Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series)

Conversation Over a Corpse (1956)

Alfred Hitchcock: Self - Host

Quotes 

• [introduction] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : [wearing a chef's hat and holding two ladles crossed over his chest]  Good evening. Tonight we offer you a generous portion of mystery, a pinch of comedy, just a soupcon of a commercial, all seasoned by a few irrelevant comments from your host. As you may know, food is a hobby of mine. I don't claim to be an expert cook, but I am rather a good eater. If you will wander into my kitchen, I'll allow you to watch me as I concoct some delicacy to tempt your palate.

  [camera follows him to what looks like a science lab] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : I cannot abide careless cookery.

  [puts down the ladles and opens a cookbook] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : Let me see. I've, uh, I've just added 10 cc's of sugar. All that is left is to add the white of one egg.

  [puts aside cookbook] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : And by the white, I do not refer to the clear gelatinous substance inside. Naturally, I mean the shell.

  [starts transferring broken half-shells into a mortar and pestle] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : This is where most amateur cooks make their mistakes. While you are waiting for me to finish, I suggest you turn your attention to tonight's story. It is called "Conversation Over a Corpse." It sounds like perfect dinner conversation.

• [afterword] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : [Hitchcock is wearing his chef's hat again, standing in the kitchen-lab]  She was no sissy. As a matter of fact, that was her downfall. She wanted to steady her nerves before the police came, so she took a few slugs. Very sad.

  [Hitchcock shrugs slightly] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : Except for the newspapers who detected a love triangle. The picture papers had a more fun than at a hanging. Well, so much for tonight's cooking demonstration.

  [takes off chef's hat and holds it closed] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : I hope I've made everything clear. Next time, I shall show you how to prepare an exotic delicacy. White hunter à la Mau Mau. You'll be the talk of your neighborhood. I shall also reveal one of my own culinary secrets, how to remove the wrapper from a frozen food package without tearing the directions. Good night.