A detective is called to a backstage theatre after a body is discovered in the cellar. His investigation takes him into the weird world of an aging ventriloquist and his female dummy.
Another memorable episode from that marvelous first year. And what a casting coup thanks to the producers and probably the Hitchcock name—it's a subtly persuasive Claude Rains, a distinctive looking Charles Bronson, and a strangely sultry ventriloquist's dummy. Then too, I knew I was in trouble when I went looking for the dummy's name in the credit-roll. Seems ventriloquist Fabian (Rains) is having the same problem since his truth-telling super-ego is splitting off and entering the lovely dummy. Sometimes it's even hard to know who's doing the talking.
Okay, you've likely seen this "live" dummy premise before. But it's very well done here, thanks mainly to Rains who refuses to go over the top. Also, Bronson, as a cop, gets lots of close- ups, the camera seemingly fascinated with his unusual features. That's likely no accident since an ordinary looking cop would not fit the exotic theme nearly as well. Anyway, it's a subtly weird slice of abnormal psychology, along with a fine screenplay from noir veteran Mel Dinelli.