The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) Thanatos Palace Hotel (1965) User Reviews

Rest In Peace

[kapelusznik18 · 5/10 · 25 February 2017]

***SPOILERS*** Feeling that life is futile and wanting to end it all manic depressive Robert Manners, Steven Hall,attempts to kill himself by jumping off the ledge of a six floor building only to be rescued by the local fire department-with a net- before he hit the ground. Back home and still depressed as hell Manners gets an unexpected visit from Mr. J. Smith,Bartlett Ribinson, who works for this place The Thanatos Palace Hotel that helps people like him end their lives in the most painless ways possible: By them not knowing when their time is up and their about to kick of this earthly plane.

Getting ready for his final moment at the hotel Manners meets the lovely and caring Araine Shaw played by Rat Pack member Angie Dickinson of later-in 1974- "Big Bad Mama" fame who by getting it on with him makes Manners forget why he's there in the first place: To be put out of his miseries and put to sleep permanently. With Manners now wanting to live and escape from the "Death Hotel" he convinces Ariane to not only break out of the place with him but have a number of guests go along with them. Everything works like clockwork until those part of the break out realize the reason for their actions! And it's then that the roof caves in on the unsuspecting Manners.

***SPOILERS**** Manners badly miscalculated in his actions with both Araine and the people running the hotel. Alawys thinking that he's one step ahead Manners in the end stepped into a pile of well you know what and ended up burying. What Manners didn't quite realize is that his decision to end it all had no escape clause and as for Ariane going along with him she was the person who in fact set the poor guy up for his ultimate fate. A fate that he made for himself by agreeing to spend his time or final moments at the Thanatos Palace Hotel.

"I sell you an easy death."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 12 January 2023]

Medically assisted dying is much more accepted today and legal in a number of states, but for the mid-Sixties, this would have been a controversial topic. Certainly for Hitchcock, this was out of the usual mainstream, except perhaps for the stunning conclusion. It was hard to get a fix on Angie Dickinson's character here, Ariane Shaw seemed to have a hard time playing both sides of her role at the Thanatos Palace Hotel. You couldn't really tell if she was genuinely falling for the latest client, Robert Manners (Steven Hill), or fulfilling her 'employment' by preparing the hotel's guests for their imminent demise. I take that to be the fault of the script and possibly the director in not making it clear where Mrs. Shaw's intentions actually were. When it came to Manners' death itself, there was nothing serene and beautiful about it as was consistently promised by Mr. J Smith (Bartlett Robinson) in the opening sequence, or by the hotel's managing director Borchter (Barry Atwater). The director in particular made it seem like he had to rush Manners through the process in order to accommodate the next guest/victim. In any event, I'm pretty sure Manners wasn't expecting to be lynched by horseback riding cowboys when he signed up for this ill-chosen exercise in assisted suicide.

Ludicrous

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 28 May 2023]

This plot has been used before in fiction. The protagonist makes a deal to be killed at some random place. A guy is about to jump off a ledge but is rescued when he hesitates and the fire department brings that big round catcher thing. After failing, he is visited by a foxy gentleman with a mustache. He is selling death policies and the hotel where everyone will meet their maker. He gets there but ends up unable to make things happen properly. He soon meets Angie Dickenson and they sort of form a couple that deals with the deceased after they pass. The problem here is that the whole thing is monumentally stupid.

Promising Premise Gone Awry

[dougdoepke · 18 January 2007]

The episode's premise is a really unusual and promising one. People bent on suicide, but too hesitant to do it themselves, are invited to a "suicide hotel", where it will be done for them at an unknown time and in a humane manner. Steven Hill signs up, but while there, meets the gorgeous Angie Dickinson. Understandably, he now wants to escape with her in tow. But wait! Just who is she? The climax is a real stunner. Despite the promise, the brilliantly staged climax remains the only real reason to catch up with this otherwise erratic 60 minutes. The problem lies mainly with a muddled script and a confused Angie Dickinson who appears as mixed-up with her role as the script is. The problem is not with her acting ability; it's with the uncertainty of the script itself. She just doesn't know which emotions to draw on, while the director is probably as confused as she is. (See if you can figure out what her role is supposed to be in the hotel's suicide program.) Also, Steven Hill seems miscast. He's simply too strong a character to ' let someone else do it'. All in all, I suspect the script was rushed into production which would account for its poor development-- a problem with the demanding hour-long format as a whole. Anyhow , the only reason to comment is because there's an A-grade suspense story buried somewhere here, awaiting proper treatment from a budding screenwriter.

Among the Worst

[sneedsnood · 2/10 · 8 May 2015]

In its latter days, "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" began running episodes that looked like rejects from "The Twilight Zone," bordering on the popular surreal approach while attempting to remain crime dramas. This one features the Thanos Hotel, where reluctant, wannabe suicides go to have someone else do it for them. The premise is ridiculous, but in these years before Dr. Kevorkian and a rising suicide rate, maybe it didn't seem quite so ghoulish. The hotel is sort of like a dude ranch, where for some reason people wear cowboy hats and ride horses. It's also like a Roach Motel, in that once you check in you can't check out. Steven Hill is the colorless actor who wants to commit suicide but changes his mind. Angie Dickenson is the luminous star at hand in a role that makes little sense, but her radiant beauty is the only reason to watch this dull, confusing episode, which is among the worst of the series.

