The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Alfred Hitchcock Presents)
| "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" | |
|---|---|
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 39 |
| Directed by | Josef Leytes |
| Written by |
Robert Bloch (original story and teleplay) |
| Produced by |
Joan Harrison Alfred Hitchcock Norman Lloyd (associate producer) |
| Featured music | Joseph E. Romero |
| Cinematography by | John L. Russell |
| Editing by | Edward W. Williams |
| Original air date | No network airing |
| Running time | 25 minutes, 28 seconds |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
Diana Dors
Brandon deWilde
David J. Stewart
Larry Kert
Alfred Hitchcock (host)
"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. The episode was scheduled to be episode #39 of the season. The story and teleplay were written by Robert Bloch, the author of Psycho, and the episode was directed by Josef Leytes.
The four main characters are played by Diana Dors (Irene Sadini), Brandon deWilde (Hugo), David J. Stewart (Vincent Sadini), and Larry Kert (George Morris).
Although once qualified as 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.
Exiting his trailer on a cold windy night for a smoke, carnival magician Sadini the Great spots an unconscious youth on the ground. Sadini and food vendor Milt carry the boy into Sadini's trailer. A short time later, Sadini's wife Irene enters. 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. The boy also compares Sadini's appearance to that of the devil.
The boy, Hugo, regains his strength and becomes infatuated with Irene. He follows her around the carnival, inadvertently discovering that she is cheating on Sadini with George Morris, the high-wire artist. Hugo and George watch Sadini's magic act together. Hugo becomes fascinated, especially when Sadini saws Irene in half and then "restores" her. Sadini offers Hugo a job at the carnival assisting with his props.
Irene plans to murder her husband and frame Hugo for the crime. 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.
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Wikipedia