User Reviews

While he was far from handsome, during the 1950s, Paul Douglas was a very successful actor and he made quite a few wonderful film and TV appearances. Sadly, he died at only age 52...putting an end to a long streak of excellent work. "Touché" is one of his final roles.

Bill (Douglas) is on a fishing trip where he meets a young guy (Robert Morse) Bill talks about his awful marriage. Apparently, his wife is constantly unfaithful and flaunts her boyfriends in front of Bill. So the guy suggests Bill challenge the guy to a duel, because he insists California law is very lax in cases like this. Oddly, Bill does exactly this...challenging the latest lover to a duel. What's next? See the show.

This is a good episode with an interesting (though somewhat predictable) twist. Fun to watch...and you can't help but feel a bit sorry for poor old Bill.

This is an entertaining, somewhat lightweight entry in the Hitchcock series, and it plays rather more like a comedy than a drama, which it is. The first scene between a very young Robert Morse and a well into middle age and dissipated looking Paul Douglas, sets the story in motion, as Douglas, a wealthy businessman, and somewhat of a public figure, is being cuckolded by a man who was once his friend.

Morse, or rather his character, suggests that Douglas challenge his wife's playmate in a duel, with swords, then kill him, as the law apparently either allows for or tolerates such behavior, the veracity of which I cannot vouch; and Douglas does just that, kills the Other Man, goes to court, and is found not guilty by a jury. The judge calls Douglas and his lawyer into his chambers and quotes from a law that compels the winner in a duel to care for the family of the man he killed.

When Douglas returns home to his wife, whom one might think he would want nothing to do with, he gets a big surprise. It's a good one,--for the viewer, I mean--and it's worth the wait. Actor Paul Douglas would die not long after he completed the episode, from complications of chronic alcoholism. A sad end for a gifted actor who always came off as having a big heart, his work in this episode is first rate.

'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' "Touche" (1959)

Opening thoughts: Every season of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' had some truly fine episodes, and they all had some not so good episodes. This was all obvious in Season 4, that had some real highs and some real lows and sometimes in quite quick succession to each other. "Touche", Season 4's thirty fifth and penultimate episode, was the second of the series directed by John Brahm, after the quite good "A Night with the Boys", who went on to do another eight episodes.

While not one of the best 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes or one of the best of Season 4, "Touche" is a not bad at all episode for Brahm and makes one intrigued enough in seeing his succeeding 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes. While his outings for the series did vary and his work wasn't as distinguished as the best work of the series' regular directors, Brahm was hardly a slouch and his best episodes were at least quite good. Quite good sums up "Touche".

Good things: What stands out here immediately is the acting, which is first rate. Paul Douglas is terrific, and brings a lot of steel and charisma. It is also quite affecting seeing him here, knowing that such a gifted actor was to die not long after. Robert Morse is suitably formidable.

The episode looks good, the settings are a little sparse but the moody lighting and equally atmospheric camera work cmmpensate. Much better looking than "A Night with the Boys". While not inventive, Brahm keeps things moving along at a breezy clip and there is a lot of strong character dynamics. The theme tune continues to haunt and the writing is mostly taut and intriguing. Hitchcock's bookending is amusingly ironic while gelling well tonally.

Bad things: It is not a perfect episode, the opening goes on a little too long and takes too long getting to the point.

Suspense could have been more in the second half where it all gets on the routine side. While the ending is interesting, it is also much too obvious far too early. For me, it was guessable around the halfway mark.

Closing thoughts: All in all, quite good if not great.

7/10.

Aging roughneck (Douglas) is openly two-timed by faithless young wife (Heath) and pacifist friend (Marlowe). Smart young lawyer (Morse) suggests a duel, which is exempted from punishment by California law, a duel that Douglas is bound to win. So, what will the aging millionaire do.

That opening scene is overlong and talky, but is fascinating for its dueling acting styles— regular guy Douglas vs. man of a thousand nervous tics Morse. Then too, catch Dodie Heath's shapely young wife, who's obviously turned on by the prospect of violence. Sadly, Douglas was to die of a heart attack a couple short months after this episode. Considering what he's called on to do here, did all the exertion (no apparent double) add to his condition. He was so good at being the likable roughneck. There's some suspense and a nicely calculated Hitchcock ending. At the same time ace director Brahm makes good dramatic use of that cavernous livingroom. Otherwise, it's a fairly routine entry.

(In passing—Hitch's wrap-around mocks the hit TV series Zorro whose rapier wielding swordsman etched the opening title of each entry.)

No surprise that series regular John Brahm directed this episode, linked to many adventure shows, such as the MAN FROM UNCLE and the GIRL FROM UNCLE.

Yes, it's an adventure, albeit Hitchcock style. In a role that perfectly suits his style, Paul Douglas plays a wealthy gentleman called Bill Fleming, a two fisted old timer with a lot of spark, who happens to have a beautiful wife (Dodie Heath) who cheats on him, and really doesn't care.

The most outrageous twist of this story concerns what to do about it. Bill happens to meet up with sly Robert Morse (as Phil) who suggests he can actually get away with murder if he challenges his wife's lover to a duel! This has to rank as the most creative writing the series ever had, and it's rather fascinating because there's a bit of legal truth to it as you will see.

Paul Douglas is his usual rambling self in this episode, over the top and so much fun to watch, especially his exasperation. Unfortunately, Douglas died suddenly not too long after this episode, shortly after appearing in an episode of the TWILIGHT ZONE, which never aired. It's roles like this that made him so popular.

Robert Morse is equally good (in a very early part), playing a character that also fits his style. Without giving too much away, Morse steals the show. Morse passed a few years ago as did Dodie Heath (at age 96 in 2023), best known for the classic film, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.

Excellent writing on the part of William Jerome Fay, who wrote fourteen colorful episodes for Hitch.

Not to be missed, especially for the famous leads. SEASON 4 EPISODE 35 remastered dvd box set. 5 dvds. Released 2008.