The first main episode of Night Gallery consists of two sedgments.
"The Dead Man" features Dr. Miles Talmadge (Jeff Corey) who is invited by his colleague and friend Dr. Max Redford (Carl Betz) to come to his isolated clinic to witness his recent research. Max shows his only patient John Michael Fearing (Michael Blodgett) that has psychosomatic illness and is capable to receive suggestions under hypnosis to change his body instantaneously from healthy to sickness and vice-versa. Fearing is in love with Dr. Redford's younger wife Velia Redford (Louise Sorel) and this is the only reason for him to accept to be submitted to Dr. Redford's experiments. When he decides to defeat death using Fearing, his signal does not bring his guinea pig back to life and Fearing dies. Velia becomes insane until the day Dr. Talmadge discovers his friend committed a mistake in his signal. What will happen next? (courtesy of IMDB)
"The Housekeeper" features Cedric Acton (Larry Hagman) who is unhappily married with the wealthy Carlotta Acton (Suzy Parker). He requests an ugly and lonely housekeeper and Miss Wattle (Jeanette Nolan) applies for the job. She is interviewed by Cedric and soon she leans his intentions. Will she accept his proposal? (courtesy of IMDB)
"The Dead Man" is a very freighting episode which tells the age old story of man trying to cheat death only to have it come back and bit him were it hurts. It was based on a short story by Fritz Leiber, and the teleplay was written by Douglas Heyes (surprisingly not Sterling) who also directed it as well. Its boosts a fine cast and all four of the actors are on board here. The story builds good suspense through out leading up to the shocking conclusion, which really scared me when I was younger, the old deserted mansion setting really adds to the creepiness. "The Housekeeper" moves more into comedic territory as we have Larry Hagman from Dallas fame trying to replace his beautiful wife's dark mean personality with that of a kind housekeeper, he has some way found a way transfer them using black magic. While the episode seems to be played majorily for laughs, Hagman plays the role dead serious which adds to the comedy. At one point we are let in on Hagman's experiments and we see different animals with different personalities. For example a pig crows. The twist is silly and is made confusing by some choppy editing, but, the whole story has a delightful charming feel to it despite the goofiness. It was also written by Heyes, but was directed by John Meredyth Lucas.
All in all, a nice way to start this wonderful series. See it mostly for 'The Dead Man".
"The Dead Man" features Dr. Miles Talmadge (Jeff Corey) who is invited by his colleague and friend Dr. Max Redford (Carl Betz) to come to his isolated clinic to witness his recent research. Max shows his only patient John Michael Fearing (Michael Blodgett) that has psychosomatic illness and is capable to receive suggestions under hypnosis to change his body instantaneously from healthy to sickness and vice-versa. Fearing is in love with Dr. Redford's younger wife Velia Redford (Louise Sorel) and this is the only reason for him to accept to be submitted to Dr. Redford's experiments. When he decides to defeat death using Fearing, his signal does not bring his guinea pig back to life and Fearing dies. Velia becomes insane until the day Dr. Talmadge discovers his friend committed a mistake in his signal. What will happen next? (courtesy of IMDB)
"The Housekeeper" features Cedric Acton (Larry Hagman) who is unhappily married with the wealthy Carlotta Acton (Suzy Parker). He requests an ugly and lonely housekeeper and Miss Wattle (Jeanette Nolan) applies for the job. She is interviewed by Cedric and soon she leans his intentions. Will she accept his proposal? (courtesy of IMDB)
"The Dead Man" is a very freighting episode which tells the age old story of man trying to cheat death only to have it come back and bit him were it hurts. It was based on a short story by Fritz Leiber, and the teleplay was written by Douglas Heyes (surprisingly not Sterling) who also directed it as well. Its boosts a fine cast and all four of the actors are on board here. The story builds good suspense through out leading up to the shocking conclusion, which really scared me when I was younger, the old deserted mansion setting really adds to the creepiness. "The Housekeeper" moves more into comedic territory as we have Larry Hagman from Dallas fame trying to replace his beautiful wife's dark mean personality with that of a kind housekeeper, he has some way found a way transfer them using black magic. While the episode seems to be played majorily for laughs, Hagman plays the role dead serious which adds to the comedy. At one point we are let in on Hagman's experiments and we see different animals with different personalities. For example a pig crows. The twist is silly and is made confusing by some choppy editing, but, the whole story has a delightful charming feel to it despite the goofiness. It was also written by Heyes, but was directed by John Meredyth Lucas.
All in all, a nice way to start this wonderful series. See it mostly for 'The Dead Man".