This is a story in which the truth wins out in the end as it always does. What didn't seem credible to me was how the butler Pedro (Eugene Iglesias) went along with the plan of his lover Consuela (Madlyn Rhue) to oust Dianne Castillejo from her marriage and home. It would have meant Consuela stealing Dianne's husband Victor (Anthony George) and marrying him to cash in on his money and lavish estate. Who would go along with that plan? Pedro's admission of what really happened when the Castillejo's son drowned would have occurred much sooner under proper questioning by the inquest; you could see how uncomfortable he was when confronted by Victor. You have to credit Dianne for going to the St. Cecilia Mission Orphanage to try for another adoption. That's where she learned of Consuela's deception which then enabled her to expose the scheming blackmailer. The reconciliation between Victor and Dianne at the finale was another of those rare happy endings to a Hitchcock drama, even if it meant for Dianne to seek out the therapy she needed to kick her alcohol habit.
7 Reviews
Solely for the beautiful and appealing Lois Nettleton--tune in!
smithbea3 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This ep stars the great Miss. Nettleton (Norma from 'The Midnight Sun' ep of 'The Twilight Zone'). She is mostly of all of it. She is sensational in every scene (right down to the last scene when she says ought to be divorced--she is putting herself down so much).
Soap Opera
HEFILM26 May 2013
An early episode in the Hour Long version of the Hitchcock TV series produced by the frequently uneven Joan Harrison. It's well acted--by the female lead-- but is really just a soap opera type story. Though the kick off of the episode is the death of a child but even that is mostly treated as melodrama. Jack Smight--who made some good features--doesn't bring much to the show style-wise. The only real filmic sequence, involving a drinking montage, is almost laughable. The photography and stock music are also unremarkable. This just isn't really very much like anything Hitchcock related, no suspense sequences or sense of menace--other than a few campy looks from the villain of the piece. The whole thing has a high "skip it" factor of this episode. The hour long shows got much better than this.
Not Standard Hitchcock
dougdoepke27 March 2015
During a brief highball indoors, a rich man's wife neglects her adopted toddler, who then drowns in the pool. The child's nanny takes the blame since the wife is a recovering alcoholic doing her best. Will the wife now relapse, especially when a conniving woman claiming to be the toddler's real mother enters the household to blackmail her.
I have to agree with reviewer HEFILM: the episode is more soap opera than standard Hitch fare. There's some human interest as we wonder how Dianne (Nettleton) will adjust to the baby's loss. Still the 60-minutes is missing both atmosphere and ironic ending, standard series trademarks. Then too, the screenplay's padding into an hour's runtime is noticeable, especially with Dianne's repeated imbibing long after we've gotten the point. I'm not saying the story's without interest-- Nettleton was a fine actress from that era. Nonetheless, the gist is more suitable for daytime TV than trademark Hitchcock. So don't expect the series' typical fare
I have to agree with reviewer HEFILM: the episode is more soap opera than standard Hitch fare. There's some human interest as we wonder how Dianne (Nettleton) will adjust to the baby's loss. Still the 60-minutes is missing both atmosphere and ironic ending, standard series trademarks. Then too, the screenplay's padding into an hour's runtime is noticeable, especially with Dianne's repeated imbibing long after we've gotten the point. I'm not saying the story's without interest-- Nettleton was a fine actress from that era. Nonetheless, the gist is more suitable for daytime TV than trademark Hitchcock. So don't expect the series' typical fare
Lois Nettleton and Madlyn Rhue
kevinolzak16 March 2012
"The Dark Pool" focuses on Dianne Castillejo (Lois Nettleton), the young mother of an adopted son who accidentally drowns in the family pool while she is occupied on the telephone conversing with her husband Victor (Anthony George). The coroner's final judgment is death by accident, but Victor believes that the child's nanny, Mrs. Gibbs (Doris Lloyd), is to blame for being negligent. Mrs. Gibbs, Dianne's nanny until age 12, and ever devoted to the grieving mother, is willing to take the blame so long as Victor remains unaware of Dianne's recurring alcoholism. Unfortunately, trouble starts when a strange woman (Madlyn Rhue) shows up on their doorstep, claiming to be the child's birth mother, and threatening blackmail to hide Dianne's drinking problem. Madlyn Rhue is best remembered for the classic STAR TREK episode "Space Seed," and the cast also includes David White (Darren's boss on BEWITCHED) and John Zaremba.
The plot isn't especially believable and the story really unpleasant.
planktonrules11 May 2021
The story starts with a mother (Lois Nettleton) with her baby. Apparently the family is rich, as they also have a nanny and a butler. Oddly, when the phone rings, neither the nanny nor butler answer it and the mother goes to answer the call...leaving the baby in a playpen by the pool. When she returns, the baby had somehow gotten out and drowned.
The death was ruled an accident. One thing no one at the inquest knew is that the mother had been drinking. She was NOT drunk....but apparently was in recovery and had promised her husband never to drink again. So, the mother is thankful no one was the wiser. Soon, however, a woman arrives and begins blackmailing the mother...and she somehow knew the mom had been drinking.
While this setup is very good (as well as very sad), the show never seemed realistic in how the mother dealt with the blackmailers. It also made little sense what happened next. It seemed beyond belief...and rather cruel to watch. I did not enjoy this one....and I agree with HEFILM...it's one you might want to skip.
The death was ruled an accident. One thing no one at the inquest knew is that the mother had been drinking. She was NOT drunk....but apparently was in recovery and had promised her husband never to drink again. So, the mother is thankful no one was the wiser. Soon, however, a woman arrives and begins blackmailing the mother...and she somehow knew the mom had been drinking.
While this setup is very good (as well as very sad), the show never seemed realistic in how the mother dealt with the blackmailers. It also made little sense what happened next. It seemed beyond belief...and rather cruel to watch. I did not enjoy this one....and I agree with HEFILM...it's one you might want to skip.
Like a Hundred Other Shows
Hitchcoc16 May 2023
A rich alcoholic woman leaves her adopted toddler unattended and he falls into a swimming pool and drowns. She was drinking (which she had promised not to do) and is now filled with guilt. Who should come along but an extortionist, the lover of a young man who has worked in the big house for years has her sites on big bucks. There is nothing mysterious or ironic about this. The woman is tortured and must, at some point, face the music. But such an action may be the end of all she has come to know. For modern viewers, the bad people are Hispanic and are trying move above their station. This is a bit sickening. Anyway, not much of an effort for this anthology.
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