Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) The Rose Garden (1956) User Reviews

The novel bears too many frightening similarities.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 20 February 2021]

Mr. Vinton (John Williams) is a publisher who has traveled from New York to Louisiana to see an older woman, Julia (Patricia Collinge) about a book she's submitted to him for publication. However, as Vinton says with Julia and her sister, Cordelia (Evelyn Varden), he begins to notice many details from the murder mystery Julia's written and the home as well as their names. In fact, the details are so close that he begins wondering if perhaps the story is less fiction and more true crime!

This is a very interesting and unique episode. The ending is a bit too talky for my tastes but it is novel and never loses your interest. Well worth seeing.

By the way, this episode was Williams' fourth appearance so far in the series!

"Why, you can't kill me and not be found out."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 12 August 2021]

Sisters Cordelia Welles (Evelyn Varden) and Julia Pickering (Patricia Collinge) bear an uncanny resemblance to characters in Julia's new novel, which is about to be published upon the recommendation of Julia's agent Vinton (Patricia Collinge). So close in fact, that Vinton suspects that the book's murder mystery actually played out in the siblings' genteel Southern home. He's right of course, right down to the hand dug grave in the home's rose garden. The story's payoff has Julia transition from the mousy woman under her sister's thumb into the one who holds the upper hand. There's not a lot of surprise or nuance in this episode, and as with many of Hitch's stories, it's the players who deserve the most accolades.

Watch Out for the Quiet Ones

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 11 November 2008]

A publisher's representative comes to a Louisiana mansion to speak to an elderly lady about a mystery novel she has written. This novel puts her in conflict with her domineering sister who seems to run the show. She is steeped in the tradition of the deep South and the need to not air dirty laundry. She is embarrassed by her sister. As the man comes to know the two women, he comes to appreciate the more timid of the two. As the story develops, we come to also realize that the novel is not totally fiction but may have more autobiography in it than originally thought. A cover-up begins to take place and some factors not in evidence begin to appear. It's not a bad little story. A previous episode took two very similar characters and made them comic. This one is much more balanced.

Tepid, Though Performances Shine

[dougdoepke · 6 April 2016]

Maybe old southern ladies aren't as genteel as reputed to be. Publisher Vinton (Williams) travels to New Orleans to meet author of exciting new novel. She's Julia (Collinge) a shy retiring type that fits the genteel stereotype to a "T". Who would guess that the novel's topic is a murder mystery set in this same refined southern mansion. Still, Julia is presided over by her commanding sister Cordelia (Varden), who orders her about at will. Slowly Vinton suspects the murder in the novel really happened and that the characters are real and have something to do with one of the mansion's rose gardens. But just how accurate is the supposedly fictional text.

It's an okay episode at best, without the usual dose of series irony. As usual, the performers shine in their respective roles. Early Hitchcock excelled at getting top- notch actors, more so than most other series. Also, can't help noticing that these early series years employed many middle-age and older performers as they do here. Clearly, it's story that's paramount and not Hollywood glamour. Anyway, it's mainly the characters that carry audience interest, more so than plot suspense. It's also an entry that could use more atmosphere to deepen the narrative.

Muted

[ctomvelu1 · 6/10 · 14 January 2013]

A publisher's rep pays a visit to an elderly Southern lady who has written a riveting murder mystery. He finds 'this prim and proper spinster woman lives with her bossy and unpleasant sister, a widow, and that elements of the manuscript appear to have been drawn from the very home the sisters occupy. He begins to wonder how much of the novel is fiction. This is a very low=key episode that stars the urbane John Williams of "Dial 'M' For Murder" fame as the publisher's rep. Nothing all that dramatic or exciting happens, so don't go expecting shootouts or any sort of sudden violence. As I mentioned in my review of one other "A.H. Presents" episode, they can't all be winners.

Routine rose garden

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 11 May 2022]

"The Rose Garden" is the second and last directing credit for writer Francis Cockerell, not just for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' but overall. His first being "Whodunnit" from Season 1, which didn't quite do it for me. John Williams (not to be mistaken for the composer or the guitarist) has been never less than watchable and was nearly always above that, he was a regular for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and for very good reason with him being good to excellent in nearly all his appearances.

