The 50 Specials Of Christmas - “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Back For Christmas”

“Back For Christmas” is an odd Christmas special in that it doesn't take place during Christmas at all. Rather, the story pivots on a woman's promise that she and her husband will return home for Christmas.

Here's the full episode:



Herbert and Hermione (I know) are a happy or unhappy married couple, depending on whom you ask. Hermione sees their relationship as one of exact order, in which she always knows where her husband is and what he should be doing. Herbert sees it as a stifling, boring marriage upheld by sheer monotony.

So he decides to kill her.

The episode is very slow and suspenseful. With all Hermione's bugging and cleaning and ordering about, you think Herbert will never get the chance to lure her into the basement for that final death stroke. And when he does (this doesn't spoil much, trust me), the only thing nagging on his mind is her promise that they must be back for Christmas.

I can't write much more without ruining the story. However, this Christmas-themed mystery is an effective play on the old “Gift Of The Magi” trope.

While there's no jingles and no bells, no Santa and no reindeer, the sentiment of Christmas – coming home and surprising loved ones with unexpected gifts – is what drives the entire mystery. And, for that, it fits well into any Christmas special collection.