Quick brain-teaser - 'The Glass Eye' and 'And so Died Riabouchinska'

[Anthony McKay]

What is the surprising connection between the two 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes 'The Glass Eye' and 'And so Died Riabouchinska'

This is a Britmovie question - try to look beyond the obvious answer.

[Gerald Lovell]

They both star British actors (Tom Conway and Claude Rains) who have a touch of the Michael Redgraves from Dead of Night?

[Anthony McKay]

Good try - but it's nothing to do with the actors.

The next spooky coincidence is that you can add 'Devil Doll' (1964) to the list!

Although this comes after (in time) what the connection is.

[jamal.nazreddin]

All contain an inanimate object which gives release to the protagonist. Just like Norman Bates keeps a dummy of his mother.

The Catholic Hitchcock has protagonists who need an object on to which they can transfer their guilt and thereby gain absolution.

[Anthony McKay]

Interesting - but you should be looking for the name of a British movie, that does not feature a ventriloquist's doll, that connects the other three titles:

'The Glass Eye'
'And so Died Riabouchinska'
'Devil Doll'

Nothing to do with actors or plot.

[Wearysloth]

Thunderbirds Are Go!
Parker is the love child of Riabouchinska and George?

[jamal.nazreddin]

Can we get a clue?

[Anthony McKay]

Has anyone, excluding actors, in the credits for the Alfred Hitchcock productions been involved with a British film at all?

[jamal.nazreddin]

Joan Harrison (Mrs Eric Ambler) was Hitchcock's secretary, 1933-1939 and produced the TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents from 1955.

?

[Euryale]

Joan Harrison (Mrs Eric Ambler) was Hitchcock's secretary, 1933-1939 and produced the TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents from 1955.

?

She also worked in British films. Robert Stevenson and Robert Stevens each directed one of the Hitchcock episodes mentioned and both helmed at least one British picture. But I don't suppose the coincidence of similar names has anything to do with it.


E.

[Anthony McKay]

I don't think you are write - er... try a different tack.

[Euryale]

Mel Dinelli and Stirling Silliphant both worked on the screenplay of Village of the Damned (1960). So did Ronald Kinnoch who later co-scripted Devil Doll. Are we somewhere along the right lines with this?

E.

[Anthony McKay]

Spot on - well done - three of the writers who worked on 'Village of the Damned' also wrote scripts for productions featuring ventriloquist's dolls. So far Wolf Rilla is the odd one out.