The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – “An Unlocked Window”

Sep 27, 2022

by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: February 15, 1965

Directed by: Joseph M. Newman

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

Synopsis: A rash of brutal and inexplicable murders of young female nurses shocks the neighborhood and surrounding town where they occur. During a dark and stormy night, on a lonely and isolated estate, beautiful but forgetful Nurse Stella Crosson (Dana Wynter) and her associate Nurse Betty Ames (T.C. Jones) care for bed-ridden but improving patient Glendon Baker (John Kerr). As the night progresses, the pair must contend with an unwelcome intruder – the malignant and sadistic serial killer.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Easygoing Sam Isles (E.J. Andre), caretaker for the estate, takes coffee and reads the newspaper at the kitchen table, with Gus the tabby cat resting comfortably on his lap.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus sitting on lap of Sam E.J. Andre who is reading paper
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus sitting on lap of Sam E.J. Andre

Upon being directed to drive to the clinic for another oxygen tank, Sam walks to the door and places the cat on the floor.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus sitting on lap of Sam E.J. Andre with Stella Dana Wynter, Maude Louise Latham and Betty T.C. Jones

When Nurse Crosson is scared by a mouse in the cellar, voluble and excitable Maude Isles (Louise Latham), wife to Sam and cook and housekeeper for the estate, snatches Gus from his kitchen pillow and tosses him downstairs to undertake some proper mouse-hunting.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus sitting on chair
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus picked up by Maude Louise Latham
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus about to be tossed down stairs by Maude Louise Latham
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus being tossed down stairs by Maude Louise Latham animated gif

Gus is not intent on the mouse, but noses about the cellar floor in a slip-shod manner and meows a bit.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus in dark cellar

Next, Gus hops up to an unsecured window in the cellar, which Nurse Crosson, in her carelessness, neglected to close.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus climbing up near open cellar window

Undisturbed by the thunder and lightning and the rain coming through the flapping window, Gus rests on a blanket.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus lying on blanket looking up at unlocked cellar window

After a bit, Gus darts out through the window and into the storm. Note that a clear filament is used to actually pull the window open.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus looking at open cellar window with line attached
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus about to go out of open cellar window
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus going out through open window pulled by string animated gif

Gus is next seen scratching on Glendon’s bedroom window.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus outside window in rain

Nurse Crosson opens the window to let him in out of the rain, and the cat quickly leaps onto the invalid’s bed and makes himself at home. It’s interesting to note that at this point Nurse Crosson refers to Gus as being a female cat, even though Maude earlier referred to Gus as a male.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus coming in window wet from rain
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus leaping for bed past Stella Dana Wynter where Glendon John Kerr is lying
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus on bed with Stella Dana Wynter and Glendon John Kerr
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus leaping for bed past Stella Dana Wynter where Glendon John Kerr is lying animated gif

For the remainder of the episode, Gus is curled up cozily on the bed, even during the moments when an increasingly terrified Nurse Crosson unsuccessfully struggles to waken Glendon.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus on bed with Stella Dana Wynter and Glendon John Kerr
Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus on bed with Stella Dana Wynter and Glendon John Kerr

It is very likely that this was a member (or members) of the Orangey team playing the role of Gus.

Alfred Hitchcock Hour - An Unlocked Window - ginger tabby cat Gus looking at open cellar window

Final Mewsings: A female cat named Gus? A tip off to the surprise ending perhaps??

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