Alfred Hitchcock Presents
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MEMORIES:
PHOTOS:
CATCH PHRASE:
"Television has brought murder back into the home - where it belongs."
Cast:
Host...Alfred Hitchcock
Network:
CBS, NBC, USA
Release History:
10/2/55- 9/25/60 CBS
9/27/60 - 9/18/62 NBC
9/20/62 - 9/18/64 CBS
10/5/64 - 9/6/65 NBC
9/29/85 - 7/20/86 NBC
1987-1988 USA
9/27/60 - 9/18/62 NBC
9/20/62 - 9/18/64 CBS
10/5/64 - 9/6/65 NBC
9/29/85 - 7/20/86 NBC
1987-1988 USA
External Links:
Alfred Hitchcock earned his credentials as one of history’s greatest film directors with masterpieces such as The Lady Vanishes, Spellbound, Notorious, Strangers on a Train, Rear Window and Dial M for Murder. His unique ability to lure audiences into his stories with heart-stopping scenes and brilliant filming made him an entertainment icon. With Alfred Hitchcock Presents, he brought his macabre talent to the small screen.
The program was an anthology of different stories each week, held together by Hitchcock’s personal appearances as he introduced and wrapped up each story. The memorable theme music was "Funeral March of a Marionette", and it was followed by Hitchcock’s iconic dry wit as he set up each week’s story. Most of the tales he told were typical Hitchcock – false accusations, suspicious neighbors, plots to kill spouses, and murder cover ups. There was also the occasional supernatural thriller a la The Twilight Zone.
Hitchcock’s notoriety enabled the show to feature some name talent, including established stars like Peter Lorre and Claude Rains, as well as new faces like Robert Redford and Katherine Ross. Some stars appeared several times in different episodes, such as Phyllis Thaxter (eight), Robert H. Harris (eight) and Vertigo co-star Barbara Bel Geddes (four).
The show ran for ten years, and was then brought back into syndication. Alfred Hitchcock died in 1980, but the producers brought back footage of the director to host a revival of the show, in an homage to the director’s macabre sense of humor.
In 1985, NBC used colorized footage of the original intros to segue into new episodes in a revamped program. Some of these new episodes were remakes of the classic scripts and other were written just for new show. This updated Alfred Hitchcock Presents ran for two season, first on NBC and then on their sister cable network, USA.
The last episodes of the new series aired in 1988. Luckily for Alfred Hitchcock fans though, the director’s stamp on popular entertainment is always available in those classic films.
