User Reviews

Robert H. Harris returns for what is his fourth appearance so far in this series to play a kindly book keeper who is excited by the fact that a long lost love from his past is finally returning to him. They finally meet and reconcile, but, she's defiantly an odd one, and keeping what is said to be the baby of her deceased sister locked in a room for no one to see. The cast makes this pretty sad entry enjoyable you have Harris, character actors George Mathews, Ellen Corby, and Mary Wickes. The best however is the frantic performance from Jessica Tandy.

Except for Broadway star Tandy, it's a great line-up of supporting players from that TV period. For example, catch the colorful two-some (Mathews & Corby) from lower-class heck. I guess they won't be dining with the queen any time soon. Then there's lanky, hawk-nosed Mary Wickes as a Gen. Patton landlady not to fool with. And what's the deal with middle-aged Tandy and Harris. They're getting back together after years apart. Seems like neither gave up a longing for the other. So why then did they part. But now she's got her dead sister's baby, Toby, to care for. Yet Harris doesn't mind, even if no one gets a chance to see the kid kept hidden in its blanket bundle. Besides, Tandy flies off the handle at unexpected times, leaving poor Harris confused and forlorn.

Of course, suspense builds around the unseen Toby and the baby's unpredictable step-mom. But it's really a human-interest tale embodied by Harris's affecting turn. Good to see a story revolve around a homely guy's feelings for a change, especially in the glamour obsessed 1950's. Can't say much for the payoff, however. It's not very plausible if you think about it. Considering the 'rose' symbolism that's gone before, maybe it's supposed to be symbolic of bad luck. Anyhow, the entry's a good chance to catch unsung Hollywood at its colorful and affecting best.

I know that my comments sometimes go over the same ground. With the pressure of producing so many of these little stories, there is going to be a clinker in the lot. A lonely man who left his only love is about to get her back. He is scared and apprehensive and unsure. He banters with the local characters and sets up shop for her reappearance. Apparently, a personal ad leads to their reunion. They are going to be married. The woman finally shows up and she is pretty strange. She has a baby with her. It is supposedly the son (Toby) of her now deceased sister. She immediately puts him in a spare bedroom and that's where he stays. She occasionally gets a baby bottle of warm milk to give to little Toby. Weeks pass and nobody sees the baby. This gets so far fetched that at some point we say "Right!" I had it figured out about five minutes after she appeared. Still, Jessica Tandy being the consummate actress, really hams it up and does what she can with this clinker.

Hitch gave a hint in his introduction of the episode warm up baby bottle, exposing a bit of morbidity about to come when a mid-age bachelor Albert Birch (Robert H Harris) thru an adds on newspaper finds out his old girlfriend Edwina (Jessica Tandy) which invites her to live with him for a future marriage, turns out that the old lady brings a baby named Toby, on what Albert asking her if was married before, Edwina answer she never was, the baby is gave to her due his sister and husband died on car's accident, henceforth she got the right to raise the little one, relieving the already worried Albert.

Although something suspicious comes across due Edwina never allowed Albert to see Toby whatsoever, such odd things arouse inkling on Albert, worst to trying give a kiss at Edwina's face she becomes furious without any fair explanation, the upstairs neighbors also perceive her bitterness behavior, Albert often was called to warm up a milk to Toby, nonetheless the baby feeding in done on closed door, then things going bad when the comes to surface soon.

Jessica Tandy is a fabulous actress on these kind of role as Edwina surely mentally ill, we can envisage her on "Driving Miss Daisy" as stubborn lady, another high point is Robert H Harris in a convincing performance as heartbroken man, simply great.

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First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25.

