Dean Stockwell was born to play strange characters, especially in his youth. In this one, he has pretty much given up his life to be the soulmate of a person with multiple personalities, played by Sally Field. He actually narrates the crazy world he lives in, trying to parse the idiosyncrasies of his beloved. She is an innocent one moment and an unpredictable challenge the next. She has a connection with graveyards and unborn things and he can't take his eyes off her for more than a minute. He wants her to sleep (probably so he can sleep) and tries to get a sedative for her, but the doctor he goes to isn't compliant. Anyway, this weird tale goes in fits and starts and we are never privy to the mind of the young girl. Certainly one of the strangest episodes of this series.
11 Reviews
Spirits
AaronCapenBanner13 November 2014
Sally Field & Dean Stockwell play Irene & Charlie Evens, a young married couple who have come from San Francisco to the Antebellum south in order to appease Irene's wandering spirit and troubled mind, as she has the unique ability to be a most suitable medium for spirits to communicate with the world. Charlie thinks this will finally cure her of her need for these cheap thrills, as it does seem to excite her, but as it turns out, she communes with one grave too many... Eerie tale may require multiple viewings to fully understand, as it is narratively ambitious, if not entirely satisfying. Still, Field is excellent in difficult role.
Whisper
Scarecrow-8817 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Sally Field portrays a young woman who invites spirits to possess her. She and hubby Dean Stockwell visit "the old country" (somewhere South) from Fresno, staying in a cottage. Stockwell adores Field's Irene to the point that he will tolerate her "mood swings", but how many times can she continue to allow them to have access to her before the occupants (or, more specifically, Rachel) refuse to leave? Sally Field already proves here how versatile an actress she is due to her ability to alternate personalities, one moment the full-of-light Irene (with a smile that melts your heart), then next a cold and indifferent Rachel, who suffered her share of difficulties during life. While plain, Sally was quite adorable, which makes her fate rather tragic because she admittedly allowed the spirits to enter her "inn" as part of a game so she wouldn't be just like everyone else, the owner no longer perhaps in charge of vacancies. "Whisper" has an eerie quality to it, the soundtrack using the rustling of the wind effectively, along with Field's performance. Stockwell used to look so weird back during this time of his career, the bushy eyebrows and curly locks, which makes him, in my opinion, perfect for horror and cult films. The director decides to allow Stockwell to talk to the camera, as if he were chatting with the spirits that are invading his Sally. Kent Smith, as a doctor Stockwell visits in regards to sleeping pills he wants for Field, many will know from the masterpiece, "Cat People".
"She has the ability to become someone else."
classicsoncall17 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This Night Gallery offering is presented in a strange manner, with Dean Stockwell going fourth wall at times to speak to the viewer, and at other times he'll narrate what's going on. I guess you can't fault him, because his character Charlie Evans is married to a woman who communes with spirits who take over her body. Seems like this would be a scary ordeal for a normal person, but Charlie believes it helps maintain diversity in his marriage. I guess it takes all kinds.
This is a different kind of role for Sally Field, coming shortly after her gig as 'The Flying Nun', a concept I thought was pretty dumb when it first aired and still do today. There's a night time scene in the story when Field's Irene character looks absolutely demonic as she channels a spirit named Rachel. I had to admit it was kind of scary to see her that way. But the resolution here is somewhat inconclusive, unless you go with the idea that Rachel expires after her 'Johnny' buries something, presumably the woman's dead baby, under a pile of rocks. It's as good an explanation as any I guess, for a story that's not high on my list of stories to catch from 'Night Gallery'.
This is a different kind of role for Sally Field, coming shortly after her gig as 'The Flying Nun', a concept I thought was pretty dumb when it first aired and still do today. There's a night time scene in the story when Field's Irene character looks absolutely demonic as she channels a spirit named Rachel. I had to admit it was kind of scary to see her that way. But the resolution here is somewhat inconclusive, unless you go with the idea that Rachel expires after her 'Johnny' buries something, presumably the woman's dead baby, under a pile of rocks. It's as good an explanation as any I guess, for a story that's not high on my list of stories to catch from 'Night Gallery'.
Worth watching for any Sally Field fan.
Hey_Sweden23 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Dean Stockwell plays Charlie, a married man who's pretty much given up his career to spend time with his fragile wife Irene (Sally Field). Irene is a natural medium, and frequently restless spirits take root inside her. But she always returns to normal at some point. Charlie has accepted the situation for a long time, but now it's starting to get to him. Unfortunately, Irene is having an especially hard time with the current spirit residing inside her: a grieving mother.
