Dorothy's Birthday
- Episode aired Mar 15, 1962
- 30m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
63
YOUR RATING
Hazel gives up her day off to prepare food for Dorothy's luncheon.Hazel gives up her day off to prepare food for Dorothy's luncheon.Hazel gives up her day off to prepare food for Dorothy's luncheon.
Photos
Deirdre Owens
- Agnes Collins
- (as Deirdre Owen)
Harold Miller
- Restaurant Patron
- (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre
- Restaurant Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough shown as the 23rd episode late in season one, this apparently was the first-filmed "pilot" episode. Notice how much younger "Harold" appears and how different the kitchen and living room sets are from the other episodes.
Featured review
Watch This Episode First - It's Basically the Series Pilot
When the old WWOR Superstation ran HAZEL back in the '90s they strangely would air the lost pilot episode that had Edward Andrews as George instead of Don DeFore, but they did not air "Dorothy's Birthday", which was basically the pilot re-edited with new footage of DeFore cut in.
This episode makes more sense as a pilot rather than airing as Episode #23. The script establishes right away how friendly Hazel is with the neighborhood service workers such as the postman, milkman, etc. And she explains to them how she runs a tight ship at the Baxter house and can't let them take that control away from her. These are scenes that should have been played months ago. Hearing all this so late in the season must have been strange for viewers back in 1962, when they had already been watching for six months. BTW, this show was huge in its first season - ranking at Number 4 among all programs on the air.
Aside from the fact that Shirley Booth wore her own hair when this was shot (she wears a wig in the newly filmed scenes with DeFore), she also plays Hazel with more of an edge here, which is fascinating because that is how I imagine Thelma Ritter would have played the role had she taken the part. It's hilarious when Hazel tells the repairman, with whom she's friendly "You're so dumb sometimes it scares me to think of ya drivin' in traffic".
Hazel is particularly passive-aggressive in this episode - especially when it comes to her having to prepare a last-minute luncheon for Dorothy's bridge club. The bridge game scene is the best part of the episode as Hazel sits in when one of the society ladies doesn't show. Hazel makes sly cutting remarks to Mrs. Edwards (whom she can't stand) and annoys the woman with lines like "What'sa matter, am I took FAST for ya?".
The last act switches from comedy to pathos, as the Baxter's are dining out and learn from little Harold that Hazel did in fact, plan a birthday dinner and bake a cake for Dorothy, despite her griping - and is now sitting alone at home (she does do a cute Mambo in her bedroom though for a few seconds).
The Baxter's leave the restaurant and come home for cake and a simple impromptu dinner of franks-and-beans, but of course it can't end without Hazel taking another dig at Mr B's weight.
A fun episode - the beginning with Hazel talking to the service workers and the bridge scene in the middle are better than the maudlin last act - and it's interesting to see Hazel played so edgy here.
This episode makes more sense as a pilot rather than airing as Episode #23. The script establishes right away how friendly Hazel is with the neighborhood service workers such as the postman, milkman, etc. And she explains to them how she runs a tight ship at the Baxter house and can't let them take that control away from her. These are scenes that should have been played months ago. Hearing all this so late in the season must have been strange for viewers back in 1962, when they had already been watching for six months. BTW, this show was huge in its first season - ranking at Number 4 among all programs on the air.
Aside from the fact that Shirley Booth wore her own hair when this was shot (she wears a wig in the newly filmed scenes with DeFore), she also plays Hazel with more of an edge here, which is fascinating because that is how I imagine Thelma Ritter would have played the role had she taken the part. It's hilarious when Hazel tells the repairman, with whom she's friendly "You're so dumb sometimes it scares me to think of ya drivin' in traffic".
Hazel is particularly passive-aggressive in this episode - especially when it comes to her having to prepare a last-minute luncheon for Dorothy's bridge club. The bridge game scene is the best part of the episode as Hazel sits in when one of the society ladies doesn't show. Hazel makes sly cutting remarks to Mrs. Edwards (whom she can't stand) and annoys the woman with lines like "What'sa matter, am I took FAST for ya?".
The last act switches from comedy to pathos, as the Baxter's are dining out and learn from little Harold that Hazel did in fact, plan a birthday dinner and bake a cake for Dorothy, despite her griping - and is now sitting alone at home (she does do a cute Mambo in her bedroom though for a few seconds).
The Baxter's leave the restaurant and come home for cake and a simple impromptu dinner of franks-and-beans, but of course it can't end without Hazel taking another dig at Mr B's weight.
A fun episode - the beginning with Hazel talking to the service workers and the bridge scene in the middle are better than the maudlin last act - and it's interesting to see Hazel played so edgy here.
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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