Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) Conversation Over a Corpse (1956) User Reviews

Watch out for a band of old ladies!

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 10 November 2008]

This is entirely tongue in cheek. It involves a couple of elderly sisters. One of them quite dominating and the other rather passive. Enter a man played by Ray Collins (Lt. Tragg from Perry Mason). He wants their property and won't take no for an answer. They decide that they should kill him. The entire episode is a series of efforts to do away with the man while he sits there and listens. He is paralyzed for much of the episode. As time goes along, the sister that seems like the mouse begins to assert herself. It leads to a satisfying conclusion. It's best if you don't take this one too seriously.

The byplay between the two sisters and Collins' pleading are quite comical. I think a great deal of charm comes from the two women's cold bloodedness. They don't seem to care that they are about to murder someone, only how to do it.

Killing with kindness

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 4 May 2022]

"Conversation Over a Corpse" is the second 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode directed by Jules Bricken. Bricken only directed three episodes, but all three are well worth the look and one in particular is a lot better than some of the episodes directed by the most frequent directors. Bricken may not have been one of the best directors for the series, but deserved more of a chance and didn't get enough of one in my personal view.

Of the three episodes of Bricken's, my vote for the best is "Conversation Over a Corpse". One of the best episodes of an uneven Season 2 and the first great episode of the season. Is it a high point of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents?' No it isn't. But when it comes to entertainment value and atmosphere, "Conversation Over a Corpse" is one of the most entertaining in a dark way and most atmospheric, again in a way that chills in its own way.

It is at its weakest with Hitchcock's contribution in one of the few times of the series where his epilogue wasn't necessary and felt tacked on.

That's the only fault that could be found by me. It's well made, shot and lit with a good deal of atmosphere. It's not opulent as such but again it's not that kind of episode, neither is it cheap or simplistic. The music is some of the best of the series up to this point, the episode has a darkly comic tone and so does the style of the music (so one of the few to be scored perfectly). Bricken directs with a good deal more confidence and distinction, it was not bad at all in the previous episode but there was never anything exceptional whereas while not ground breaking there was nothing to find fault with.

Writing is very clever and darkly funny, as well as deliciously ironic, some of the funniest and most intelligent of the season and one of the main reasons as to why "Conversation Over a Corpse" is one of the standouts of Season 2. While not suspenseful as such perhaps, the story is still incredibly compelling, very atmospheric (especially the darker moments) and never stops entertaining. Cissie is a fascinating character.

Loved the interplay for the characters and other than the writing and the ending, that wasn't expected, the episode is worth seeing for the performance of Dorothy Stickney. Have not seen dottiness this entertaining or unsettling in goodness knows how long.

Summing up, great. 9/10.

Twisted, dark...and funny!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 20 February 2021]

"Conversation Over a Corpse" is one of the best episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" both because it has a wonderful script and a delightfully dotty performance by Dorothy Stickney as Cissie.

When the story begins, you learn that some time ago, Herbert (Ray Collins) bought an option on the home belonging to two sisters, Cissie and Joanna Enright. However, after taking that money some time ago, the sisters have had second thoughts about selling and now are in a much better situation financially. But Herbert doesn't care....he just wants to demolish the house and build something else on the property. To make it worse, Herbert seems to delight in the prospect of tossing the two elderly women out of the place! What's next? Perhaps, murder!

This is an episode best seen instead of described. You just have to watch Cissie and enjoy her story as it unfolds. Very clever, rather funny and, of course, quite dark!

Vintage Black Humor Hitchcock Style

[dougdoepke · 2 April 2016]

Deliciously done black humor. Aging Enright sisters are about to be put out of the family house by greedy wheeler-dealer Brenner (Collins). But despite their genteel appearance, they're not about to go quietly, at least as long as there's poison in the house. Trouble is ditzy Cissie (Stickney) doesn't like either cruel people or cruel deeds. So she gives Brenner only a half-dose. Now the three face-off in the parlor as Brenner hangs on desperately while the ladies decide how to finish the job.

