User Reviews

Robert H. Harris is a very ordinary looking and talented actor. Apparently the producers of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" liked him and his acting, as he appeared on eight different episodes! Here, Harris plays George Piper, a very reliable bank teller who has worked at the same bank for many years. However, no one realizes that although he's been above reproach, he has a plan to murder a gambler who has an account in the bank and use it to finance a business deal with his brother. And, the plan sure seems foolproof...and ultimately, it sure isn't!

I wouldn't consider this a great episode...though it is among the better ones. It has a wonderful twist that comes out of the blue and it's well worth your time and effort. Very well written and Harris, as usual, is excellent as the mild mannered and reliable killer!

James Neilson directed twelve episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', some good ("Mail Order Prophet" and "Reward to Finder" in fact excellent), some not so good ("The Percentage" getting my vote as his weakest). Though none terrible certainly. "The Safe Place" is the final one of the twelve and did sound interesting. 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' did character studies on the most part very well and Robert H Harris was a series favourite for very good reason.

"The Safe Place" is a very good episode. It is also a very good last one for Neilson, and while not quite "Mail Order Prophet" or "Reward to Finder" level it is one of his better outings. Some may prefer the more darkly suspenseful and creepier tales, including myself admittedly, but as said the series did a lot of good character studies and "The Safe Place" is not an exception. As far as Season 3 goes, it is not quite one of the best but it's quite high up in the high middle category.

So much is good. The acting is very good, with Harris proving once again why his reputation of being a series favourite was justified, doing sly and oddly charming very well. His character is an interesting one, one of those ones where you don't in any way approve of what is done but find that he is not hard to root for as well. Wendall Holmes is wonderfully overbearing too and Joanna Linville does vulnerable beautifully. Neilson directs in a controlled and taut manner, as well as fully allowing the cast to have fun. Hitchcock's bookending is as droll as ever and fits perfectly.

It's a nicely filmed episode and despite the location being simple it is not too basic. The series' main theme is wholly deserving of its iconic immediately recognisable status. It is also tautly and thoughtfully scripted while not taking itself too seriously, while the story always intrigues. Not as dark or as suspenseful as other entries in the series, but it never felt dull. Really liked the twist, it is true that it does come out of nowhere but it is also a complete surprise and cleverly staged.

Did feel however that some of the character decisions were unrealistically rash at times.

Also that Jerry Paris is somewhat miscast as the brother, too much of an implausible mismatch physically. Buyable as a best friend maybe, but not a brother.

Overall though, very good and nearly great. 8/10.

No one would mistake short, stout, bald Robert H. Harris for a ladies man. But here his bank teller George Piper manages the ladies as well as he does counting out the cash. The question is just what else is behind that mild looking exterior, especially when his brother Fred (Paris) arrives with a shady proposition. Will Piper now be taking out an, uh, unauthorized loan.

Harris again shows why he was a series favorite, specializing in the sly and unexpected. But I especially like the sort-of-pretty Joanne Linville. Her Miss Manners (perfect name) is vulnerable in a subtly poignant way. Then there's the overbearing bank manager Farnsworth (Holmes), the type of boss you might like to take a poke at. But who cast the tall, handsome Jerry Paris as Harris's brother—that's a real stretch.

The 30 minutes is more a character study than suspenseful or chilling in typical Hitchcock style. Nonetheless, there's enough interest to keep you guessing how it will end, though I'm not sure I buy the triggering action from Farnsworth. Seems like the writer could have come up with something less problematic. All in all, average fare from the best anthology series of the 50's.

This is another one of those episodes where we actually pull for the guy. While he is a despicable masher who cares about no one but himself, he does set up a great pension for himself by using murder as his vehicle. Unfortunately, he doesn't count on variables that can do in the whole plan. He also doesn't allow himself to keep a low profile. He is combative and arrogant and this is his downfall. This is another case of a person who doesn't think things through. When painting a floor, always leave yourself an out. He, unfortunately for him, leaves himself no options. This is pretty well done, though the concluding scene seems a bit strained. It does have that nice Hitchcock twist and I enjoyed it.

British writer Michael Hogan, who adapted REBECCA (1940) to the wide screen for Hitchcock, gives us a memorable lesson on high finance.

The ever resourceful master of characters, Robert H. Harris returns, this time playing George, a bank teller, experienced with handling other people's money. An unprincipled gambler happens to catch his eye, also a bank customer, and he decides to separate him from his cash by simply killing him.

George has serious plans for the money, but how to conceal his crime? Why not put it back into the bank? Actually a very clever idea, although you know this chap is going to face a Hitchcock complication.

Bank tellers and office workers with sticky fingers seemed to interest Hitch on his tv show, and this may be one of the best ironic tales of 'em all. You be the judge.

Harris is supported by Joanne Linville (Millie), one fantastic actress in her own right. James Neilson, who directed a total of 12 series episodes, handles this perfectly. You can't take your eyes off Harris. Look for comedian and later director Jerry Paris as one of Harris' scheming buds.

10 well earned Stars.

Best of SEASON 3 remastered Universal dvd box set 2007 release. 5 dvd set.