Ep 29. Banquo's Chair

Banquo's Chair is the twenty-ninth episode of the fourth season of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The episode revolves around a successful but arrogant author named Claude Langham, who has stolen a manuscript from another writer named Norman Lloyd, who has recently died. Langham has been suffering from writer's block and believes that publishing Norman's manuscript will revive his career. However, he starts to feel guilty about his actions when he learns that the manuscript was inspired by a real-life murder.

Langham hires a medium named Madame Alexandra to hold a séance, hoping to communicate with Norman's spirit, but things don't go as planned. During the séance, an empty chair, which Langham believes belonged to Banquo, Norman's character, starts to move and Langham becomes convinced that he is being haunted by the ghost of the murdered woman, who is seeking revenge for her death.

As Langham becomes more and more paranoid, his wife Joyce becomes increasingly concerned, and together they try to piece together what happened to the murdered woman. Along the way, they encounter various suspects, including a jealous ex-boyfriend and a man with a criminal record. But as Langham's mental state deteriorates, he begins to suspect even those closest to him, including his wife.

The tension builds throughout the episode as Langham becomes more and more desperate to find the truth about the murder, while at the same time, Joyce tries to convince him to go to the doctor and seek help for his mental state. The final scene of the episode is a nail-biting climax, as Langham confronts the killer and the true identity of the haunted Banquo's Chair is revealed.

Overall, Banquo's Chair is a well-written and suspenseful episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The performances by the cast are excellent, with Richard Basehart as Langham and Barbara Bel Geddes as his concerned wife giving standout performances. The storyline is a classic mystery that will keep viewers guessing until the very end, making it a must-watch for fans of the show and the genre.