Judith Evelyn is hardly a household name today, but she most certainly left a considerable amount of unforgettable performances that would make her a candidate for screen immortality, who can't forget her miss loneyhearts in her perhaps most famous film role in Hitchcock's's "rear window",and of course the deaf mute victim in Wm castle's "the tingly", I especially was fond of her black fairy portrayal in the "shirley temple storybook" rendition of sleeping beauty, which can only show you her remarkable versatility. in this suspense episode she can portray fear, suspicion and dread without one line of dialog and even color it with deep compassion as well. granted the show has its share of live TV bloopers(an appearance of a technician in a doorway for a few seconds and is quickly made to disappear, thanks to a handy techs hand to whisk hi-mm off the set) but that's part of the charm of making live TV episodes,coupling with miss Evelyn's work a joy to behold and have forever......
4 Reviews
mistake ridden over acted failed episode.
HEFILM31 July 2022
I'm a fan of this show but have to say this is one of the worst ones I've seen. Various distracting live tv problems, lingering out of focus shots, a crew man standing in what's supposed to be an emtpy house and a bad camera shadow at an important moment.
I guess this was just a day when nobody did their best work. Judith Evelyn tries too hard to look scared, other performers are just bad, only Henry Jones comes off well--as he usually does.
The story is pretty dull though there is one twist that might have worked if anything else in the episode had. The organ music is distracting and poor and regular director Robert Stevens shoots this all in tight kind of awkward shots that make it feel really phoney.
I'd hate for someone to see this and think it's typical for the series--it basically has the elements you'd find in most episodes only this time few of them work.
I guess this was just a day when nobody did their best work. Judith Evelyn tries too hard to look scared, other performers are just bad, only Henry Jones comes off well--as he usually does.
The story is pretty dull though there is one twist that might have worked if anything else in the episode had. The organ music is distracting and poor and regular director Robert Stevens shoots this all in tight kind of awkward shots that make it feel really phoney.
I'd hate for someone to see this and think it's typical for the series--it basically has the elements you'd find in most episodes only this time few of them work.
Riveting
lor_31 December 2023
This mystery was for me a prime example of how a restrictive format (in this case telling a story in just 24 minutes) can help shape and enhance an exciting result. Starring Judith Evelyn in a remarkable performance (think those showy pieces like "The Human Voice"), it's an exercise in concentrated suspense. The plot twists surrounding our damsel in distress come fast and unexpectedly, with fun revelations of who is crazy and who is evil.
Through it all, the talented Judith Evelyn projects self-confidence but is suitably frightened as matters careen out of hand. The tension leading to a final release is thrilling and a tribute to performing these television scenes live.
Through it all, the talented Judith Evelyn projects self-confidence but is suitably frightened as matters careen out of hand. The tension leading to a final release is thrilling and a tribute to performing these television scenes live.
Mildly entertaining....and a bit overwrought.
planktonrules12 September 2021
I was not nearly as taken by "The Far-Off House" as the other reviewer. I found parts of the story good and other parts overwrought and a bit silly. I am not holding the cheap sets and bad organ music against the show, however, since this is very early television and what might seem really cheap or silly today was not especially unusual for 1951.
Mrs. Collins has been away for several weeks and is returning home. However, when she stops by the train station, there's a bit of a kerfuffle because someone has been murdered...and the two men she meets just act weirdly (too weirdly). One begs her to stay in town instead of returning to her house...she doesn't...and weird things happen.
I think the story is mildly interesting but the story is too serious and the acting too on edge to be realistic. I just found the whole thing lacking subtlety nor believability.
Mrs. Collins has been away for several weeks and is returning home. However, when she stops by the train station, there's a bit of a kerfuffle because someone has been murdered...and the two men she meets just act weirdly (too weirdly). One begs her to stay in town instead of returning to her house...she doesn't...and weird things happen.
I think the story is mildly interesting but the story is too serious and the acting too on edge to be realistic. I just found the whole thing lacking subtlety nor believability.
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