Alfred Hitchcock presents

The Case Of Mr. Pelham

Genre: Thriller

Erstausstrahlung: 4.12.55

Filmlänge: 25 Min.

Drehbuch: Francis Cockrell nach einer Geschichte von Anthony Armstrong.

Musik: Bernard Herrmann. Zusätzliche Musik von Charles Gounod ("Funeral March of a Marionette").

Kamera: John L. Russell

Regie: Alfred Hitchcock

Produzent: Alfred Hitchcock - executive producer, Joan Harrison - associate producer.

Darsteller: Tom Ewell (Albert W. Pelham), Raymond Bailey (Dr. Harley), Justice Watson (Henry Peterson, der Butler), Kirby Smith (Tom Mason), Kay Stewart (Frl. Clement, die Sekretärin), John Compton (Vincent), Jan Arvan (Harry, at the biljards), Norman Willis (Ray, der Barmixer), Tim Graham (Intern), Richard Collier (Bartender), Diane Brewster (Sekretärin).

Gastgeber: Alfred Hitchcock.

Inhaltsangabe: Hier spielt der Komiker Tom Ewell einen Geschäftsmann, Mr. Pelham, der - zunächst nur irritiert - mehr und mehr in Panik gerät, als ein offenbar exaktes Double seiner selbst sich in sein alltägliches Berufs- und Privatleben drängt und seine Identität anzunehmen beginnt.
Mr. Pelhams verzweifelter Versuch, seinen unheimlichen Doppelgänger Fallen zu stellen und zu Fehlverhalten zu provozieren, scheitern und wenden sich gegen ihn. Als sich die beiden schliesslich in Pelhams Haus gegenüber stehen, wird der richtige Mr. Pelham von seinem Diener als Fälscher bezeichnet. Das Double übernimmt alles, der wahre Mr. Pelham endet in der Zwangsjacke - für Hitchcock eine willkommene Gelegenheit, sich selbst mit einem Doppelgänger in ähnlichen Nöten zu verabschieden.

Info: "Der Doppelgänger" erzählt die Geschichte eines fortschreitenden Wahnsinns, ohne dabei auf schwarzen Humor zu verzichten. Es ist so etwas wie die tragikomische Vorwegnahme und Variante der düsteren Leidensgeschichte Henry Fondas, die Hitchcock ein Jahr später in seinem Kinofilm "Der falsche Mann" (1956) wieder aufnahm.

Gedreht in den Revue Studios (7., 8., 10. Oktober).

Schnitt: Edward W. Williams, Bauten/Dekorationsbau: James S. Redd, Bühnenbildner/Ausstatter: as James S. Redd, Kostüme: Vincent Dee, Maske: Leo Lotito Jr., Regieassistent: Jack Corrick, Ton Stab: William Brady, costume supervisor: Vincent Dee, music supervisor: Stanley Wilson, supervising editor: Richard G. Wray.

Präsentation der TV-Show durch Alfred Hitchcock:
[Opening Narration]
Hitchcock: Good Evening. Due to circumstances beyond our control. Tragedy will not strike tonight. I'm dreadfully sorry. Perhaps some other time. However, I've just witnessed a sneak preview of this evening's story and I found it simply frightening. Sometimes death is not the worst that can befall a man. And I don't refer to torture or any type of violence. I mean the quiet little insidious devices that can drive a man out of his mind. Like putting bubblegum in someone's coat pocket. Tonight's little frolic is called 'The Case of Mr. Pelham'.
[Closing Narration]
Hitchcock's Double: [struggling with orderlies] But I'm Alfred Hitchcock, I am. I can prove it.
Orderly: Sure. Sure. Everybody is!
Hitchcock's Double: I am, I insist. [as they take him away, camera pans left to another Hitchcock]
Hitchcock: An outstanding hoax. He carried off the impersonation brilliantly except for one thing. Bubblegum in his pocket. Indeed. Alfred Hitchcock wouldn't be caught dead with bubblegum in his pocket [sound of gunshot]... Poor chap. Do excuse me. I need a moment to pull myself together. edit »Pelman: Why? Why did this have to happen to me? Why?
Pelman's Double: No reason. It just did you see.
Pelman: I've know for several days that there's an agency more than human here. Tell me, what is it? Whom do you represent? Who are you?
Pelman's Double: Why, Mr. Pelham, of course. You're mad, you know. edit »Pelman: No. I don't think, he's trying to persecute me, Doctor. In fact, I can think of no reason at all for him to do what he's doing. I have the feeling that he's trying to... to move into my life, to crowd closer and closer to me, so that one day he is where I was... standing in my shoes, my clothes, my life. And I... am gone. Vanished. edit »Pelman: You see, what I need to know is could a man actually be in one place, doing one thing, and still, in his mind, be elsewhere doing something else? But so vividly, with such detail, that this is the real, the living part of his life to him? Do you think?

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