Alfred Hitchcock Presents

A very typical story by "Saki", the Edwardian writer who died in the First World War, and Hermione Gingold is perfectly cast in the lead. The only problem is that there's not much of a punchline to the plot - one wishes, rather, to see the ghastly, uncaring parents getting a bit more of a comeuppance. Certainly one expects Miss Hope's pet cheetah to play a livelier part in the proceedings. However, the actors are fine - though it's a surprise to find Tom Conway uncredited in a key role, and to find Patricia Hitchcock, a regular on her father's series, in so small a part - and the overall tone is very droll in its quiet way.