Backward, Turn Backward story
Phil Canby (is accused of murdering Matt Thompson during an argument over 59-year-old Canby's romantic relationship with Matt's teenage daughter Sue. Canby's alibi is that he was babysitting his grandson, but a neighbor insists that she heard hysterical crying around the time of the murder. When Canby is arrested, Sue has a manic fit and begins crying, revealing that she is the one who killed her father. Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg. Story by: Dorothy Salisbury Davis, Charles Beaumont.
12 total · 3 choice · 5 major · 4 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| forbidden love | choice | The 59-year-old Canby's romantic relationship with the 19-year-old Sue was not accepted by society. |
| murder | choice | The story concerned the murder of Matt and a sheriff's attempts to solve the crime. In his monologue, Alfred Hitchcock was hammering out a rock he intended to chain someone's feet to. |
| young and old romance | choice | The story concerned 59-year-old Canby and his intention to marry the late Matt's 19-year-old daughter. |
| disapproving parent | major | The viewer learns that Matt refused to accept his young daughter, Sue, carrying on with a 59-year-old |
| father and daughter | major | WThe viewer learns that Matt was upset about his teenage daughter being romantically involved with a 59-year-old man. The viewer also learns that he had raised her alone. |
| law enforcement | major | The story followed Sheriff Willets while he interviewed suspects in a murder case. |
| patricide | major | It was revealed in the end that Sue had murder her father, Matt, for carrying on with a 59-year-old man. |
| sexual norms in society | major | The 59-year-old Canby's courting of a 19-year-old girl had caused something of a stir in the town. |
| Christianity | minor | A Christian funeral was held for Matt. |
| funeral rite | minor | A Christian funeral was held for Matt. |