Alfred Hitchcock Presents – “The Older Sister”

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 1 DVD

Original Air Date: January 22, 1956
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock, Carmen Mathews, Joan Lorring
Directed by: Robert Stevens

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: A dramatization of a possible scenario taking place one year after the Lizzie Borden (Carmen Mathews) murders which throws suspicion on her older sister Emma (Joan Lorring).

Kitty Cameo: When Lizzie Borden makes her first appearance in the episode she is holding a large ginger tabby cat.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews on stairs holding orange tabby cat

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews talking to Emma Joan Lorring while holding orange tabby cat

Lizzie speaks with reporter Nell Cutts (Polly Rowles) who asks about a kitten which was supposedly also murdered. This is based on actual hearsay that at one point Lizzie cut off the head of her sister Emma’s kitten with an axe, although this supposed incident was far from ever being substantiated.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews holding orange tabby cat while talking to Nell Cutts Polly Rowles

After the reporter leaves, Lizzie carries the cat to the living room before letting it drop to the floor while she retrieves something from the fireplace.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews holding orange tabby cat at door

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews holding orange tabby cat in living room

At the end of the episode the cat is seen sitting on the infamous couch where Mr. Borden was murdered. Lizzie crosses around the couch and sits down to pet the cat.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews behind couch where orange tabby cat is lying

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews petting orange tabby cat on couch

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews sitting on couch with orange tabby cat

It is very likely that members of the cat team known as Orangey played the role in this episode.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Older Sister - Lizzie Borden Carmen Mathews entering room with orange tabby cat on couch

Final Mewsings: Kitten killing is the only thing that could make these crimes worse.

Many thanks to Ted Davis for spotting this Television Tabby for us!


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