In the Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode titled "The Magic Shop," the story revolves around a young boy named Gerald who is fascinated by magic. Gerald enters a magic shop owned by a man named Mr. Kramer and becomes absorbed in the wonders of illusion and sleight of hand. As the episode progresses, it becomes apparent that the magic shop has a peculiar hold over Gerald's imagination and reality begins to blur. Gerald's parents become increasingly concerned about his obsession with the magic shop and seek the help of Dr. Rustigan, a psychologist.
Rustigan, a psychologist. Dr. Rustigan visits the shop himself and becomes entranced by its mysterious atmosphere.
The Magic Shop by HG Wells
I discovered this TV adaptation by accident while looking for something else (more about the something else tomorrow). The Magic Shop is a 45-minute drama directed by Robert Stevens in 1964 for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Writer John Collier adapted a script by James Parish that’s loosely based on the short story by HG Wells. The story is one I know very well, having read it many times, but I hadn’t come across this TV version before. It’s a surprise finding it so close to Christmas since I first read the story in the only Christmas present that’s survived from childhood, a hefty collection of HG Wells’ short stories that I pestered my parents into buying me in 1973. I mostly wanted to read The Time Machine but the other stories seemed promising, especially the ones illustrated by Richard Gilbert on the (miraculously intact) dustjacket: The Sea Raiders (sailors attacked by octopuses), The Flowering of the Strange Orchid (man attacked by tentacular plant), The Valley of Spiders (attacking spiders falling from the sky), and so on. The book as a whole runs to over 1000 pages, and proved to be a revelation with Wells ranging through fantasy, science fiction, horror, and oddities which don’t fit any category other than Robert Aickman’s indispensable label, “strange stories”. The book made me a lifelong Wellsian, and also spoiled me a little when I moved on to more recent science fiction and found many of the alleged greats to be appalling writers. Wells’ prose can’t compete with Robert Louis Stevenson but it’s still well-crafted in that no-nonsense late Victorian manner familiar to readers of Arthur Conan Doyle.
Design and illustration by Richard Gilbert (1970).
The Magic Shop is one of the strange stories, the shop in question being a mysterious establishment somewhere in Regent Street, London, one of those premises one discovers by accident then can’t find again. The narrator is informed by the proprietor that this is a Genuine Magic Shop, as distinct from the kind selling mere conjuring tricks. The meaning of this isn’t clear at first but while the narrator’s young son is being beguiled by the marvels on display we follow his father’s growing alarm when he realises there’s more to the shop than he anticipated, not all of it pleasant or fun. The story was published in Twelve Stories and A Dream in 1903, and can be read here.
The TV version takes the bare bones of the tale—curious shop, indeterminate location, friendly yet sinister proprietor—and blends it with the nasty-child-with-magic-powers theme that was dramatised so memorably by The Twilight Zone in It’s A Good Life. The Hitchcock show was made three years after the Twilight Zone episode so it’s easy to see It’s A Good Life as an influence. Leslie Nielsen is the father who takes his son, Tony (John Megna), to the fateful shop on his birthday. The proprietor informs the pair that Tony is “the right boy” since he found the shop in the first place, the subtext being that he’s also possesses the right character to be the recipient of some heavy voodoo abilities. The boy’s bad seed status has been telegraphed from the outset by a birthday gift from an uncle of a black leather jacket; throughout the scene in the shop he looks like a miniature hoodlum. More American anxiety about its troublesome youth? Maybe, although the episode ends so poorly that the whole thing comes across as a lazy piece of filler. This is, of course, a long, long way from the Wells story which is all the more effective for being elusive, understated and, yes, magical.
He soon realizes that the shop and its magical allure may have a dangerous influence over Gerald and other customers. Throughout the episode, suspense and tension build as Gerald's obsession with the magic shop becomes more intense and his behavior increasingly erratic. The boundaries between reality and illusion blur, with the magic shop serving as a catalyst for these distortions. As the story reaches its climax, Dr. Rustigan finds himself in a race against time to save Gerald from the clutches of the magic shop. The shop's dark secrets and powers are gradually revealed, leaving both the characters and viewers on the edge of their seats. "The Magic Shop" explores themes of obsession, the power of imagination, and the blurry line between reality and fantasy. Alfred Hitchcock's masterful direction and storytelling techniques keep the audience engaged and eager to uncover the mysteries behind the magic shop. Overall, "The Magic Shop" is a captivating episode of the Alfred Hitchcock Hour that highlights the director's ability to create suspenseful and thought-provoking narratives. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, our fascination with the extraordinary can lead us down a dangerous path..
Reviews for "The Intricate Plotting of 'The Magic Shop' in Alfred Hitchcock Hour"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Magic Shop". The storyline was confusing and didn't make much sense. It felt like a jumbled mess of different ideas thrown together. The acting was subpar and didn't do justice to the potential of the plot. Overall, I found the episode to be quite underwhelming and it didn't live up to the suspense and thrill that I associate with Alfred Hitchcock's work.
2. John - 2 stars
I've always been a fan of Alfred Hitchcock's movies, but "The Magic Shop" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour didn't do it for me. The pacing was extremely slow, and it took a long time for anything interesting to happen. The twist at the end felt forced and didn't have the impact that I expected. The performances were lackluster, and I didn't feel emotionally invested in any of the characters. Overall, it was a forgettable and unsatisfying viewing experience.
3. Sarah - 3 stars
While "Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Magic Shop" had its moments, I found it to be a somewhat predictable and clichéd episode. The plot relied on too many familiar tropes and didn't offer anything refreshing or innovative. The acting was decent, but nothing extraordinary. I expected more suspense and twists from an Alfred Hitchcock production. It was an average episode at best, and I can't say that it left a lasting impression on me.
4. Michael - 2.5 stars
I thought "The Magic Shop" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour was quite forgettable. The story was convoluted and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow and understand. The pacing was slow, which added to the overall boredom. The acting performances were mediocre and didn't elevate the material. While I appreciate the attempt at creating suspense, it fell flat for me. Overall, it was a disappointing episode and not one of Alfred Hitchcock's finest works.