'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' "Appointment at Eleven" (1959)
Opening thoughts: Although anybody who hated "Appointment at Eleven" without seeing any other Robert Stevens-directed 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode may find it hard to believe, the series' most regular director (with 44 episodes under his belt) actually did direct some fine episodes. "Our Cook's a Treasure", "The Manacled", "The Dangerous People", "The Glass Eye" and "The Motive" notably. And most of his episodes ranged between at least watchable and good.
This however is a complete and utter mess in almost every way. No episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' is irredeemable, but "Appointment at Eleven" is one of the few to come very close. When it comes to picking a contender for Stevens' worst episode, this is a strong contender. Yes worse than other misfires of his such as "Shopping for Death", "The Hidden Thing" and "Don't Interrupt", and among the very worst of the entire series.
Good things: There are only two redeeming features. One is the as ever wonderfully macabre theme tune.
The other is the moderately interesting beginning.
Bad things: However, nothing else works and most of the bad things are unbelievably awful. This is one of the few 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes to have not a single halfway decent performance, an episode rife with embarrassing, amateur hour over-acting. Also, one of the few where one hates every single character in it. The lead is insufferably annoying, the most annoying character of the series since the boy in "Don't Interrupt" and a contender for the most irritating of the whole series. He is also unintentionally creepy and the attempts to act younger comes over as affected.
Stevens directs with no life whatsoever and is well out of his depth, this is not indicative of a seasoned director who had already directed more episodes of the series than any other regular but instead of a failed experiment. "Appointment at Eleven" looks cheap, with a very stock under-budget look. It is very slow moving and very flimsily plotted, with too much of the second half being excessively dragged-out filler.
Moreover, the script is too neurotic, repetitive and too talk heavy, none of it intrigues and parts are even irrelevant. As well as very flimsy and dull, the story has no surprises or suspense with the ending being one that can be seen from miles away. The two feelings felt watching this were annoyance and boredom, two feelings never felt with any of the previous episodes.
Closing thoughts: Overall, very bad indeed. Have been known to not find low rated films, shows, cartoons and episodes that bad, but in this case the panning is deserved.
2/10.
Opening thoughts: Although anybody who hated "Appointment at Eleven" without seeing any other Robert Stevens-directed 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode may find it hard to believe, the series' most regular director (with 44 episodes under his belt) actually did direct some fine episodes. "Our Cook's a Treasure", "The Manacled", "The Dangerous People", "The Glass Eye" and "The Motive" notably. And most of his episodes ranged between at least watchable and good.
This however is a complete and utter mess in almost every way. No episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' is irredeemable, but "Appointment at Eleven" is one of the few to come very close. When it comes to picking a contender for Stevens' worst episode, this is a strong contender. Yes worse than other misfires of his such as "Shopping for Death", "The Hidden Thing" and "Don't Interrupt", and among the very worst of the entire series.
Good things: There are only two redeeming features. One is the as ever wonderfully macabre theme tune.
The other is the moderately interesting beginning.
Bad things: However, nothing else works and most of the bad things are unbelievably awful. This is one of the few 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes to have not a single halfway decent performance, an episode rife with embarrassing, amateur hour over-acting. Also, one of the few where one hates every single character in it. The lead is insufferably annoying, the most annoying character of the series since the boy in "Don't Interrupt" and a contender for the most irritating of the whole series. He is also unintentionally creepy and the attempts to act younger comes over as affected.
Stevens directs with no life whatsoever and is well out of his depth, this is not indicative of a seasoned director who had already directed more episodes of the series than any other regular but instead of a failed experiment. "Appointment at Eleven" looks cheap, with a very stock under-budget look. It is very slow moving and very flimsily plotted, with too much of the second half being excessively dragged-out filler.
Moreover, the script is too neurotic, repetitive and too talk heavy, none of it intrigues and parts are even irrelevant. As well as very flimsy and dull, the story has no surprises or suspense with the ending being one that can be seen from miles away. The two feelings felt watching this were annoyance and boredom, two feelings never felt with any of the previous episodes.
Closing thoughts: Overall, very bad indeed. Have been known to not find low rated films, shows, cartoons and episodes that bad, but in this case the panning is deserved.
2/10.