2/25/2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television

anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The
series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the
time the show premiered on October 2, 1955,
Hitchcock had been directing films for over three
decades. Time magazine named Alfred Hitchcock
Presents one of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

TIME".[1] The Writers Guild of America ranked it

#79 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series
tying it with Monty Python's Flying Circus, Star Trek:
The Next Generation and Upstairs, Downstairs.[2]

Also known as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962

65)

A series of literary anthologies with the running title

Alfred Hitchcock Presents were issued to capitalize on
the success of the television series. One volume,
devoted to stories that censors wouldn't allow to be
adapted for the TV series, was entitled Alfred
Hitchcock Presents: Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do
on TVthough eventually several of the stories
collected were adapted.

Contents
1 History
2 1985 revival
3 Guest stars and other actors
4 Directors
5 Broadcast history

Genre

Anthology

Created by

Alfred Hitchcock

Presented by

Alfred Hitchcock

Theme music
composer

Charles Gounod

Opening theme "Funeral March of a Marionette"

by Charles Gounod
Composer(s)

Stanley Wilson (music supervisor)

Country of
origin

United States

Original
language(s)

English

No. of seasons 10
No. of episodes 360 (List of episodes)
Production

6 Episodes
7 DVD releases
8 In other media
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links

Executive
producer(s)

Alfred Hitchcock

Producer(s)

Joan Harrison

Editor(s)

Edward W. Williams

Location(s)

Universal Studios, California

Camera setup Single-camera

Running time

25-26 minutes (Seasons 17)

49-50 minutes (Seasons 810)

Production
company(s)

Revue Studios
(195563)
Universal TV
(196365)

History
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is well known for its title
sequence. The camera fades in on a simple linedrawing caricature of Hitchcock's rotund profile. As
the program's theme music, Charles Gounod's Funeral
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents

1/6

2/25/2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

March of a Marionette, plays, Hitchcock appears in

silhouette from the right edge of the screen, and then
walks to center screen to eclipse the caricature. He
then almost always says "Good evening." (The theme
music for the show was suggested by Hitchcock's
long-time musical collaborator, Bernard Herrmann.)[3]
The caricature drawing, which Hitchcock created
himself, and the use of Gounod's Funeral March of a
Marionette as theme music have become indelibly
associated with Hitchcock in popular culture.

Shamley Productions
Distributor

NBCUniversal Television
Distribution
Broadcast

Original
channel

CBS
(195560; 196264)
NBC
(196062; 196465)

Picture format Black-and-white 4:3

Audio format

Monaural sound

Hitchcock appears again after the title sequence, and

drolly introduces the story from a mostly empty studio Original run October2,1955 May10,1965
or from the set of the current episode; his monologues
Chronology
were written especially for him by James B. Allardice.
Related shows Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985)
At least two versions of the opening were shot for
every episode. A version intended for the American
audience would often spoof a recent popular commercial or poke fun at the sponsor, leading into the
commercial. An alternative version for European audiences would instead include jokes at the expense
of Americans in general. For later seasons, opening remarks were also filmed with Hitchcock speaking
in French and German for the show's international presentations.
Hitchcock closed the show in much the same way as it opened, but mainly to tie up loose ends rather
than joke. He told TV Guide that his reassurances that the criminal had been apprehended were "a
necessary gesture to morality."
Alfred Hitchcock Presents finished at #6 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1956-1957 season, and at #12 in
1957-1958, #24 in 1958-1959 and #25 in 1959-1960. [4]
Originally 25 minutes per episode, the series was expanded to 50 minutes in 1962 and retitled The Alfred
Hitchcock Hour. Hitchcock directed 17 of the 268 filmed episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and one
of the 50-minute episodes, "I Saw the Whole Thing" with John Forsythe. The last new episode aired on
June 26, 1965, and the series continued to be popular in syndication for decades.

1985 revival
In 1985, NBC aired a new TV movie based upon the series, combining newly filmed stories with
colorized footage of Hitchcock from the original series to introduce each segment. The movie was a
huge ratings success, and sparked a brief revival of the anthology series genre that included a new
version of The Twilight Zone amongst others. Alfred Hitchcock Presents revival series debuted in the fall
of 1985 and retained the same format as the movie: newly filmed stories (a mixture of original works
and updated remakes of original series episodes) with colorized introductions by Hitchcock. The new
series lasted only one season before NBC cancelled it, but it was then produced for two more years by
USA Network.

