This episode has always fascinated me because there's so much realism to it. Ask any fire chief out there who will share some bizarre insurance scam stories. This actually may have been taken from a real case.
Nancy Olson, in a very convincing performance, plays Jan, the desperate owner of a once thriving dress shop that is losing business fast. After her bank cancels a loan, comes a suggestion from crafty salesman Ralph Meeker (as Mel). He claims it can be rigged very easily to burn the place down, write it off as a total loss and collect a big, fat insurance check. Just like that...
This is potent stuff, and you really feel sorry for Jan. The business is her life. Realistically though, she could have just sold her more expensive dresses at any cost, take the loss, and start all over. But we're in Hitchcock-LAND and Mel is a force to be reckoned with.
Don Taylor, who directed 7 episodes, brings out some good performances here, especially Ralph Meeker who comes off as a cross between a shameless love 'em and leave 'em type and a real deal con. Take your pick. Taylor, who had a long career, directed many adventurous episodes for LASSIE.
Believe it or not, written by Robert Lees, behind ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, and many other classic A & C films. Yes, Lees did have a dramatic side also.
This episode was a return to Hollywood for Nancy Olson, who retired from the screen five years earlier. She would next appear in Walt Disney's POLLYANNA.
Dedicated to us armchair thrill seekers. SEASON 4 EPISODE 17 remastered Universal dvd box set. 5 dvds. 2008 release.
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