And So Died Riabouchinska
- Episode aired Feb 12, 1956
- TV-14
- 30m
Detective Krovitch investigates a murder at a run-down vaudeville theater and gets a hot lead from the ventriloquist's dummy.Detective Krovitch investigates a murder at a run-down vaudeville theater and gets a hot lead from the ventriloquist's dummy.Detective Krovitch investigates a murder at a run-down vaudeville theater and gets a hot lead from the ventriloquist's dummy.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMel Dinelli originally adapted Ray Bradbury's short story for the radio series Suspense. When he wrote the teleplay for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, he based it off his radio play, rather than the original short story.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Alfred Hitchcock - Host: Good evening. This misty bit of ectoplasm forming on the inside of your television screen is one Alfred Hitchcock, coming to you from across that great barrier that divides the quick from the dead: the Atlantic Ocean. I have materialized for the express purpose of warning you that, during tonight's seance, you will witness a playlet entitled "And So Died Riabouchinska." Oh, yes. Before we have our play, I would like to make an announcement to those of you who can't stay until the end...
[looks left and right furtively before leaning into the camera]
Alfred Hitchcock - Host: The butler did it.
- ConnectionsVersion of The Ray Bradbury Theater: And So Died Riabouchinska (1988)
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
Which was to me a wonderful episode and worthy of Hitchcock. One of my very easy favourites of Season 1 and of the early seasons and up to this stage of the series it is the best in quite some time. It is set in a setting that is such a perfect fit for the series, a perfect fit for Bradbury's character writing to shine and perfect for the type of story it is. It is one of Robert Stevenson's best directed episodes for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' that sees a darker side to him than usual.
It is a well made episode, with some very stylish and haunting close ups standing out. Particularly of the titular character, one that both disturbs and enchants. Not to mention some nice eerie lighting. Scoring is not intrusive and is not discordant with the mood. The series' main theme has lost none of its devillish quality and it is one of those pieces of pre-existing classical music that one doesn't look at in the same way again after watching at least one episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'.
"And So Died Riabouchinska" is beautifully directed by Stevenson, in one of his most atmospheric and accomplished directing jobs of all his outings for the series. He does taut and suspenseful better than any episode of his that he directed before and since, takes full advantage of the setting and story, gets bolder with each scene and he lets the tale breathe too. Bradbury's work is adapted spot on here, it doesn't come over as too talky and it always intrigues. The human psychology is very vivid, insightful and haunting, as well as unmistakably Bradbury, things that were not there in "Shopping for Death".
Hitchcock's bookending is as droll as ever, while the story is the creepiest one since "The Case of Mr Pelham" and is in places tragic. Rains is in a challenging and different role and does an absolutely fantastic job in a portrayal that wrenches the gut. The titular character is used to great effect and the chemistry between her and Rains contribute towards many memorable parts. Look out for young and vigorous Charles Bronson.
Summing up, wonderful. 10/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 2, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1