A mystery writer's imagination gets her in trouble when she turns her overstimulated mind to her new next-door neighbors -- and wonders why she has never seen the wife.A mystery writer's imagination gets her in trouble when she turns her overstimulated mind to her new next-door neighbors -- and wonders why she has never seen the wife.A mystery writer's imagination gets her in trouble when she turns her overstimulated mind to her new next-door neighbors -- and wonders why she has never seen the wife.
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Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen Mrs. Blanchard takes the silver lighter off the Fenton's table, there's a closeup of her hand showing polish on her fingernails. In the next shot, she's not wearing nail polish.
- Quotes
[introduction]
Alfred Hitchcock: [holding an umbrella and wearing a bowler hat] Good evening, friends. Would you all please examine the tops of your television sets and see if one of you doesn't find a goldfish bowl with a crack in it?
[puts out his hand to test for rain]
Alfred Hitchcock: Thank you. By the way, I've been asked to announce that some of you are missing this program unnecessarily. You have moved and not kept us informed of your address. So we don't know where to send the show to you. I hope you'll take care of that matter at once. Tonight, we are presenting a tale of mystery and intrigue laid in middle-class suburbia.
[takes off hat]
Alfred Hitchcock: It is called "Mr. Blanchard's Secret." I realize this doesn't tell you much about the story, but several fine actors have been hired to do that, and I would hate to rob them of the privilege. And so, without further ado, we reveal Mr. Blanchard's secret.
- Alternate versionsThe version of "Mr. Blanchard's Secret" which is included as a bonus feature on the REAR WINDOW DVD has been audio enhanced, with several sound effects added and/or re-dubbed. This is most evident when the husband rustles the newspaper.
- ConnectionsRemade as Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Murder in Mind (1989)
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
Hitchcock is not at the very top of his game here in "Mr Blanchard's Secret". It is definitely worth a look and worth sharing, and it is certainly much better than "Wet Saturday" (not that that would have been hard). Hitchcock though did direct far better episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', that showed off his distinctive style more, namely one of my favourite episodes of the series "Breakdown". Neither one of the series' best or worst episodes and middle of the pack for Season 2.
"Mr Blanchard's Secret" does have good things. It looks good, with some slick and atmospheric shots. Hitchcock does direct more than competently and as ever his bookending is deliciously dry in a way that only he could do. The audio is ominous when necessary and the theme tune for the overall series has lost none of its eeriness.
Did like the ending, which was not expected and different in that it is not the going out with a bang sort of endings but rather the quieter and more ironic kind. The moral isn't laid on too thick. Despite not caring massively for her character, Mary Scott does do a good job and gives it everything, not a subtle portrayal but it is committed and unsettles. Although his role isn't as big as his billing indicates, Robert Horton also gives a committed performance.
On the other hand, "Mr Blanchard's Secret" for my taste is too talk heavy, with too much of the ranting and monologuing feeling too much in that it comes over as rambling and like we are being told too much at a dizzying rate. Did find the monologuing too over-explanatory, it didn't need to explain as much as it did.
Although Scott does fine, the character of Babs is just too neurotic and her motivations are all over the place and not developed particularly well. To the extent that it comes over as annoying. The pace could have done with a tightening at times, the final act does require some credibility straining and there would have been more suspense if Babs' character had been toned down and that motivations were clearer.
In conclusion, above average but not great. Considering who the director was, an opportunity for something greater was missed. 6/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 25, 2022
Details
- Runtime26 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1