Startime (TV Series) Incident at a Corner (1960) User Reviews

A word misheard leads to trouble

[aldiboronti · 7/10 · 10 August 2017]

Excellent Startime episode directed by Hitchcock straight after Psycho. George Peppard, looking young and dashing, pairs with the lovely Vera Miles to play an engaged couple who come to the aid of Miles' grandfather, fired from his job as school crossing guard because of false accusations of pedophilia.

The young couple, despite opposition from other members of the family who wish only to hush things up and move on, start questioning the grandfather's accusers and find that the trouble stems from an angry mother who'd had a run-in with the grandfather (the incident at the corner of the title), a schoolteacher who witnesses the incident and mishears one word for another, and a newly moved-in couple who also witness the incident and have a secret they don't want revealed. Peppard and Miles proceed to untangle this knot and get to the surprising truth.

All is expertly managed by Hitchcock who gets as always superb performances from all his actors as the tangle is gradually unwoven and the truth revealed. This film is a must-see for Hitch fans and an enjoyable watch for all.

Hitchcock's Version of 'Rashomon'

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 28 August 2020]

Having already pastiched Clouzot with 'Vertigo' and William Castle with Psycho', this time came Kurosawa's turn with Hitchcock's only TV episode in colour and Vera Miles' only appearance in colour for Hitchcock in this episode of 'Startime' made immediately after 'Psycho' and obviously influenced by 'Rashomon'.

Or at least that's how I remember it.

An overlooked Hitchcock film

[Mbakkel2 · 9/10 · 15 June 2017]

According to most scholars Hitchcock's follow-up to "Psycho" (1960) was "The Birds" (1963). I fact, he directed this episode of the TV series "Startime" only a weeks after he had finished "Psycho", retaining Vera Miles, the director of cinematography John L. Russell and some other crew members.

Both the story and setting are vastly different from "Psycho". This film has been shot in colour. "Incident at a Corner" is one of few of Hitchcock's later films that didn't include a murder.

The crime in "Incident at a Corner" is a devious rumour. In this film Alfred Hitchockc clearly proves that he also was an actor's director, despite he once claimed that actors should be treated like sheep. He manages to get top-notch performances from all concerned, especially George Peppard - as a crusader for the truth. Look at his eyes!!!!! A school crossing guard, James Medwick, reprimands Mrs. Tawley, the mother of one of the pupils, for careless driving. She gets furious and calls him "an officious old man". A teacher overhearing the quarrel believes that she uttered "a vicious old man". The same does also a couple who has recently moved in to a house near the crossing. The wife recognizes the guard from her past and is afraid that he might reveal something she did as a 16 year old girl, which she wants to remain hidden. She wants to move, but her husband suggests that they can get rid of the old man instead. Why not write an incriminating letter?

An anonymous letter to the PTA is placed in Mrs. Tawley's car. The author presumed that she was the president of the PTA. Eventually the letter gets to the right destination. The term "a vicious old man" is used in it. The local sheriff visits Medwick and says he has been fired, because of complaints that he has been too friendly towards the children, especially the little girls.

Coincidentially, it is his birthday. He has invited his son, daughter-in-law, his granddaughter and her fiancé to the party. His son is initially permissive, but his granddaughter's fiancé wants to seek the truth. Since Mrs. Tawley's words "a vicious old man" were used in the letter, she becomes the main suspect. She, however, used the word "offacious" instead.

In this film Hitchcock shows us how dangerous defamation can be, risking to destroy several lives. And furthermore: You mustn't believe all you hear. Your eyes may deceive you.

A footnote to Alfred Hitchcock's career

[gridoon2024 · 5/10 · 20 March 2024]

If you sat down to watch "Incident At A Cormer" without knowing that it was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the same year he did "Psycho", no less, you'd never guess it. This teleplay has an interesting beginning (the same event filmed from three differennt perspectives) and a daring theme (involving accusations of child abuse), but it turns out to be a shaggy-dog story, and Hitchcock directs it mostly as a talking-heads affair. There is also some noticeably unconvincing casting, with people looking barely 10 years apart playing father and son. Not much more than a curio, to be honest. ** out of 4.