This was a remarkable episode. I was completely satisified with the ending. However, many of the reviwers felt as if Hitchcock employed techniques that fell within the scope of supernatural. I don't think so. Instead, I believe that the little African American girl could have been one of the kids who lived down by the river. The Aunt made reference to these kids. The niece may have been somewhere else playing with her doll while her aunt stumbled upon the African American child playing with her white doll. The episdoe does suggest supernatural overtones.

I love Alfred Hitchcock and this particular episode was especially creepy and strange. Hitchcock has this way of dragging you through a story, tristing and turning as you go, and than somehow always finds a way to create an ending that takes your breath away.

I never was really a fan of the Alfred Hitchcock Hour when I grew up in the 60s but this was one episdoe that really stuck with me. I remember seeing it as a child and it scared me to death. Somehow all shows and movies that involve a doll coming to life has scared me. Most of the Alfred Hitchcok Hour shows were about cops and robbers. Hardly any of them were supernatural but this one is a true gem in the supernatural. The stereotypes portrayed in this episode were normal back then, unfortunately, but watcing it again for the first time in years really brought back good memories. If you haven't seen this one, I would highly recommend it.

I thought this episode was kind of dumb. I guess I'm not used to hitchcock doing supernatural stuff.