Our Cook's a Treasure story
With a serial-murderer maid on the loose in the city, Ralph becomes suspicious of his and his wife Ethel's housemaid, Mrs. Sutton. When Ralph gets violent cramps at work, he has his home cocoa analyzed, and it turns out to contain arsenic. Ralph initially blames Mrs. Sutton, until he learns that the serial murderer has been caught. However, Mrs. Sutton confesses to him her unhappiness at having had to lie for Ethel, who is having an affair. Ethel, unaware of what Ralph has learned, offers him a cup of cocoa that she made for him. Directed by: Robert Stevens. Story by: Dorothy L. Sayers, Robert C. Dennis.
12 total · 1 choice · 5 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| poison murder | choice | The story was premised on the idea that a serial poison murdering maidservant was on the loose, and we learned much about arsenic. |
| extramarital affair | major | Ralph accidentally uncovered that his wife was cheating on him. |
| husband and wife | major | Ralph and Ethel Montgomery. |
| master and servant | major | Ralph fired his housekeeper Mrs. Sutton after he became convinced that she was a serial murderer. |
| serial murder | major | The story was premised on the idea that a serial poison murdering maidservant was on the loose. |
| spouse murder | major | It is implied that Ethel tried to poison Ralph. |
| gastronomy | minor | Alfred Hitchcock feigned to be a wine taster in the intro. |
| science | minor | They showed how certain substances, in this case arsenic, can be identified by the color of its flame when burned. |
| scientist occupation | minor | A scientist performed a chemical analysis on Ralph's hot cocoa to check for the presence of arsenic. |
| sleep deprivation | minor | Ethel was said to have suffered from insomnia. |