A Rare Episode from ‘ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS’ Oct/1957

Old Hollywood Newsletter - Body House Chronicles

3 min readJan 8, 2024

This is one of the two Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes from October 1957.

https://odysee.com/AHP_The_Sorcerers_Apprentice_512kb:3e3379621e5557011f48bc0a83d8a7d7b48d8cf1

Here is a quick run down of the episode which is well worth the watch…

The plot revolves around a carnival magician, Sadini (played by David J. Stewart), finding a teenage boy (Brandon de Wilde) passed out on the grounds. Sadini proceeds to care for the boy, to the chagrin of his beautiful wife and assistant, Irene (Diana Dors — who looks like a cross between Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe).

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When the boy awakens, he refers to them (Sadini and his wife) as an angel and the devil. His name is Hugo, and he is either mentally disabled or just “slow.”

As is so often the case in media from previous generations, Hugo’s condition is made fun of in a crass manner. However, Hugo’s condition is also the catalyst which takes the storyline from initial sympathy to complete disaster.

Without giving you so much information as to create a spoiler for you, I will say that Irene (Sadini’s wife) is more the devil than the angel and the poor magician maybe just unaware and a hapless victim. Have a look and see.

This episode was directed by Joseph Leytes and written by Psycho screenwriter Robert Bloch.

Although it did not air during the run of the show, it was sold in syndication.

If you have interest in Hitchcock or Bloch’s work this episode of Hitchcock Presents is well worth a watch. Keep in mind, that it may be hidden from view soon.. (it’s blocked from being uploaded to youtube).

Watch while you can below (while you can)….