While not a completely satisfying tale (this viewer would have liked to see this fleshed out a bit more), it's still pretty affecting. It has excellent atmosphere, with an especially fine music score by series composer Eddie Sauter and lots of wind effects on the soundtrack. It also has an appropriately somber mood, and utilizes the device of having Stockwell directly address the camera while he narrates.
This wouldn't work as well as it does, however, were it not for Ms. Field. Stockwell comes off as sincere but a little bland here. Kent Smith offers sturdy support as a folksy doctor who refuses to offer assistance when Charlie asks him for sleeping pills. The beauty of the ever-adorable Sally has an effectively ethereal quality here; she's just so appealing that it's unfortunate when the tale ultimately takes a downbeat turn.
This is definitely a strange episode, one of the stranger ones during the three-season run of 'Night Gallery'.
Seven out of 10.
While not a completely satisfying tale (this viewer would have liked to see this fleshed out a bit more), it's still pretty affecting. It has excellent atmosphere, with an especially fine music score by series composer Eddie Sauter and lots of wind effects on the soundtrack. It also has an appropriately somber mood, and utilizes the device of having Stockwell directly address the camera while he narrates.
This wouldn't work as well as it does, however, were it not for Ms. Field. Stockwell comes off as sincere but a little bland here. Kent Smith offers sturdy support as a folksy doctor who refuses to offer assistance when Charlie asks him for sleeping pills. The beauty of the ever-adorable Sally has an effectively ethereal quality here; she's just so appealing that it's unfortunate when the tale ultimately takes a downbeat turn.
This is definitely a strange episode, one of the stranger ones during the three-season run of 'Night Gallery'.
Seven out of 10.
Whisper
BandSAboutMovies1 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Night Gallery regular Jeannot Szwarc and written by David Rayfiel from a story by Martin Waddell, "Whisper" has Sally Field and Dean Stockwell as Irene and Charlie Evans. He used to work as an architect, but his wife hasn't been herself. Literally.
Irene and Charlie have moved to rural Mississippi because she channels the personalities of deceased people, a fact that he has just come to understand and deal with. After all, she always comes back and is herself again after being possessed. She'll always come back to being Irene, he figures, he just loans her out. Right?
One of the spirits in her head is Rachel, a woman who keeps coming back and begins to obsess Irene. She starts referring to Charlie as Johnny and makes him dig up something - a dead child? - buried under some rocks. He goes back to his wife when he's done but she tells him. "Oh, Charlie, I can't get back. I can't get back!"
Is Irene gone forever? Or is she just a victim of mental illness? There are no answers from this Night Gallery.
Three years later, Sally Field would gain more critical praise for another TV program about multiple personalities, Sybil. As for this episode, Szwarc proves why he's the best director on the program and even has moments of Stockwell narrating directly to camera, as if this is all a dream or a memory.
The third season is rough but as always, when it works - like in "Whisper" - it gets it right.
Irene and Charlie have moved to rural Mississippi because she channels the personalities of deceased people, a fact that he has just come to understand and deal with. After all, she always comes back and is herself again after being possessed. She'll always come back to being Irene, he figures, he just loans her out. Right?
One of the spirits in her head is Rachel, a woman who keeps coming back and begins to obsess Irene. She starts referring to Charlie as Johnny and makes him dig up something - a dead child? - buried under some rocks. He goes back to his wife when he's done but she tells him. "Oh, Charlie, I can't get back. I can't get back!"
Is Irene gone forever? Or is she just a victim of mental illness? There are no answers from this Night Gallery.
Three years later, Sally Field would gain more critical praise for another TV program about multiple personalities, Sybil. As for this episode, Szwarc proves why he's the best director on the program and even has moments of Stockwell narrating directly to camera, as if this is all a dream or a memory.
The third season is rough but as always, when it works - like in "Whisper" - it gets it right.
The young Sally Field on weird character !!!
elo-equipamentos16 September 2019
Until this time Sally field made solid career on series, on Night Gallery it was one most weak episode, playing a disturbing wife who used wears voices, Dean Stockwell as his husband try out helps her with any results, actually Irene is a medium and has natural ability to handle this matter, however the things becomes worst ever since, Stockwell had an outstanding acting, nevertheless the final sequence didn't work as expected, should be better treating as interesting subject, perhaps the writer could be asking for a best adviser in this field!!
