Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Premonition (1955)

 

Premonition is the second episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and the first episode not directed by Hitch himself. This episode was directed by Robert Stevens, who directed more episodes of this series than anyone else. He was one of the best TV directors of his time and especially shined in anthology series like this one. Other anthology shows he worked on include Suspense (another show for which he was the most prominent director, directing a whopping 145 episodes), Climax, Suspicion, Playhouse 90 and the granddaddy of them all The Twilight Zone. Though he was mostly a TV director, he did occasionally direct movies as well including the film-noir The Great Caper (1957) and the Jane Fonda and Peter Finch romantic film, In the Cool of the Day (1963).  

In this episode a famous pianist (John Forsythe) returns to the hometown he grew up in. Finding out his father is dead he attempts to find the man he thinks killed his dad. 

This is truly excellent episode. Robert Stevens gives the whole episode a dark air of foreboding that draws us in before anything actually happens. There is a real atmosphere here that reminds one of Hitch's best movies, even if Hitch didn't direct it himself. This episode also impressively manages to fit a lot of moments that perfectly build up the characters, the mystery and the suspense. Managing to have very effective moments like these in a half-hour story is incredibly impressive. What is more impressive is that while doing this, the episode never once feels rushed but instead like it is the exact right length to tell the story. The writing here is also very smart and does a wonderful job of keeping you on the edge of your seat with each twist. The final twist is perfect. 

This is the only episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents to star John Forsythe. However, it is far from his only work with the master of suspense. He would later star in an episode of the show's follow-up series The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (I Saw the Whole Thing (1962)). He would also appear in two of Hitch's movies Trouble with Harry (1955) and Topaz (1969). His co-star Cloris Leachman appeared in two more episodes Don't Interrupt (1958) and Where Beauty Lies (1962). She would also appear in Mel Brooks' Hitchcock spoof High Anxiety (1977).  

This episode's writer was Harold Swanton, a very prolific TV writer. His other Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes would include The Long Shot (1955), Portrait of Joycelyn (1956), Coyote Moon (1959), Anniversary Gift (1959), An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1959), Summer Shade (1961), Museum Piece (1961), Bang Your Dead (1961) and The Twelve Hour Caper (1962) as well as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode Body in the Barn (1964). Other TV shows he worked on include The Whistler, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Wagon Train, Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie. He also occasionally worked on movies like Disney's Rascal (1969).