Alfred Hitchcock Presents – “There Was an Old Woman”

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 1 DVD

Original Air Date: March 18, 1956
Starring: Estelle Winwood, Charles Bronson, Norma Crane
Directed by: Robert Stevenson

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: A desperate couple named Frank and Lorna Bramwell (Charles Bronson and Norma Crane) visit the home of the elderly Monica Laughton (Estelle Winwood) hoping to rob the senile woman of her hidden riches.

Featured Feline: Monica Laughton owns an orange tabby cat named Tippie who is featured in several scenes.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie on chair behind Monica Laughton Estelle Winwood

The Bramwells are surprised when they are invited inside the Laughton home and find Monica staging a funeral with a body and guests who are not really there. Monica talks to her invisible guests and then scolds Tippie, who is lying on a chair. She says he is getting fat and lazy and not going after the mice like he should.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie on chair with Monica Laughton Estelle Winwood

Tippie is also present at the dinner thrown by Monica for the same imaginary guests complete with imaginary food. The Bramwells are more than disappointed.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie on table with Estelle Winwood Charles Bronson and Norma Crane

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie on table with Lorna Norma Crane

The next morning Monica finds Tippie with his nose in a bowl in the kitchen.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie with nose in bowl in kitchen

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie scolded by Monica Estelle Winwood

She scolds Tippie and explains that she is making cupcakes for the mice and includes rat poison to get rid of them.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat Tippie beside mixing bowl

It is very likely that members of the cat team known as Orangey played the role in this episode.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - There Was an Old Woman - orangy tabby cat on chair behind Monica Laughton Estelle Winwood

Final Mewsings: Cats have no problem sharing space with imaginary people.

Many thanks to Ted Davis who spotted this Television Tabby for us!


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