Resume:
First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5
Resume:
First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5
Could it get any worse?
BA_Harrison22 February 2023
There must have been some pretty good drugs being passed around during the making of this episode 'cos it makes not a lick of sense, feeling more like an avant-garde piece of new wave French cinema than something from the man, the legend that is Mr. Rod Serling.
I cannot even begin to sum up the plot. Dean Stockwell, sporting big hair and matching big eyebrows,, regularly stops to talk directly at the camera for no discernable reason and Sally Field looks spaced-out throughout. I was half expecting them to start throwing spoons in the air while laughing hysterically and for the episode to end abruptly with the word 'FIN'.
Not every Twilight Zone was a winner, but none of them were as awful as this pretentious, incomprehensible garbage. I'm not at all surprised that this was the final season of Night Gallery given how bad this story was.
I cannot even begin to sum up the plot. Dean Stockwell, sporting big hair and matching big eyebrows,, regularly stops to talk directly at the camera for no discernable reason and Sally Field looks spaced-out throughout. I was half expecting them to start throwing spoons in the air while laughing hysterically and for the episode to end abruptly with the word 'FIN'.
Not every Twilight Zone was a winner, but none of them were as awful as this pretentious, incomprehensible garbage. I'm not at all surprised that this was the final season of Night Gallery given how bad this story was.
Sally Field undertakes a role that may well have led her into "SYBL"...
jet_blanchard3 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Meet Irene and Charlie, a charming young, seventies couple living with a secret. She can connect with and assume the personalities of the dead, recent or long past. It's "her game" and Charlie indulges her in it because it makes her "different", more colorful. Only this time, the rules Irene has played by have been changed by someone else, and here in the Deep South, the often "cold, wintry things" that usually come and go are about to give way to one who doesn't want to let Irene return...
A quiet Plantation House and a small Southern town provide the setting in which only a local doctor, the ever-present camera and the unheard, ghostly whispers communicate with Irene and Charlie.
Her ability to transition between one persona and another seamlessly, in real time, are displayed here, one of the talents that drive Sally Field always toward the top in her acting (and maybe her role as "Sybil" three years later). Dean Stockwell is excellent as her very loving husband, at once amused and intrigued - and frightened - by Irene's game.
A quiet Plantation House and a small Southern town provide the setting in which only a local doctor, the ever-present camera and the unheard, ghostly whispers communicate with Irene and Charlie.
Her ability to transition between one persona and another seamlessly, in real time, are displayed here, one of the talents that drive Sally Field always toward the top in her acting (and maybe her role as "Sybil" three years later). Dean Stockwell is excellent as her very loving husband, at once amused and intrigued - and frightened - by Irene's game.
A different part of the country takes a woman away!
blanbrn30 August 2014
This "Night Gallery" episode from 1973 starred Sally field and it's worth a watch due to her performance. Sally plays a woman who hears strange voices like that of the dead in a different and rural country setting. The husband had moved them from San Francisco to the country to get away however the Field character starts to hear voices more and more and the husband seems to enjoy it as he thinks this will keep his wife around. The voices get louder and more common for the Sally character. It's like the land of the dead has risen to take this woman away for good! Overall neat and strange episode that's due for a watch because of Sally Field.
Spooky episode
Woodyanders31 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Sweet mental medium Irene (a fine and affecting portrayal by Sally Field) has an unfortunate knack for getting possessed by lost souls, which tries the patience of her loyal, but long-suffering husband Charlie (an excellent performance by Dean Stockwell). Complications ensue when Irene has difficulty controlling the latest spirit that has invaded her mind and body.
Director Jeannot Szwarc ably crafts an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, with especially effective use of the disruptive sound of constant rustling wind. Moreover, having Charlie frequently break the fourth wall and speak right to the camera adds to the overall uncanny tone while his love and concern for Irene's fragile state gives the plot some poignancy. Kent Smith lends sturdy support as a skeptical country doctor. The grim ending concludes things on a haunting note.
Director Jeannot Szwarc ably crafts an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, with especially effective use of the disruptive sound of constant rustling wind. Moreover, having Charlie frequently break the fourth wall and speak right to the camera adds to the overall uncanny tone while his love and concern for Irene's fragile state gives the plot some poignancy. Kent Smith lends sturdy support as a skeptical country doctor. The grim ending concludes things on a haunting note.
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