Occasionally, Alfred Hitchcock would forgo the usual mystery and suspense formula and give his audience a dose of reality in the form of a public service story. In "Hangover", Tony Randall plays Hadley Purvis, an out-of-control but still functioning alcoholic who also happens to be a top advertising executive. How he functions at all is beyond anyone's guess since Purvis can't occupy any of his time without a stiff drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Despite his wife's admonishments (Dodie Heath as Mrs. Purvis), he continues his merry ways at all hours of the day and night, eventually landing in "hot water" with his company. Soused to the gills, Purvis completely blows an important presentation in front of his firm's biggest client and gets fired in the process. Naturally, that's only the beginning of his problems as Purvis' real "hangover" enters the picture.
At the end of this absorbing tale of woe, Hitchcock does his best to inform the audience that what they've witnessed could happen to anybody, especially if they're drinking as much as Hadley Purvis. Jayne Mansfield is also present in the cast as an attractive and sympathetic girlfriend who can plainly see that Purvis is about to fall into a bottomless abyss. She's lucky to escape with her life, which is more than can be said for Purvis' long-suffering significant other. Of special note is the late Ms. Mansfield short blonde hairdo; she never looked better than she does here. Her acting skills were always under-rated and unappreciated and she handled her difficult role in this episode with a high degree of professionalism. As for Randall, he's highly believable as the drunken and doomed Purvis and delivers a stellar performance.
At the end of this absorbing tale of woe, Hitchcock does his best to inform the audience that what they've witnessed could happen to anybody, especially if they're drinking as much as Hadley Purvis. Jayne Mansfield is also present in the cast as an attractive and sympathetic girlfriend who can plainly see that Purvis is about to fall into a bottomless abyss. She's lucky to escape with her life, which is more than can be said for Purvis' long-suffering significant other. Of special note is the late Ms. Mansfield short blonde hairdo; she never looked better than she does here. Her acting skills were always under-rated and unappreciated and she handled her difficult role in this episode with a high degree of professionalism. As for Randall, he's highly believable as the drunken and doomed Purvis and delivers a stellar performance.