Inspector Davidson continues to investigate the murder of Count Mattoni -- and receives yet another confession.Inspector Davidson continues to investigate the murder of Count Mattoni -- and receives yet another confession.Inspector Davidson continues to investigate the murder of Count Mattoni -- and receives yet another confession.
- Mr. Moen
- (as A.E. Gould-Porter)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaHitchcock is referring to the Disney cartoon "Who Killed Cock Robin?" in his outro. That cartoon figures quite prominently in the Hitchcock film "Sabotage."
- GoofsInspector Davidson makes several references to a revolver but, the weapon on the floor with which the Count was shot is an automatic pistol.
- Quotes
[introduction]
Alfred Hitchcock: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Those of you who have been sitting on the edge of your chairs since last time will be glad to know that tonight we shall definitely present the final chapter in our story, "I Killed the Count." For those of you who have missed the earlier installments, or have lost your scorecards, I shall present a résumé. Within a few hours after Count Victor Mattoni was found dead in his London flat with a single bullet hole in his head, the detectives found themselves with three persons, each of whom confessed that he, and he alone, killed the count. They were Bernard Froy, an American; Mullet, the lift man; and Lord Sorrington, an important industrialist. In each case, there is some corroborating evidence. Mullet obligingly left his fingerprints on the count's wallet; Froy had written an incriminating letter; and Lord Sorrington's pistol was found on the scene. There was also a fourth bit of evidence. Skin and blood under the count's fingernails, indicated he had scratched his assailant, yet none of the three suspects bore any scratches.
[Hitchcock is tiring visibly]
Alfred Hitchcock: Neither Froy, nor Lord Sorrington, nor...
[breathlessly]
Alfred Hitchcock: I don't know why I bother to explain all of this,
[swallows]
Alfred Hitchcock: for the brief three scenes which preface tonight's story will make everything quite clear.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Sajan (1969)
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
All three parts of "I Killed the Count" fit that distinction. Will admit though to feeling a little disappointed by Part 3, especially after following on from the amount of promise and intrigue the previous two parts showed. That does not mean at all that "I Killed the Count Part 3" is bad, it absolutely isn't and has a lot of what was so impressive before. There was just too much of a feeling of one episode too many and for an episode that is a conclusion to a three parter it could have been better.
"I Killed the Count Part 3" does have a lot of things that are good. It is shot slickly and atmospherically and while Robert Stevens' direction is not the most inspired it is efficient enough. Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" is a terrific choice for the series' theme tune. Once again, the episode is very well acted with John Williams having lost none of his exuberance or authority.
Enough of the script thought provokes and there is enough intrigue in the story to make one keep watching, mainly to see though how the three parter would conclude. Hitchcock's bookending amuses.
However, the story and pacing are flawed here. They were in the previous two parts too (though for the opposite reasons to here), but not to this extent. As said there is too much of a one part too many feel in this instalment that dragged too often from having too little material this time, with all the interesting stuff happening in the previous two parts. Did say previously that some of Part 2 could easily have happened in this part, which would have tightened the story and given more depth to the things glossed over a bit.
Did think too that "I Killed the Count Part 3" is rather too talk heavy, to the extent that the over-explained analysing from Part 1 felt like a distant memory. Was very underwhelmed by the ending, which is much more complicated than it needed to be (we are as baffled as Davidson) and felt like it was trying to wrap things up quickly with too little time to do so.
Concluding, decent and above average but doesn't live up to full potential. 6/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 6, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1