The Case of Mr. Pelham story
Albert Pelham has a paranoid suspicion that he has a double who is slowly taking over his life, and is better at it. Pelham varies his schedule and buys a one-of-a-kind tie in the hopes of catching his double off-guard. When Pelham returns home, his double is already there, and they are seen together by Pelham's manservant Peterson (Watson). The double points out that Pelham is wearing an unusual tie, and when Peterson accepts that this means Pelham is the impostor, Pelham has a breakdown. Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock. Story by: Anthony Armstrong, Francis Cockrell.
6 total · 1 choice · 2 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| doppelgänger | choice | Mr. Pelham had a doppelgänger who was slowly taking over Mr. Pelman's life. |
| questioning one's sanity | major | Mr. Pelham variously thought something was wrong with him, or that he had a mischievous double - others clearly thought he was behaving oddly. |
| what if I met my double | major | Mr. Pelham had a doppelgänger who was slowly taking over Mr. Pelman's life. |
| descent into madness | minor | The first Albert was proclaimed mad by the second Albert, and it seemed like the typical gradual process. |
| master and servant | minor | Mr. Pelham and his manservant Peterson. |
| medical occupation | minor | Mr. Pelham was explaining his strange predicament to a doctor. |