Guest stars and other actors

Actors appearing in the most episodes include Patricia Hitchcock (Alfred Hitchcock's daughter), Dick
York, Robert Horton, James Gleason, John Williams, Robert H. Harris, Russell Collins, Claude Rains,
Barbara Baxley, Ray Teal, Percy Helton, Phyllis Thaxter, Carmen Mathews, Mildred Dunnock, Alan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents

2/6

2/25/2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Napier, and Laurence Harvey.

Many notable actors, like Steve McQueen, Walter Matthau, Robert Vaughn and Barbara Bel Geddes
among others, appeared on the series as well.

Directors
The directors who directed the most episodes were Robert Stevens (44 episodes), Paul Henreid (28
episodes), Herschel Daugherty (24 episodes), Norman Lloyd (19 episodes), Alfred Hitchcock (17
episodes), Arthur Hiller (17 episodes), Alan Crosland, Jr. (16 episodes), James Neilson (12 episodea),
Jus Addiss (10 episodes), and John Brahm (10 episodes).
Other notable directors included Robert Altman, Ida Lupino, Stuart Rosenberg, Robert Stevenson, and
David Swift.

Broadcast history
Source:[5]
Sunday at 9:30-10 p.m. on CBS: October 2, 1955September 1960
Tuesday at 8:30-9 p.m. on NBC: September 1960September 1962
Thursday at 10-11 p.m. on CBS: SeptemberDecember 1962
Friday at 9:30-10:30 p.m.on CBS: January September 1963
Friday at 10-11 p.m. on CBS: September 1963September 1964
Monday at 10-11 p.m. on NBC: October 1964September 1965

Episodes
See List of Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes and List of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episodes for
more details.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 25 minutes long, aired weekly at 9:30 on CBS on Sunday nights from 1955
to 1960, and then at 8:30 on NBC on Tuesday nights from 1960 to 1962. It was followed by The Alfred
Hitchcock Hour, which lasted for three seasons, September 1962 to June 1965, adding another 93
episodes to the 268 already produced for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Two episodes, both directed by Hitchcock himself, were nominated for Emmy Awards: "The Case of
Mr. Pelham" (1955) with Tom Ewell and "Lamb to the Slaughter" (1958) with Barbara Bel Geddes. The
third season opener "The Glass Eye" (1957) won an Emmy Award for director Robert Stevens. An
episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour titled "An Unlocked Window" (1965) earned an Edgar Award for
writer James Bridges in 1966.
Among the most famous episodes remains writer Roald Dahl's "Man from the South" (1960) starring
Steve McQueen and Peter Lorre, in which a man bets his finger that he can start his lighter ten times in a
row. This episode was ranked #41 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents

3/6

2/25/2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1962 episode "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" was not initially broadcast by NBC because the sponsor
felt that the ending was too gruesome. The plot has a magician's helper performing a "sawing a woman
in half" trick. Not knowing it is a gimmick, the helper cuts the unconscious woman in half. The episode
has since been shown in syndication. It has been parodied by Penn and Teller on their cable show Penn
and Teller: Bullshit!.

DVD releases
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has released the first five seasons of Alfred Hitchcock Presents
on DVD in Region 1. Season 6 was released on November 12, 2013 via Amazon.com's CreateSpace
program. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release on DVD-R, available exclusively through
Amazon.com.[7]
In Region 2, Universal Pictures UK has released the first three seasons on DVD.
In Region 4, Madman Entertainment has released all seven seasons on DVD in Australia. They have also
released all three seasons of 'Alfred Hitchcock Hour'.
DVD Title

Episodes

Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four
Season Five
Season Six (DVD-R)
Season Seven

39
39
39
36
38
38
38

Release Dates
Region 1
Region 2
October 4, 2005
February 20, 2006
October 17, 2006 March 26, 2007
October 9, 2007
April 14, 2008
November 24, 2009 TBA
January 3, 2012
TBA
November 12, 2013 TBA
TBA
TBA

