At an art gallery, Mark is surprised when the art dealer hands over a portrait of Mark's first wife instead of the painting he'd originally purchased.At an art gallery, Mark is surprised when the art dealer hands over a portrait of Mark's first wife instead of the painting he'd originally purchased.At an art gallery, Mark is surprised when the art dealer hands over a portrait of Mark's first wife instead of the painting he'd originally purchased.
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Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen Clymer sits down on his staircase and pours himself a drink, his glass and the bottle of wine instantly switch hands after the camera changes view.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Himself - Host: [Hitchcock is studying his thumb intently] What an extraordinary thumb. It completely obscures the subject I'm painting. I used to paint along the roadside. But I had to quit. Motorists insisted on giving me rides. Hold that pose. Remain perfectly still for the next half hour. Care to see my handiwork? I have several canvases ready.
[holds up signs with Post No Bills and Kilroy Was Here on them]
Himself - Host: Or, if you like something more exotic...
[holds up another sign with Pas de Stationnement]
Himself - Host: It's French, and of course...
[holds up another sign with Please Stand By]
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
At least decent "Portrait of Jocelyn" indeed was. Would go as far to say that it is an excellent episode and among Stevens' best early entries. Also in the better half of Season 1, which had its missteps but was mostly solid (sorry if that has been repeated too much in previous reviews). "Portrait of Jocelyn" really does make the most of the premise and manages to not be over-predictable, it also does live up to its beautiful and unsettling-sounding title.
Maybe it has a few too many convenient coincidences later on.
"Portrait of Jocelyn" otherwise has an absorbing story that may not be original, but to me it did have creepiness and suspense. And in a way that is reminiscent of Hitchcock at his best, 'Psycho' and 'Vertigo' have been cited. The ending is a complete surprise and at least rings true (not always the case with the series) and the characters are not psychologically simplistic. The hold the portrait has over Mark mentally does unsettle.
The writing is taut without being wordy and intelligent, while the direction ensures that the atmosphere doesn't slip while also letting the story breathe yet not losing the momentum or coherence. It doesn't feel padded or confusing. It's a good looking episode, especially the atmospheric photography in the early stages.
Have no issues with the acting either, while Phillip Abbott carries the story very nicely and makes it easy to root for him and Nancy Gates allures John Baragrey stands out. Hitchcock's bookending is typically ironic and the main theme has lost none of its memorability.
In conclusion, excellent. 9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 22, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1