Taxidermist George Tiffany has domestic trouble when his wife's visiting brother Waldren overstays his welcome.Taxidermist George Tiffany has domestic trouble when his wife's visiting brother Waldren overstays his welcome.Taxidermist George Tiffany has domestic trouble when his wife's visiting brother Waldren overstays his welcome.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe name of George Tiffany's shop is 'The Tiffany Studio of Creative Taxidermy'.
- GoofsWhen George and Bobby start to pass through the door of the room with the stuffed horse and into the shop area, George has his top partially tucked into his pants, but when they emerge on the other side of the door it is hanging down completely free.
- Quotes
[introduction]
Alfred Hitchcock: [Hitchcock is standing next to the mounted head of a stag] Good evening, television watchers. Tonight's masque is entitled, "The West Warlock Time Capsule": the tale of a timid taxidermist. This gives me the excuse to exhibit this prize of mine
[nods his head to the stag briefly]
Alfred Hitchcock: and to discuss taxidermy. I feel I know quite a bit about stuffed animals. After all, it takes one to know one.
[turns to the stag briefly]
Alfred Hitchcock: This, I shot myself. You see, deer poaching is one of my hobbies. It took only two shots. The first one hit a bearded old man wearing a ridiculous red suit and riding in a sleigh. I'm having him stuffed, too. It probably sounds silly to you, but I'm sentimental that way. But enough of this. Here in a moment is "The West Warlock Time Capsule."
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
Like "Martha Mason Movie Star", "The West Warlock Time Capsule" is very well acted with an interesting lead character despite him being hard to like, but lacks its suspense and a good ending. So a bit of a disappointment after directly following on from that episode but also better than expected. It is not one of the best Addiss-directed 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes ("Martha Mason Movie Star", and "Salvage" saved the series after a brief quality dip), but also not one of the worst ("Nightmare in 4D"). Ranking his episodes, it's in the middle.
It is not great. It does lack suspense agreed, due to knowing exactly what happens well before it does.
Even worse is the ending, which is very heavy handed and over explained, as well as not making sense. This is one of not many times where Hitchcock's epilogue (usually wonderfully dry humoured and droll) doesn't work, being laid on too thick and too much of an over explanatory cheat which robs the ending of any surprise or irony.
Fortunately, "The West Warlock Time Capsule" is compensated by the performances, with the ever reliable Henry Jones a larger than life lead and Sam Buffington a sinister presence. The chemistry is dynamite and does give the episode some tension. Addiss does direct with confidence and understanding of the genre.
Moreover, it is slickly made with some atmospheric photography and lighting that help distract from the slightly sparse settings. The theme music is suitably macabre, which suits the series really well. The script is tight and thought probing enough, while not being confused or rambling. Just wish that it didn't over explain towards the end though. The story has enough moments where it is absorbing and makes one eager as to what happens next.
Overall, quite decent but a long way from great. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 3, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1