User Reviews

While folks today might not know about it, but during the 1950s and into the 60s, the French fought a long and bitter war to try to retain control of their colonies in North Africa...which were, at the time, considered part of France. So this long war is the time period in which the film is set.

The story begins back in France. A grouchy guy and his friend are hanging out in a bar after they were both released from a hospital following injuries they sustained in combat. You later find out that the grouchy guy is actually from a wealthy family and you wonder why he's hanging out in a seedy bar instead of heading home. See the show and learn why...and why this is all rather heartbreaking.

While I did not love this episode, it really had a sad and dark twist that do make it worth seeing. Apparently the other two reviewers liked it far less than I did...see it and see for yourself.

Herschel Daugherty's 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output was uneven, though it was not hard to see why he was one of the series' most regular directors as most of his previous episodes ranged between decent and outstanding. He directed some great episodes, "The Creeper" being one of the series' best in my view and "The Belfry" being one of the better first episodes of all the directors that directed more than one episode. He did have disappointments though, such as "My Brother Richard" and "Sylvia".

"Return of the Hero" is in neither the best or worst categories when talking about Daugherty's previous episodes and of his 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output overall. It is though certainly a big improvement over his previous episode "Sylvia", didn't like that at all. Put it somewhere around solid middle and am another person who found it a good episode with a lot to recommend in its own way. It's not my favourite kind of episode usually when it comes to 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but this is one of the "sad", romantic episodes that comes off successfully.

There is admittedly a preference for the dark and more suspenseful kind of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, with the likes of "Breakdown" and "The Creeper" immediately coming to mind.

Maybe the pacing could have been tighter, particularly at the start, and more backstory for the fling and Susan Kohner's character.

However, "Return of the Hero's" great things are many. It is an extremely well acted episode, with Jacques Bergerac bringing charm and poignancy to his role and Kohner being similarly moving without being melodramatic. Their chemistry is lovely, not of the hair raising intensity kind but of the more subtle kind. Daugherty directs with great control and always seems at ease.

Furthermore, is well made visually, especially the photography which has a lot of style and atmosphere. Great use of the setting too. The main theme in the music, "Funeral March for a Marionette" has never been utilised better in film or television, is still haunting and has always fitted perfectly with the tone of the series. The script is thought provoking and not talky or soapy, with some typically ironic bookending from Hitchcock, while the story did wrench my heart with one of the saddest, bleakest twists of the series.

Overall, not a great episode but more than worth your time. 7/10.

This is a simple story of an embittered man who sits at the end of a bar. He has been to war and seems edgy and depressed. Despite the loving attention he gets from a young woman, he seems to be totally absorbed in self pity. We are asked to understand his standoffishness and accept his ennui. There is a lot of byplay at the bar, including a bet arranged by a comrade at the bar. Our hero has hopes to be done with the war and return home; however, his friend is to be included in his plans. Things do go haywire, but I will not reveal what happens. The strength of the episode is a low key performance, framed by the bar. Our man sits pretty much with his back to the bar and gives reasons why he wants no attention. The conclusion was obvious from the beginning. A lesser effort.

Good acting by the lead players, but the girl needed more opportunity to show her sterling character. Could have been an all-time great episode if a few loose ends had been cleared up.

Worth watching.

Another reviewer says the ending is obvious. This presumes you can maintain your attention throughout this dull episode.

We're in post war France and the setting seems a bit clichéd. There's an annoying lady singing and playing her squeeze box, and a pretty young woman who argues with her papa (accent on the second syllable). The accents are foreign but perhaps not all truly French.

Our protagonist (series regular Patrice Bergerac) wants to bring his crippled (that's the word they use) friend home. His wealthy family is unwelcoming. "Do you mean his presence will put a damper on our activities?", the sister asks her parents, in perhaps the most stilted line of dialog of the season.

The core story is, in fact, pretty good, but it's not executed well.