Was honestly not expecting to like "Martha Mason Movie Star" let alone love it so much. There have been episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' where the lead character is so awful to such an irritating degree or their character flaws are so overdone that it unbalances the story and makes it difficult to enjoy. Judging from what was read online prior to watching, with even those that liked the episode acknowledging that, "Martha Mason Movie Star" honestly sounded like one of those episodes.
Even with such an awful character, "Martha Mason Movie Star" to me actually worked though it is totally understandable if it doesn't for others. Namely because it is so well acted, suspenseful and because the character manages to be interesting in a compelling scenario, other 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes to have characters so detestable don't have those which is the difference. It is one of the best and most interesting episodes that Justus Addiss directed for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and much better than the rating here suggests.
"Martha Mason Movie Star" runs out of gas towards the end a little when the self-absorbed personality gets a bit too much.
Perhaps a bit of a slow starter.
However, a lot is good here. It is incredibly well acted for one thing. Judith Evelyn relishes her role to a wonderfully bat out of hell degree and it is quite thrilling to watch and she succeeds in making her psychologically fascinating and not over-cartoonish. While she does dominate the episode, there are so many other elements that are great that there isn't any unbalancing. Robert Ermhardt also does a great job against type and did feel for him. They are electric together.
Also standing out is the absolutely delicious and really quite ingenious ending, one of my favourites of Season 2 (which had some great endings but also some severely underwhelming ones). Not only a complete surprise but also a relief. Hitchcock's bookending is wonderfully dry humoured and Addiss' direction is some of his most inspired. The script isn't too talky and the story absorbs and doesn't feel predictable or over-stretched. There is also suspense in what would happen to Evelyn's character and how far the self absorbing (usually hate this character trait intensely) would go. The production values are slick and "Funeral March of the Marionettes" is still wonderfully devillish.
Very good episode and surprisingly so. 8/10.
Even with such an awful character, "Martha Mason Movie Star" to me actually worked though it is totally understandable if it doesn't for others. Namely because it is so well acted, suspenseful and because the character manages to be interesting in a compelling scenario, other 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes to have characters so detestable don't have those which is the difference. It is one of the best and most interesting episodes that Justus Addiss directed for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and much better than the rating here suggests.
"Martha Mason Movie Star" runs out of gas towards the end a little when the self-absorbed personality gets a bit too much.
Perhaps a bit of a slow starter.
However, a lot is good here. It is incredibly well acted for one thing. Judith Evelyn relishes her role to a wonderfully bat out of hell degree and it is quite thrilling to watch and she succeeds in making her psychologically fascinating and not over-cartoonish. While she does dominate the episode, there are so many other elements that are great that there isn't any unbalancing. Robert Ermhardt also does a great job against type and did feel for him. They are electric together.
Also standing out is the absolutely delicious and really quite ingenious ending, one of my favourites of Season 2 (which had some great endings but also some severely underwhelming ones). Not only a complete surprise but also a relief. Hitchcock's bookending is wonderfully dry humoured and Addiss' direction is some of his most inspired. The script isn't too talky and the story absorbs and doesn't feel predictable or over-stretched. There is also suspense in what would happen to Evelyn's character and how far the self absorbing (usually hate this character trait intensely) would go. The production values are slick and "Funeral March of the Marionettes" is still wonderfully devillish.
Very good episode and surprisingly so. 8/10.