Another fine acting-turn for the always-watchable Robert Harris. Interesting, also, to see him paired with the excellent-actress Jessica Tandy, of much-later "Driving Miss Daisy" fame. This was an especially-interesting episode for me in that it's set in the early 20th-century--1910 New York City to be precise--a rather-refreshing break from "modern" settings & stories. There have been other exceptions in the Hitchcock-series, too, such as "The Older Sister", set in late 19th-century New England, a tale based on the Lizzie Borden murder-case. Tandy, though quite-attractive here, convincingly-looks every-inch the 1910 spinster. Harris portrays a "nice" character here. Tandy is "nice", as well, but upon her arrival, quickly-reveals that something's amiss with her mentally. I won't rehash the plot but this is an effective-episode, one that builds, not so-much suspense, as curiosity as to just what's going-on with Tandy & her mounting-paranoia over her baby. Harris is quite-mystified by her strange-outbursts & nervous-behavior but ultimately is sympathetic to his intended's plight. Tandy, by program's end, becomes understandable. Harris, though, is devastated by realizing that he's largely to blame for her predicament. Nice twist at finale, whether one guesses it early-on or not. I, for one, didn't. A different kind-of Hitchcock-episode, especially-good because it IS different!

"Toby" is director Robert Stevens' second 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode in a row and his third one of Season 2 (the first one being "De Mortuis"). The previous one being the previous episode "None are So Blind". The premise sounded very interesting and potentially suspenseful and Jessica Tandy was a fine actress. Robert H. Harris was no stranger to 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and nearly always delivered in a good way, even in episodes beneath him.

While all the previous Season 2 are watchable or more, though the season did get off to an underwhelming start with "Wet Saturday", none of them wowed me. Even the best one, the pretty good "De Mortuis". "Toby" is another one of the Season 2 episodes that is worth a one time watch, but not wow-worthy. Not much wows here either, other than the cast in yet another Season 2 outing where the cast are better than the episode itself.

Am going to start with the good. Tandy is marvellous, alluring yet suitably enigmatic, and the main reason to see "Toby". Harris also comes off very well, bringing grit and also an affecting quality that makes him easy to sympathise with. The supporting cast are a very colourful lot, and the characters are all psychologically intriguing (a lot more so than the story).

Hitchcock's bookending is amusing and typically dry-humoured. The episode starts off quite well, the production values have some nice atmosphere and the main theme is haunting.

On the other hand, the story could have been a lot better. It could have had a good deal more tension and didn't feel that suspenseful. It is also rather safe and predictable with an ending that is not a surprise at all. More could have been done with the psychological aspect of it, the set up is intriguing and neat but it isn't fully explored and is not insightful enough.

Stevens' direction is competent but also undistinguished. The script could have been tauter and not felt as over-heated. It would have benefitted from being longer, 30 minutes is not long enough for a story like this and that's why the psychological aspect of the story suffered.

In conclusion, a rather mixed bag. 5/10.

A previous poster states that Ellen Corby had not been in an AHP episode before this one. She was in Season 1, Episode 3: Triggers In Leash. She was Maggie, the lady who owned the diner who tried to stop the duel between Gene Barry and Darren McGavin.

"Toby" is an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" that left me cold. I really wanted to like it but found it profoundly sad....and unlike most other episodes.

Albert Birch (Robert Harris) is an excited man. The woman he loved long, long ago is coming to see him and live in his rooming house...and he wants to make everything perfect for Edwina (Jessica Tandy). And, when she arrives, at first it seems as if everything IS perfect and they pick up where they left off. But, sadly, she has severe issues....and as such, Tandy does something I never thought I'd see her do...overact.

When the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" show is at its best, it has a great twist at the end that surprises the viewer. This one, in contrast, isn't much of a surprise and instead of leaving the viewer impressed, this one just left me depressed. A sad episode that just didn't satisfy my need for the great plot twist.

Please excuse me, but I made a mistake. I wrote the comment on the next episode lines - ALIBI ME. So please, if you want to read my comment, go to the very next episode and you will have them. Sorry again.

In a series such as this, not every episode hits the spot, and this is one of those.

A new tenant (Edwina, Jessica Tandy) arrives in an unsalubrious New York apartment block, and back into the life of one of the tenants (Albert, Robert Harris) after 20 years. But what is she hiding?

The supporting cast are good throughout - they set the scene very well, play likable characters and also provide the main impetus that moves the plot along, but the problem is really with the script. We aren't given enough insight into either of the main characters. Although we can sympathise with Albert, there is nothing perilous or threatening to provide tension. We never get to see things from Edwina's point of view, so it's difficult to care about her either.

