Odd little drama. It has the usual twist ending and some minor suspense. But it's really a rather compellingly done human interest story, thanks to a superb performance from Crahan Denton as an aging ex-con. He brings just the right amount of dignity and cynicism to what would otherwise be a clichéd role. Just as importantly, his presence conveys a hint of vulnerability despite the many hardening years of imprisonment. And in a very well acted and calibrated office scene, the warden is shown as respecting those qualities in the departing inmate. Later, when Denton tries to contact his wife after years of separation, but can't follow through, conflicts from the buried past flicker across his face, and we feel long-suppressed emotions suddenly rising to the surface. It's that sort of thing that makes the unfortunate turn of events in the bar scene so affecting.
Fortunately, the production people hired that fine actress, Jeanette Nolan, to play the conflicted wife. Just as importantly, they refused to dress her up or disguise her ugly little cold water flat. The down-trodden couple's moment of reconciliation amounts to a rare moment of genuine sweetness for a series that did not emphasize tender emotions, to say the least. This may not be the most gripping or suspenseful of the Hitchcock entries. But it remains oddly memorable and a permanent record of one very fine talent behind all those anonymous credit-crawl names.