The Case of M.J.H. story
Psychiatrist Dr. Cooper employs Maude Sheridan who falls for a crook named Jimmy French. French convinces her to allow him to look at Dr. Cooper's private files. He wants to blackmail one of his patients. French picks the file of M.J. Harrison. He discovers that Harrison had an affair with a woman named Diana. French approaches Harrison and demands money. Harrison agrees, but kills French instead. Dr. Cooper tells Maude the bad news about French. He then reveals that Harrison never had an affair. It was all the product of his disturbed mind. He believed the delusion so strongly, however, he was willing to kill to protect it. Directed by: Alan Crosland, Jr. Story by: Henry Slesar.
11 total · 4 major · 7 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| blackmail | major | Jimmy contrived to obtain information about a delusional man, and then tried to scam that man by blackmailing him regarding a fictional mistress. |
| female attraction to bad men | major | Maude Sheridan fell in love with Jimmy French against her better judgement, knowing full well he was a no-good crook. |
| hallucination of a non-existing person | major | The titular M. J. Harrison suffered from the delusion that he was having an extramarital affair with an 18-year-old girl named Diana. |
| romantic love | major | Maude Sheridan fell in love with Jimmy French against her better judgement, knowing full well he was a no-good crook. |
| anti-intellectualism in society | minor | In his sketch, Alfred Hitchcock described the hanging of four television pundits as "a new high in anti-intellectualism". |
| boss and employee | minor | Maude spoke a few times with her boss, Dr. Cooper. |
| coping with being in debt | minor | Jimmy complained to Maude that he needed money to pay off an old loan. |
| coping with unwelcome romantic attention | minor | Maude was initially annoyed at Jimmy's advances in the cafe, and tried in vain to avoid him. |
| extramarital affair | minor | The viewer is led to believe that the titular M. J. Harrison was having an affair with an 18-year-old girl named Diana. It was ultimately revealed, however, that she was a figment of his imagination. |
| master and pet | minor | Maude picked up her house cat and conspicuously stroked its fur as she conversed with Jimmy. |