As far as Season 2 goes, "The Rose Garden" is neither one of the best or one of the worst (though leaning towards the latter). In regard to which is the better Cockerell directed episode out of "Whodunnit" and this, this gets the slight edge despite not being a big fan of it either. Namely because for instance Williams, who was also in that outing and gave a rare disappointing performance in that, is better here in "The Rose Garden".

It is the acting that raises "The Rose Garden" from being average or less to being slightly above primarily. Williams has a role that is much better suited to his strengths and comfort zone (whereas he was out of his depth in "Whodunnit" and performs his role with distinguished authority and subtlety, showing no signs of being uncomfortable. Patricia Collinge and Evelyn Varden are also very good as the mysterious sisters. The chemistry between the actors is fine.

Hitchcock's bookending nearly always delights in the series, and it continues to be amusingly ironic. There is some nice photography throughout, though not jaw dropping. The main theme for the series is suitably macabre and the audio doesn't jar or overbear. The premise was very interesting and promising and the episode did start off very well and intriguing.

Just wish that that promise was maintained rather than run out of steam like the episode sadly did. The story drags in the second half from the plotting becoming thinner instead of intricate, and it lacks surprises and suspense (which was expected considering the premise). The ending was on the rushed and bland side and there was nothing unpredictable or memorable about it.

While the script has thought provoking moments early on it generally lacks spark and could have been a lot tighter later on. Cockerell again proves why he was a much better writer than he was a director, his direction is pretty uninspired and go through the motions like.

On the whole, not bad but could have been a lot better. A very small 6/10.

Misses Julia and Cordelia

[Archbishop_Laud · 7/10 · 15 July 2013]

The opening is a bit about Hitch digging up the grave of Adam and Eve.

John Williams (an NYC-based publisher) is riding in a cab in Louisiana. The driver gives us the backstory about "Miss Julia" and "Miss Cordelia." They arrive at a large southern estate. A black servant answers the door, but before he can speak, one of the Misses interrupts. Not too many African-American speaking parts back then.

The issue is whether one of the lady's new murder novel is, in fact, true. A downside of this is we hear a bit too much reading from the manuscript. Still, I like the setup and the three leads. The ending seems OK, but there are a couple of steps to it, and I'm not sure I like the final one.

Pleasing If Unexciting

[telegonus · 7/10 · 30 June 2017]

The Rose Garden is a pleasing if unexciting Alfred Hitchcock half-hour. It's cast is excellent and they all give fine performances. Hitchcock favorite John Williams plays a New York publisher or maybe editor,--I'm not sure this is made clear--on a visit to the Deep South who visits a couple of elderly spinsters, one of whom has turned to novel writing.

Williams gets more than he bargained for when he comes to realize that the novel, a murder story, appears to be based on something that actually happened. The issue is who did what to whom, and in the end the viewer finds out. Something that occurred to me after watching this one is how many Hitch half-hours seem to channel the plot of Arsenic And Old Lace in one way or another.

This one is worth watching if one is in an undemanding mood. It might have worked better if played for laughs. There's some humor in it but it's at times difficult to separate it from the drama, such as it can be called.

MY SIDE OF THE STORY!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 7 March 2024]

This is what you would call a "family" episode, with lots of Hitch's old friends, and well done.

For starters, Francis M. Cockrell, who generally wrote for the series, directed this story (and quite well), while his wife, Marian, handled the writing. They were a super team and produced some classic tales. This is one.

Another of Hitchcock's regulars, John Williams, plays Alexander, a publisher who is interested in a book written by spinster Patricia Collinge, as Julia. Just watching Williams and Collinge work together is worth seeing. Two dynamic actors. Here's the little problem. When Alexanders pays a visit to Julia's home, he notices some similarities to the murder mystery and her real life. You don't want to miss the rest.

Excellent support from Evelyn Varden, another fine actress, playing Cordelia. The scenes between her and Julia are memorable, in typical Hitchcock fashion. The two "little old ladies" angle was always a treat in this series, and the secrets they kept to themselves... Hmmm?

Recommended for true mystery buffs, and I think that was Hitch's intention all the way.

10 Stars. SEASON 3 EPISODE 12 Universal remastered.