ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: THE FAITH OF AARON MENEFEE (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. Before the program begins, Hitchcock wryly presents a circus act featuring a far-jumping flea. In this episode, a young garage mechanic, Aaron Menefee, cheerfully helps a man with his car problems. He doubles over in pain from an ulcer, and the man, Otis Jones, is impressed with Aaron's honesty and reveals that he is a traveling healer and offers to cure him if he has proper faith, which he says that he does. Later, at Otis' tent meeting, he heals a woman and then cures Aaron's ulcers, much to his delight. Otis and his daughter Emily collect a large sum of money from the congregation, and Otis invites Aaron to travel with them as their "chauffeur." Aaron's friend Doc Buckles objects to his plan, saying that Aaron's father influenced him with erroneous ideas of "hellfire" and that he never had ulcers in the first place, but Aaron maintains his faith and leaves with the Joneses. Over time, he develops feelings for Emily and frets that the devil has influenced him, but Emily is interested as well and suggests that they get married. Aaron states that he wants Otis' blessing, and though Otis appreciates Aaron's faith, he explains that Emily's husband will need to take over the "family business" someday and that Aaron cannot handle the responsibility, saying that Emily can make her own choices only after his own death.
Emily vows to stay true to Aaron, and they eventually travel back to his hometown. He goes to visit his doctor friend, only to find that he is being held hostage by an escaped criminal, Vern Byers, recently shot and paralyzed by the police. Byers demands a better prognosis from Buckles, but Aaron intervenes, despite the doctor's protests, and says that he can bring a healer who will mend Byers' injuries. Byers offers him $1,000 for a cure, but swears to kill the man if he fails. Aaron brings Otis to the "sinner," and he prepares to attempt to fix the man, though Buckles knows it is hopeless. Hitchcock explains that the police caught up with Byers, though not before he did away with Otis, thus allowing Aaron and Emily to marry. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: January 30, 1962 8:30 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:16
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:46568
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1955-1962
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joan Harrison … Producer
- Norman Lloyd … Associate Producer, Director
- Ray Bradbury … Writer
- Stanley Ellin … Based on the story by
- Alfred Hitchcock … Host
- Sidney Blackmer … Cast, Otis Jones
- Andrew Prine … Cast, Aaron Menefee
- Maggie Pierce … Cast, Emily Jones
- Robert Armstrong … Cast, Doc Buckles
- Gail Bonney … Cast, The Woman
- Olan Soulé … Cast, Brother Fish
- Don Hammer … Cast, Vern Byers