Some think the story line was somehow predictable, but I didn't think so. First one twist and then another at the end. I'm not one of those Monday morning quarterbacks that says they saw it coming all along. One reviewer mentioned that they mistook Bethel Leslie for Paula Prentice. I didn't see that at all. If anything, I'd say that she resembles Lee Remick somewhat. Overall, it was a very good episode with some pretty good acting.
9 Reviews
"The Man with Two Faces" is standard Hitchcock entry
chuck-reilly6 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Spring Byington, everyone's favorite kindly "old lady" of the Golden Age of Television, stars as an elderly woman who is mugged one evening and suffers a severe bruise on her cheek. She reports the crime to the police and is shown several books of mug shots by the on-duty detective Lt. Meade (Stephen Dunne). The mugger is nowhere to be found in the books, but one photo does pique her interest; the fellow looks like a dead-ringer for her lazy son-in-law who lives with her. But it can't be, or can it? Spring's daughter Mabel, played by Bethel Leslie, has assured her that her husband (played by Harp McGuire) was a stockbroker in California and that they ended up back at mother's only after a few bad breaks in the market. But Lt. Meade noticed the startled Spring's reaction when she saw the photo and he decides to probe her a little more deeply. It doesn't take long for him to find out what's happening right under poor Spring's nose. Daughter Mabel isn't exactly entirely innocent either. She's been aiding and abetting her husband all along. Both of them were involved in several cases of Grand Larceny. When the cops finally arrive at the house to make some arrests, mortified Ms. Byington is the only one who doesn't leave in handcuffs. Not much to this episode except for the performance of the ever reliable Spring Byington and Bethel Leslie. Spring could play "flustered" better than anyone and she put her talent to good use here. This entry was directed by the prolific Stuart Rosenberg who went on to bigger and better things. Bethel Leslie was an accomplished actress of stage, screen and television. She was also quite beautiful and has been greatly missed.
It's Spring Byington...reason enough to see this one.
planktonrules14 April 2021
Alice (Spring Byington) is an old lady who is mugged in the opening scene. Next she goes to the police station and reports it. The detective has her go through some mug shots and she notices something strange...one of the photos looks a lot like her son-in-law. Many would likely tell the police in a case like this...but Alice keeps it to herself....as well as from her daughter. Can she keep this to herself for long and what does she plan to do next?
This is a very good episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"...and although it's a bit unlike most episodes, it offers a nice and frightening twist. Very well acted and well worth your time....and it's always a joy to see Miss Byington!
This is a very good episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"...and although it's a bit unlike most episodes, it offers a nice and frightening twist. Very well acted and well worth your time....and it's always a joy to see Miss Byington!
Paula Prentiss is not in this episode
belanger758 February 2019
Bethel Leslie, a beauty, looks a great, great deal like Paula Prentiss in dyed brown hair. The two women sound and act nearly totally alike as well. I thought it was Prentiss at first.
The episode is pleasant and has some neat twists and it is close to being in the show's top ten eps.
One final thought. The movie theater you see was also used props and all in the original Twilight Zone pilot
The episode is pleasant and has some neat twists and it is close to being in the show's top ten eps.
One final thought. The movie theater you see was also used props and all in the original Twilight Zone pilot
Too Much Kindness
Hitchcoc27 May 2021
Spring Byington (December Bride and other shows) is an elderly lady who lives with her daughter and her husband. It is her house. She is mugged after a movie and goes to the policy, checking mugshots when she makes a disturbing discovery. Well done little story which isn't too hard to figure out. I enjoyed her interaction with the police detective.
Man with two faces has a wife to match
classicsoncall13 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It wasn't until the end of the story that it's learned why daughter Mabel (Bethel Leslie) demonstrated such a rude attitude. Not all the time, but enough where it was noticeable and sometimes uncalled for. And then the twist to the story gives it away, as we learn that she and her husband (Harp McGuire) were both on the run from the law back in California. It all came about because Alice Wagner (Spring Byington) noticed what looked like her son-in-law Leo's mug shot in a police album of wanted criminals. And that wouldn't have happened if Alice hadn't been mugged the night before, thereby making her way to the police station to report the crime. It's too bad the mugger was never dealt with, but in this case, the cops came up with bigger fish to fry.
Mild, at Best
dougdoepke28 May 2010
Slender premise without much development adds up to low-grade Hitchcock. Matronly Alice (Byington) who lives with daughter Mabel and son-in-law Leo, is mugged on downtown street. Taking it to the cops (Dunne), she unexpectedly spots Leo's mug shot on "wanted list". Will she turn him in—after all, they seem like such a nice young couple and it is her daughter's happiness.
Dunne does well as the cagey, low-key detective, as does the perennially girlish Byington as the conflicted Mom. However, the amount of screen time spent poring over the mug shots exposes the spare screenplay and premise. There is, of course, the expected twist, but it's pretty mild given the series standard. Usually dependable scenarist Slesar was stretching it out on this one.
Dunne does well as the cagey, low-key detective, as does the perennially girlish Byington as the conflicted Mom. However, the amount of screen time spent poring over the mug shots exposes the spare screenplay and premise. There is, of course, the expected twist, but it's pretty mild given the series standard. Usually dependable scenarist Slesar was stretching it out on this one.
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY!
tcchelsey19 December 2023
Henry Slesar, a Hitchcock favorite, wrote this classic episode for noneother than Spring Byington. Spring was the "Betty White" of early tv, as she was everywhere, a certified star of both movies and tv (DECEMBER BRIDE). She actually had to slow down in later years due to so many tv offers.
Spring plays Alice, who lives with her daughter and son in law and gets herself mugged! She's ok, but what follows is cause for alarm as it appears her son in law has a mug shot! Say it isn't so!
Watch all this unfold, and with a great role as a detective by Steve Dunne, another Hitchcock regular, who was a movie and tv vet. Steve was also a popular Hollywood DJ and announcer.
This is one you just have to see through for the likes of Spring Byington, a natural if there ever was one.
She was nominated for an Oscar in YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. She should have won. At the time Spring guest starred in PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES.
SEASON 6 EPISODE 11 Universal dvd box set.
Spring plays Alice, who lives with her daughter and son in law and gets herself mugged! She's ok, but what follows is cause for alarm as it appears her son in law has a mug shot! Say it isn't so!
Watch all this unfold, and with a great role as a detective by Steve Dunne, another Hitchcock regular, who was a movie and tv vet. Steve was also a popular Hollywood DJ and announcer.
This is one you just have to see through for the likes of Spring Byington, a natural if there ever was one.
She was nominated for an Oscar in YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. She should have won. At the time Spring guest starred in PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES.
SEASON 6 EPISODE 11 Universal dvd box set.
The man with Two Faces
coltras3513 May 2022
A woman (Spring Byington) finds a familiar face when looking through police files after having her purse snatched. Enjoyable entry with a very good performance by Spring Byington, which lifts this out from the average. It's also nice look at the era, the decor, the streets and cinema.
See also
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