This brilliant "Thriller" episode is a TV noir rehash of the murderous exploits of Stanwyck and MacMurray and Turner and Garfield in the film versions of those classic James Cain crime novels. It deals with amoral lovers Larry Blyden and Susan Oliver, plotting to murder her wealthy, possessive uncle Vaughan Taylor. He objects to his niece constantly spending time at the beach, and unaware that she has become an object of Blyden's alleged affections, unaware that Blyden has stolen an important piece of equipment from her expensive sports car as a way of making her acquaintance. Blyden comes to Oliver's rescue, and soon, he's crawling through her window at night to declare his Romeo like love. But once he has her trust, he also has her plotting with him to kill Taylor, and it is obvious that like those two classic couples from the Cain novels, one will betray the other.
Superb pacing and a youthful atmosphere makes this hip episode one of the few "Thriller" episodes of Season One to get one's attention and keep it because of a superbly dark script and brilliant plotting. Blyden's first several efforts to murder Taylor go up in smoke, and everything surrounding the actual crime makes it seem to go perfect, that is until detective Guy Mitchell gets in on the case. Blyden's amusement park game operator girlfriend Tracey Roberts is also aroused, but by jealousy and suspicion of his neglect and constant disappearances. There's also little Billy Barty as a regular beach visitor. The twists and turns are more dangerous than an old rickety beach rollercoaster, and it's a ride I did not want to see end.
Superb pacing and a youthful atmosphere makes this hip episode one of the few "Thriller" episodes of Season One to get one's attention and keep it because of a superbly dark script and brilliant plotting. Blyden's first several efforts to murder Taylor go up in smoke, and everything surrounding the actual crime makes it seem to go perfect, that is until detective Guy Mitchell gets in on the case. Blyden's amusement park game operator girlfriend Tracey Roberts is also aroused, but by jealousy and suspicion of his neglect and constant disappearances. There's also little Billy Barty as a regular beach visitor. The twists and turns are more dangerous than an old rickety beach rollercoaster, and it's a ride I did not want to see end.