Because of the public domain status of this episode, it thrives in numerous VHS and DVD releases attached to the Hitchcock name, usually as an addition to a Hitchcock set, often with his silent era pieces that also have lapsed copyrights. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", once denied network broadcast, is now the most widely distributed Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode of all those produced. The episode eventually was released in the program's syndication package to affiliate stations without a word of complaint from anyone. The following season, Alfred Hitchcock Presents switched to a 1-hour format and a new name ( The Alfred Hitchcock Hour), thus rendering the half-hour episode unusable. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents never aired on the NBC Television network because the finale, by 1960s standards, was deemed "too gruesome" by sponsor Revlon. Nobody called me on the carpet because of this capricious decision - as a matter of fact, when the series went into syndication, my show was duly televised without a word from the powers that be.” Lost episode and public domain This show was simply ‘too gruesome’ to be aired. Bloch said "When the network censors viewed the teleplay there was thunder from on high. It was the only half hour episode of Presents to be refused to be broadcast. The script was based on a short story by Robert Bloch which had appeared in the January 1949 edition of Weird Tales. As for the police, they misunderstood the whole thing and arrested Hugo for murder." Hugo was terribly upset, and Irene was beside herself. The saw worked excellently, but the wand didn't. In his closing monologue, Hitchcock explains, "I don't quite know how to put this, however, I must tell you the truth. Hugo shouts, "Smile, Irene! Smile! Smile!," as the picture fades to black. There, as a demonstration of his newly acquired magical powers, he attempts to perform Sadini's "sawing a woman in half" trick on Irene, to her horror as she awakens screaming. Hugo scoops up Irene and carries her off to the performance tent. Startled by Hugo's demeanor, Irene tries to escape but she slips and falls, hitting her head and falling unconscious. He tries to convince Irene to run away with him. Hugo leaves him in the trailer with the body, and goes to George's trailer in Sadini's cape, wand in hand. George arrives in a drunken state to warn Hugo of Irene's intentions, but he passes out. When Sadini arrives, Hugo stabs him to death and hides the body in a trunk. Late at night while Irene is with George, Hugo waits in Sadini's trailer. Irene uses Hugo's inability to distinguish fantasy from reality to convince the boy that by killing Sadini, he will inherit Sadini's magic wand and gain its powers. Irene plans to murder her husband and frame Hugo for the crime. Sadini offers Hugo a job with the Keeley's Carnival assisting with his props. Hugo becomes fascinated, especially when Sadini saws Irene in half and then "restores" her. Hugo and George watch Sadini's magic act together. ![]() He follows her around the carnival, inadvertently discovering that she is cheating on Sadini with George Morris, the high-wire artist. The boy, Hugo, regains his strength and becomes infatuated with Irene. ![]() The boy also compares Sadini's appearance to that of the devil.Īlfred Hitchcock Presents features Brandon deWilde as the mentally troubled Hugo in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" episode. Displeased by the youth's presence, Irene finally accedes to Sadini's request to get food for the lad after the boy describes her as an angel. A short time later, Sadini's wife Irene enters. Sadini and food vendor Milt carry the boy into Sadini's trailer. Plot Įxiting his trailer on a cold windy night in Toledo for a smoke, carnival magician Sadini the Great spots an unconscious youth on the ground. Stewart (Vincent Sadini), and Larry Kert (George Morris).Īlthough formerly considered a lost episode, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" has since been widely distributed in syndication and – due to its status in the public domain – in numerous Hitchcock home media releases and video on demand. The four main characters are played by Diana Dors (Irene Sadini), Brandon deWilde (Hugo), David J. The story and teleplay were written by Robert Bloch, the author of Psycho, and the episode was directed by Josef Leytes. The episode was scheduled to be episode 39 of the season. " The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is a seventh-season episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents made in the summer of 1961 that has never been broadcast on network television. 39th episode of the 7th season of Alfred Hitchcock Presents " The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
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