The Hitchhiker The Miracle of Alice Ames (1983–1991) Online

This episode of the series I was unaware it even happened it was one I missed over the years from watching the USA Network reruns and watching the volume VHS tapes, but I finally saw it on "The Hitchhiker" Vol. 1 DVD. I must say "The Miracle of Alice Ames" is watchable but with very little drama and it lacks the sexy parts that many other episodes featured. Anyway this episode is a religious themed one so if you like the spooky feel of a higher power and a little blood then this episode is for you. Joe Pantoliano a TV series veteran of such hits as "The Sopranos" and "Tales from the Crypt" stars as a con artist who pretends to run a home shelter for runaway and abused females. The shelter believes love and god will heal, but this turns out to be a scam with money made by making the female crew into sex slaves. Only this money hungry preacher finds a most different female in Alice Ames! Alice puts an end to the scam thru her religious powers, remember blood is thicker than water! Not one of the better "Hitchhiker" episodes but worth a watch.

A scam-artist preacher known as Brother Charles (Joe Pantoliano of future Sopranos fame) is sitting pretty with his ill-earned money via his 'Church of Unlimite Love' when it all comes to a halt after he sets his sight on the mysterious Alice Ames, a girl who suffers from the Stigmata. This is one of the episodes that can be found on Volume 1 of the US release of the Hitchhiker, and by choosing the episodes by star power as opposed to the actual best episodes of the series, it really doesn't do it justice. This is proved once again in this episode which is mediocre at best and has an abrupt ending that is completely unfuffiling and made me not like the episode even more.

My Grade: D-

A charlatan working as a priest using runaway girls as prostitutes in the hopes of building a fancy new church (out of gold, marble, silver, only the best for his church), landed what could be his prize in a easily manipulated, gullible, naïve young woman looking for redemption, suffering from stigmatic marks on her hands and feet, a "symbol of God's limitless love" in her heart and the perfect way for him to fatten his wallet. But while he might not actually practice what he preaches or truly believe the con that he pulls over the mindless sheep who hook for him, a surprise may be in store for Brother Charles… Set in Paris, with a mood of melancholy and despair, this little episode about miracles that arise out of the pits of depravity is a bit too short for its ambitions. Perhaps because of the small afforded time available to tell this tale, the story or its characters received quite enough development to really hit the bullseye. I like what it is trying to say, though, and I for one believe there's relevancy in the message here that one can use religion, God's love, the cross of Christ, etc. as a means to line his pockets, secure wealth, and achieve his dream of sustaining a fortune, including his influence over the downtrodden and those yearning for guidance/leadership. Joe Pantoliano hits all the trashy notes perfectly as the loathsome master-manipulator with a penchant for bending the meaning behind agape love, particularly compelling in one scene as he weaves his spell over the stunning, cherubic Alice Ames (Coraly Zahonero, whose face is as angelic as her body is seductively sultry). Too bad Vincent Grass doesn't get more time on screen as the dedicated cop out to stop Charles; he gets one good scene to hand out his warning to Charles). The bleeding wounds, especially at the end when Charles' disguise is gone, attempting to bang Alice, lend to some potent scenes. Not a total failure, but this tale had a lot more potential left unrealized.

Bogus preacher Brother Charles (smoothly played with oily conviction by Joe Pantoliano) preys on the misfortune of young attractive homeless women by leading them toward prostitution under the guise of spreading "brotherly love." The fake priest's scam comes to a sudden halt when mysterious stigmata appear on the hands of his latest flock member Alice Ames (a fine and charming performance by the lovely Coraly Zahonero) as she performs her "mission." Director Bruno Gatillon, working from a compelling script by Naomi Janzen, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace and effectively creates and sustains a serious brooding atmosphere. Pantoliano excels in a tailor-made lead role; he astutely nails the slimy charisma and shrewd manipulative nature of this crafty holy con man. Moreover, there are sturdy supporting turns by Emmanuelle Meysiggnae as the cynical Melissa and Vincent Grass as a cop determined to bust Brother Charles. The plot makes a nicely relevant point about how people use and abuse religion for their own selfish and wicked ends while the chilling downbeat surprise ending packs a potently grim punch. Robert Jaffray's slick cinematography provides a funky neon look. The pulsating score by Shaki Levy and Haim Saban hums with shivery aplomb. Worth seeing for fans of this series.