Region 4
July 15, 2009
November 17, 2009
May 17, 2010
September 29, 2010
May 18, 2011
November 16, 2011
February 20, 2013

DVD Title
Episodes Region 4
Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Complete First Season
32
May 22, 2013
Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Complete Second Season
32
May 22, 2013
Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Complete Third Season
29
May 22, 2013

In other media
In 1962 Golden Records released a record album of six ghost stories for children titled Alfred Hitchcock
Presents: Ghost Stories for Young People. The album, which opens with the Charles Gounod Alfred
Hitchcock Presents theme music, is hosted by Hitchcock himself, who begins, How do you do, boys
and girls. Im delighted to find that you believe in ghosts, too. After all, they believe in you, so it is only
common courtesy to return the favor.[8] Hitchcock introduces each of the stories, all the while
recounting a droll story of his own failed attempts to deal with a leaky faucet (which at the conclusion of
the album leads to Hitchcock "drowning" in his flooded home). The ghost stories themselves,
accompanied by minimal sound effects and music, are told by actor John Allen, four of which he wrote
himself,[8] and two of which are adaptations:
1. "The Haunted and the Haunters (The Pirate's Curse)"
2. "The Magician ('til Death Do Us Part)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents

4/6

2/25/2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3. "Johnny Takes a Dare (The More the Merrier)"

4. Saki's "The Open Window" (special adaptation)
5. "The Helpful Hitchhiker"
6. Walter R. Brooks' "Jimmy Takes Vanishing Lessons"

References
1. ^ Poniewozik, James (September 6, 2007). "All-Time 100 TV
Shows" (http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-besttv-shows-of-all-time/slide/alfred-hitchcock-presents/). Time.com.
Time Inc. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
2. ^ 101 Best Written TV Series List
(http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925), Writers

Cover of Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Ghost Stories for Young People
(Golden Records, 1962)

Guild of America, West website. Accessed Feb. 16, 2015.

3. ^ As recounted by Norman Lloyd in a radio interview on KUSC's "The Evening Program with Jim Svejda",
June 22, 2012.
4. ^ "TV Ratings: Top 30 Shows for each year, from 1950 to 2000!,"
(http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/index.htm) ClassicTVHits.com. Accessed Feb. 16, 2015.
5. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2003). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (Eighth
Edition). Ballantine Books. p.29. ISBN0-345-45542-8.
6. ^ "Special Collectors' Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28-July 4). 1997.
7. ^ Lambert, David. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents - What's the Release Date for 'Season 6' DVDs? How
About...TODAY!," (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Alfred-Hitchcock-Presents-Season-6/19162)
TVShowsOnDVD.com (Nov. 08, 2013).
8. ^ a b Maltin, Leonard. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ghost Stories For Young People/Famous Monsters
Speak,"
(http://blogs.indiewire.com/leonardmaltin/alfred_hitchcock_presents_ghost_stories_for_young_people_famo
us_monsters_sp) IndieWire (December 13, 2009).

Further reading
Grams, Martin, Jr. and Patrik Wikstrom, The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion. OTR Pub,
2001 (Paperback: ISBN 0-9703310-1-0)

External links
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047708/) at the Internet Movie Database
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (http://www.tv.com/shows/alfred-hitchcock-presents/) at TV.com
Alfred Hitchcock Presents at CVTA with episode list
(http://ctva.biz/US/Anthology/AlfredHitchcockPresents.htm)
Hitchcock Presents DVD Official Universal Studios Site (http://hitchcockpresentsdvd.com/)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ghost Stories for Young People (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents

5/6

2/25/2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

v=8T255y7nKLY) on YouTube
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents&oldid=647943893"
Categories: 1955 American television series debuts 1965 American television series endings
1950s American television series 1960s American television series Alfred Hitchcock
American anthology television series Black-and-white television programs CBS network shows
American crime television series Edgar Award winning works
English-language television programming NBC network shows Mystery television series
Television series by Universal Television
This page was last modified on 19 February 2015, at 22:17.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms
may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a
registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents

6/6