Playhouse 90 Season 4 Episode 12 The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Playhouse 90. This drama episode was aired on December 12, 1957, and directed by John Frankenheimer.

In this gripping story, we see a World War II concentration camp survivor, Lisa Koestler, who now lives in New York City. The Nazis murdered her entire family, and she has been living with the trauma of losing them. She decides to visit her father's business partner, Franz Kindler, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Franz is also a Nazi who has been hiding in the US since the war ended.

Lisa's primary objective is to confront Franz about his role in the extermination of her family. She is determined to find out if he had any hand in the death of her loved ones, and this visit is her opportunity to get answers. Franz is very guarded and suspicious of Lisa's motives but invites her to stay overnight.

Lisa meets Franz's new wife, Mary, who is unaware of her husband's past activities. Mary is a friendly woman, and Lisa feels comfortable around her. But Lisa's true mission is to force Franz to confess to his crimes and face the consequences.

As the night wears on, Lisa's tension escalates as she realizes that she is in the same house as a Nazi responsible for her family's deaths. As she questions Franz, his answers and excuses become increasingly evasive. The tension intensifies as Franz's behavior becomes increasingly suspicious. Is he hiding something from Mary or from Lisa?

This episode of Playhouse 90 is an emotional roller coaster that takes the audience through Lisa's traumatic experiences in the concentration camp and her subsequent attempts to find justice and closure. The Hiding Place is a sensitive and nuanced exploration of the devastating effects of war and the human capacity for forgiveness. This episode's themes are as relevant today as they were in 1957, as we continue to grapple with the challenges of post-conflict reconciliation and the need for justice and accountability for war crimes.

The Hiding Place presents an excellent cast of actors, including Lilli Palmer as Lisa Koestler, Albert Dekker as Franz Kindler, and John Carradine as the father of Max. Lilli Palmer delivers an outstanding performance portraying a survivor of the concentration camp, and she beautifully captures the emotional toll and the trauma of her experiences. Likewise, Albert Dekker's portrayal of Franz Kindler is an accurate representation of a Nazi who is unrepentant for his war crimes and his attempts to evade punishment.

In conclusion, The Hiding Place is a powerful and evocative episode of Playhouse 90 which explores the human capacity for cruelty and the need for justice. This episode highlights the same themes that individuals and societies are grappling with even today, emphasizing the relevance of this episode and the quality of the writing, direction, and acting. The tension, the twists, and the turns make this episode an unforgettable experience.