# The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962)

> Alfred Hitchcock hosts a rotating set of self-contained thrillers and murder mysteries from the early 1960s.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/20021

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 93
- Episode runtime: 51 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, mystery, drama
- Created by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Network: NBC, CBS
- Cast: Alfred Hitchcock, Bronwyn FitzSimons, Victor Jory, Read Morgan, Lawrence Tierney, Joseph Ruskin, Jessica Walter, Don Chastain
- TMDB rating: 8.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055657/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: wry, suspenseful, playful, tense

## What critics say

Viewers broadly regard the anthology as a well-crafted run of suspenseful, twist-driven stories elevated by Hitchcock's hosting and his sly rivalry with sponsors.

## Synopsis

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965) is a United States anthology crime series created by Alfred Hitchcock for NBC and CBS. Hitchcock himself serves as the host, appearing in every one of its 93 episodes across three seasons to introduce and close each self-contained story. Rather than following a single set of characters, the show presents a fresh cast in each hour-long episode, usually ordinary people caught in a blackmail scheme, a jealous plot, a stalker's pursuit or a murder that unravels under pressure. The engine of each installment is a compact puzzle: a character wants something badly, an obstacle or a rival stands in the way, and the story turns on a sharp reversal near its close. Each episode runs about fifty-one minutes and is built from tightly paced scenes, moody sets and crisp dialogue. The overall tone is wry and suspenseful, with dark stories delivered through Hitchcock's dry, playful commentary and a sly sense of humor about the murders he introduces. Fans of Hitchcock's signature sensibility, along with viewers of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Thriller and The Twilight Zone, will find this mid-century anthology a satisfying hour of suspense.

## Shows like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

- [Fantasy Island (1978)](https://ember.film/tv/36505)
- [Murder, She Wrote (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/454)
- [One Step Beyond (1959)](https://ember.film/tv/9638)
- [Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder (1987)](https://ember.film/tv/66216)
- [Thriller (1960)](https://ember.film/tv/11450)
- [Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/15039)
- [Miss Marple: Nemesis (1987)](https://ember.film/tv/42983)
- [Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/66211)
- [Night Gallery (1970)](https://ember.film/tv/4103)
- [Tales of the Unexpected (1979)](https://ember.film/tv/2085)

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