Alfred Hitchcock Presents' "The Waxwork" (1959)
Opening thoughts: 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' may not have been a consistently great series, with some misses in all the seasons, but when it was at its best it was absolutely brilliant. While Robert Stevens was not always consistent in his output for the series, he did do some great work (as well as some real misfires). Absolutely loved the premise for "The Waxwork", as has been said here already, one of the most interesting and creepiest ones of the second half of Season 4.
"The Waxwork" could have executed the premise a good deal better than it did. It is not a bad episode at all and has a lot to recommend it. It is also very uneven, saved by a great on the most part second half but let down by that the episode is not easy to get into at first. When it comes to talking about Season 4, which was uneven like all the other seasons but generally solid, "The Waxwork" is not one of its best or one of its worst. The same goes for when ranking Stevens' 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output, where it is slightly above middling.
Good things: Good things are actually many. Up to a point, the second half is great. Really liked the dark atmosphere and it was suspenseful and creepy in my view, as the premise sounded. Barry Nelson registers strongly in his role and even better is a quirky and at times unsettling Everett Sloane. Hitchcock's bookending is intriguing and amusing as ever.
Furthermore, "The Waxwork" is solidly made, the photography having some nice atmosphere, and "Funeral March of a Marionette" is never going to stop being memorable. The script is intriguing on the most part.
Bad things: It is a shame that "The Waxwork" is not easy to get into straightaway. The first half is pedestrian and feels far too padded and talky, with set up that takes too long.
Do have to agree as well that the ending is muddled, murky and also rushed. Stevens' direction has times where it is assured and also other times where it is very undistinguished and less than imaginative.
Concluding thoughts: Very uneven outing but above average thanks to the second half.
6/10.