cast.
Best of all is the wonderfully acerbic epilogue, Hitchcock's bookending sequences varied throughout the series' run but the one in "Triggers in Leash" is one of the best and sticks in the memory. The twist is quite good.
Something that the rest of the episode does not sadly. Barry and Darren McGavin are not on Corby's level and both try too hard and could have done with a lot more grit in their interpretations. The character psychology is interesting but could have delved into a lot deeper, not meaty enough.
What really lets "Triggers in Leash" down in particular is that the story didn't grab me. It felt like 15 minutes over-stretched to 30, which made it drag quite a bit because of it being too thin and too often near-uneventful. There is far too little tension and a lot of it feels contrived and unintentionally silly. Something that is apparent in a lot of the dialogue too. Maggie's actions at the end also don't make sense and it is not really explained.
In conclusion, disappointing. 4/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 19, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1