Enough character development is there so you get to know the people surrounding John Forsythe's family which includes Cloris Leachman as his sister-in-law, Warren Stevens as his brother and George Macready as Leachman's father. Estranged from his father, he shows up in his small town after being away for 30 years and is angered that no one contacted him to let him know that dear old dad has gone to that great tennis court out in eternity. He doesn't buy what they tell him, and certainly there's more to the story. After all, this is Hitchcock.
Having appeared in Hitchcock's dark comedy "The Trouble With Harry" the same year, Forsythe is excellent as the perplexed prodigal sob. Perpetual wheezer Percy Helton is the town's undertaker, unable (or unwilling) to tell Forsythe the truth. Leachman is instantly recognizable, playing her role with great seriousness. She would later help parody Hitchcock in Mel Brooks' comedy classic "High Anxiety". The Hitch didn't direct this one (he rarely did in the the series 10 years) but of course provides a sardonic intro. I liked this one more than the first episode, the twist quite surprising.
Having appeared in Hitchcock's dark comedy "The Trouble With Harry" the same year, Forsythe is excellent as the perplexed prodigal sob. Perpetual wheezer Percy Helton is the town's undertaker, unable (or unwilling) to tell Forsythe the truth. Leachman is instantly recognizable, playing her role with great seriousness. She would later help parody Hitchcock in Mel Brooks' comedy classic "High Anxiety". The Hitch didn't direct this one (he rarely did in the the series 10 years) but of course provides a sardonic intro. I liked this one more than the first episode, the twist quite surprising.