Alfred Hitchcock decided to revise his popular half hour tv show to one hour episodes. The results varied, but make no mistake, he incorporated some top talent.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED is more mystery than macabre, including courtroom scenes, reminiscent of PERRY MASON, without too much surprise. Anne Francis (just before her HONEY WEST series) is caught up in the poisoning death of her husband. Of course, it's the young wife/ old husband angle, coupled with the bitter housekeeper and close friend (well played by Ruth Roman) and the suspicious mother (Gladys Cooper).
Put that all together and figure it out, as only Hitch would want you to do.
Popular 1940s actor Steve Dunne is in the cast, always on tv as smooth types, also a Hollywood DJ to his credit, here playing the handsome gentleman caller. "Call me any time you're in trouble...." he says to Anne Francis. Emmm?
Cheers to Ruth Roman, whose style always reminded me of Joan Crawford, to a degree. She later became an author. Gladys Cooper was nominated three times for an Oscar and would next appear in two classic films, THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER and MY FAIR LADY (her third Oscar nomination). Tim O'Connor plays the dogged prosecutor.
This episode was also ahead of its time with the "suggested" lesbian theme, again credit Hitchcock.
10 STARS. Recommended. SEASON 1 EPISODE 16 remastered Universal/ CBS dvd box set.