This works

[HEFILM · 8/10 · 11 June 2013]

The premise is a little like the film and book SECONDS. Though both the leads could have been better they are still strong enough. I agree the lead male may be miscast. Dickenson's performance makes sense when it's all said and done. It's just that neither of them are on the level of say RICHARD BASEHART in BLACK CURTAIN. Or some of the other more experienced guest stars the series had. The setting is well done, about half studio and then location. It's not real stylish but moves along and it believable. I have to say I think it works. The ending is something that the Hitchcock series is/was almost uniquely able to do, both by being an anthology but also by having Hitchcock show up at the end to deal with any network complaints in a way that quells their concerns while letting those actually watching the show that he doesn't mean a word of it. Just one of the great things about this series. Is this a great episode? In a lesser series it would be, but it's a very solid episode, more noir and existential than suspense and there's nothing wrong with that.

An interesting idea that just doesn't quite work.

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 10 June 2021]

Robert Manners (Steven Hill) is standing on the ledge of a highrise hotel....intent on jumping to his death. But at the last minute, he hesitates slightly...enough time for the fire department to catch him in a net.

Soon after this, Robert is visited by a representative of the Thanatos Hotel. They provide a service...to make your final days comfortable and make you ready for your death...and then they kill you. He takes them up on their offer and soon arrives at this weird retreat.

Soon after arriving, he meets Ariane (Angie DIckenson) and the pair soon fall in love. It seems she's been there for months....and isn't ready for her death so they've allowed her to remain and enjoy the resort. And, to pay for all this extra time, she helps men ready themselves for their deaths...and this includes Robert. Will she help to kill him or escape with him....or is there some other option?

For the most part, this episode really doesn't make a lot of sense. So, to enjoy it, it's best to turn off your brain and just take it for what it is...an odd and very dark fantasy story. It also has an ending that just doesn't quite work. It's not a terrible show...but it isn't a very good one either.

TO KILL YOU PEACEFULLY, AND AT A GOOD PRICE!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 18 July 2023]

I agree with the last reviewer as this outstanding story is similar to John Frankenheimer's cult film, SECONDS starring Rock Hudson, which would actually premier the following year, 1966.

Steven Hill, from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, is a desperate man about to jump off a building. Fortunately, he is back inside on his own two feet and confronts gentlemanly, yet mysterious Bartlett Robinson, who was so good at these type of roles. He offers Hill a rather neat proposition.

He has the unique opportunity to join a "suicide club" where he can pay to end his life... and in a peaceful way. Why not?

The marked difference between this tale and SECONDS is that Rock Hudson's depressed character had the opportunity to become another person and, therefore, begin a whole new life. Whatever the case, it's a fascinating story, just right for Hitchcock fans who expect some twists along the way.

The twist, and a very attractive one, is Hill's meeting up with Angie Dickinson at the club.

Her story is that in exchange for room and board she also works at the club, but her days are numbered too. Angie carries the show here, she is that good. Perfect for the club doctor on duty is ominous Barry Atwater, later to play the famous vampire NIGHT STALKER in the 70s.

The REALLY scary thing about this tale is that it's not that far from the truth; assorted groups and societies who specialize in "doing it your way". There are far more available today than they were back in the 60s, HOWEVER, the country club setting is definitely one for the books, ya think?

Prior to this episode, Dickinson had recently finished THE KILLERS, the last film Ronald Reagan made, and playing a gangster. See it it you have the chance. SEASON 3 EPISODE 15 CBS dvd box set.

Hitch foretells an FM radio hit.

[laross-97599 · 4/10 · 30 August 2017]

Anybody else notice that this is the plot to the song "Hotel California"? Watch it carefully. Look at the objects in the foreground and background. Check the dialogue. Just sayin'. It's very likely that Alfred Hitchcock was able to foresee the future and knew how successful the song would be and therefore directed an episode accordingly. Obviously more likely than the episode itself influencing the lyrics to an original tune.

...Hitchcock jumps the shark...

[gclarkbloom · 5/10 · 30 May 2022]

...as is typical with TV series which have rntered an irretrievable state of declining ratings, the producers resort to hiring well-known guest stars in a futile effort to staunch the bleeding...

...Andre Maurois and Artur Ross conspired on this weirdly fantastical script and teleplay that not even the lovely Angie Dickensin, aided by veteran actors Steven Hill, Barry Atwater and Bartlett Robinson couldn't rescue...

...filled with empty, useless platitudes...this episode under the direction of Laslo Benedek begins taking on water within the girst few moments...and which is nosing downward like the Titanic well before the final credits...