As for the final revelation, I'm afraid that this was one of the two I'd considered from early on, so was a bit of a let-down.

All in all, not a completely unenjoyable ride, but definitely one of the lesser offerings in a great series.

I enjoyed this episode very much.

Our episode centers on two characters that are seen early on. Albert is preparing for a reunion with a lady he used to have a romantic relationship with. He's a bundle of nerves and is quite anxious about all of this. Edwina loves roses and a vase is being prepared for roses to be put in there. The handle of the case breaks off and Albert's nerves go into overdrive as he laments that this is a bad omen.

Edwina shows up and she's got a surprise with her. She claims she's taking care of her sister's baby after the deaths of her sister and the child's father. She's being very mysterious about this child. Nobody can see the baby. Edwina has the child bundled up and claims were the child had just gotten over scarlet fever. Albert's not the only one talking. A couple of people that live in the apartment are harassing Edwina about when will they get to see the baby. Albert shows what a good guy he is and he lies and says he's seen the baby in order to get them off Edwina's back. But you can tell the confusion is mounting even more inside of Albert.

It's not just the baby that Albert's concerned about. Edwina's having mood swings. It's not played for laughs imo. Albert had given Edwina a rose to pin on a hat and she seemed so pleased with it and now she's angry and crumpling it up. Edwina's ranting about her life. Oh, she tried to get over Albert and now she comes crawling back to him courtesy of an ad in the newspaper. She talks about her loneliness and perception of people getting further away from her.

It's all starting to come out and the final piece of the puzzle is about to be slipped into place. Edwina's mentally ill. Men arrive to come pick her back up to take her back to the facility for her own safety. They were surprised she ran off, especially since the roses are growing and she loves them so.

But what about Toby? Edwina leaves Toby in Albert's care and he's about to see who Toby is. Toby turns out to be a cat! I loved that reveal tbh. I'm in my late 30s and I'm childless. I'm also somebody that treats my cats like they're my kids. So yeah, I think Edwina was ahead of the game with her 'furkid'. One has to feel for Albert. He reacts with such devastation once he sees Toby's a cat. I think seeing Toby was the final bit of hope and optimism he had about a future with Edwina going down the drain.

Enjoyable episode and I liked how Jessica Tandy approached her role of Edwina. But I'll also snark a bit at the elephant in the room. Albert didn't hear a cat meowing? Edwina must've been sharp on cleaning up cat poop and pee. I say that because of how the other people in the apartment acted towards Edwina. I think she would've been scared to take Toby outside if anybody else was outside to talk to her.

Alfred Hitchcock worked a lot with two veterans on his acclaimed tv show; director Robert Stevens and actor Robert H. Harris. Stevens was the man behind the pioneer tv mystery show SUSPENSE and Harris, a fabulous character actor, who played little guys who got themselves into big trouble. He also was a master of makeup and voices, his career beginning in the late 1930s on stage at the Yiddish theatre in New York. His wife was also an accomplised actress.

Harris plays a middle-age gent named Albert who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Edwina (played by noneother than Jessica Tandy). It's been twenty years and the fire is still burning in his heart -- even when she arrives with what "appears" to be a baby? And why all the mystery?

I do agree with the last reviewer; although well directed, the script has some unanswered questions... What exactly is the story behind Edwina?

Rounding out the cast are two of the very best character actresses ever. Mary Wickes plays the landlady, always fun to watch her as a busybody with a few wisecracks thrown in for fun. A few years before this episode she had a great role in WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954). Ellen Corby plays Marie, likewise best as a neighbor or friend with lots of suspicions and questions. One reviewer noted, Ellen was everywhere in both movies and tv. True, due to the fact she began her lengthy career as a movie script girl in the 1930s and mixed with many top performers, so it was no surprise when she turned to acting, and even an Oscar nomination in the late 40s for I REMEMEMBER MAMA.

Another one to watch, albeit closely. Hitch, though, will not let you down.

From SEASON 3 remastered Universal dvd box set.