The episode is strongly reminiscent of Kill With Kindness (Oct., 1956), down to feisty Carmen Mathews as the driving force. This entry, however, is more consistently tongue-in-cheek. Collins makes a good Scrooge, while Stickney manages a tricky part well. The upshot's nicely ironic made so by a clever script that eases subtly into the irony. All in all, it's vintage Hitchcock from the series second season.

KILL 'EM WITH YOUR FAMOUS COOKIES!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 1 September 2023]

Another fine episode by Frances Cockrell, who also brought lots of imagination and homicide to BATMAN a decade later.

Carmen Matthews and Dorothy Stickney, two superior stage and film actresses, are appropriately cast as the Enright sisters, about to lose the old homestead. In steps heartless, calculating Mr. Brenner (Ray Collins, just before his PERRY MASON days), ready to take control of the place and literally throw them into the street.

What to do? In the usual Hitchcock style, MURDER 101. He deserved it anyway, right? The thing Hitch must have recommended time and time again to his writers was to ALWAYS end an arguement with cold blooded murder. At least it spiced things up.

The two spinsters begin deliberations as to the best way to eliminate their guest, and eventually Brenner is sitting paralyzed and at their mercy. Didn't he like the tea and cookies?

Carmen Matthews, who was a Hitchcock favorite, much like Robert H. Harris, is again perfectly cast as the warm and gentle villain, and the brains of the outfit who is quite the cook... Wait for the ending...

Jules Bricken did a very good job directing this talented trio, and with experience; he also directed several episodes of Boris Karloff's macabre series, THRILLER. In the 60s Bricken produced one of the greatest WW II films ever, THE TRAIN, starring Burt Lancaster.

Best of SEASON 2, remastered Universal dvd box set (2006). These box sets are terrific, usually containing 5 dvds.

Enjoyable Light Relief

[Brian_o_Vretanos · 6/10 · 3 April 2007]

Two spinsters (Carmen Matthews and Dorothy Stickney) and have agreed to sell their house to a property developer (Ray Collins) but, regretting it, plan to kill him.

This episode is a very light hearted black comedy, as is clear from the incidental music. No psychological tension or heart-stopping suspense here, just a fun ride. The pace is maintained throughout - it never drags. The three main actors are all well suited to their roles. Carmen Matthews' part is similar to the one she played 4 episodes earlier (Kill with Kindness), though here she is a little more human, and the story itself is much more satisfying.

I didn't find the story predictable, and there was at least one surprise turn in the plot.

As with many of these episodes, this is one where you really could do without the obligatory "no-one must get away with a crime" epilogues which I dread even before Hitchcock opens his mouth. Still, it's better there than in the story itself.

So, sit back and enjoy...

"... your tea leaves say 'death'.

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 9 August 2021]

So, were Cissie (Dorothy Stickney) and Joanna (Carmen Mathews) sisters or not? Midway into the story, Cissie explains to the hapless Herbert Brenner (Ray Collins) that Joanna is really a spinster named Abigail who came on the scene after Cissie's real sister died and assumed her identity. I think that was thrown into the story line just to add to it's quirky nature, as the questionable siblings decide to take out the developer who had an option to buy their house before they decided to change their minds. I couldn't believe Brenner found it wise to take a drink of the poisoned whiskey, that was a classic case of someone being a two time loser. Part black comedy and part murder non-mystery, the crafty Cissie Enright notches a clever two-fer in order to keep her home. The woman apparently had no shame.

Note: Did you notice that at one time, orange juice came in cans?

Rib-tickling black comedy

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 7 August 2022]

A pair of sisters decide to play a devious game when the man who bought their house arrives for a visit. They serve up something extra special in their tea and cookies, in order to keep their home in the family.

Enjoyable black comedy that benefits from the three characters. Their acting is great. There's no murder, well only an attempted poisoning, but it's a change from a serious tone.