The story is not a novel one, but it did sound very interesting nonetheless and had the potential to be very suspenseful if done right. Robert Stevens directed 44 episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', all worth watching at least once and the best ones are truly fine. 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' was mostly solid in quality up to this point, with only two disappointments and with "Breakdown" being a particularly exceptional episode.
While not one of the best episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', "The Cheney Vase" is also a long way from being one of the worst. Somewhere around high middle, an episode that has a lot of truly great things but also feeling a little lacking. It is not one of Stevens' best episodes, such as "Our Cook's a Treasure" for an example, but one can tell that it was directed by him. And this is meant in a good way because when Stevens was at his best in the series his work was on Hitchcock's level.
A lot is good in "The Cheney Vase". What immediately stands out is the acting. Patricia Coolinge is benevolent but also remarkably cunning, while Darren McGavin (in his second and infinitely better appearance in the series, after "Triggers in Leash") does sleazy and deceptively charming in a way that unsettles. Loved the chemistry between them, which grew in intensity the more that is revealed. A pre-Morticia Addams Carolyn Jones is also great. Stevens directs with tautness yet control too.
Production values are high, especially the atmospheric photography. The music is not used constantly but is quite haunting when it is. Cannot get enough of the theme tune, while Hitchcock's bookending is some of his drollest in writing (the intro is quite quotable) and cleverest in staging. The script is tight enough and intrigues, while the story is concise and engaging with some nice tension. The final quarter does surprise.
Did think that some of the episode could have done with more suspense. It also felt on the rushed side in a story that would have been better at least 15 minutes longer with what goes on. That way what is left unexplained could have gone into more detail. The out of the blue and rather too random arrival of a character with no explanation is an example of this.
In regard to the ending, it does surprise but it also felt too abrupt and vague.
Overall, quite good but not great. 7/10.
While not one of the best episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', "The Cheney Vase" is also a long way from being one of the worst. Somewhere around high middle, an episode that has a lot of truly great things but also feeling a little lacking. It is not one of Stevens' best episodes, such as "Our Cook's a Treasure" for an example, but one can tell that it was directed by him. And this is meant in a good way because when Stevens was at his best in the series his work was on Hitchcock's level.
A lot is good in "The Cheney Vase". What immediately stands out is the acting. Patricia Coolinge is benevolent but also remarkably cunning, while Darren McGavin (in his second and infinitely better appearance in the series, after "Triggers in Leash") does sleazy and deceptively charming in a way that unsettles. Loved the chemistry between them, which grew in intensity the more that is revealed. A pre-Morticia Addams Carolyn Jones is also great. Stevens directs with tautness yet control too.
Production values are high, especially the atmospheric photography. The music is not used constantly but is quite haunting when it is. Cannot get enough of the theme tune, while Hitchcock's bookending is some of his drollest in writing (the intro is quite quotable) and cleverest in staging. The script is tight enough and intrigues, while the story is concise and engaging with some nice tension. The final quarter does surprise.
Did think that some of the episode could have done with more suspense. It also felt on the rushed side in a story that would have been better at least 15 minutes longer with what goes on. That way what is left unexplained could have gone into more detail. The out of the blue and rather too random arrival of a character with no explanation is an example of this.
In regard to the ending, it does surprise but it also felt too abrupt and vague.
Overall, quite good but not great. 7/10.