Dr. Redford's patient John Fearing can mimic any disease's symptoms, and is having an affair with Mrs. Redford. / Cedric Acton, a student of the black arts, plans to replace his cruel wife C... Read allDr. Redford's patient John Fearing can mimic any disease's symptoms, and is having an affair with Mrs. Redford. / Cedric Acton, a student of the black arts, plans to replace his cruel wife Carlotta's soul with that of a kind housekeeper.Dr. Redford's patient John Fearing can mimic any disease's symptoms, and is having an affair with Mrs. Redford. / Cedric Acton, a student of the black arts, plans to replace his cruel wife Carlotta's soul with that of a kind housekeeper.
Photos
- Waiter (segment "The Housekeeper")
- (uncredited)
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
- Waiter (segment "The Housekeeper")
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
The second episode, "The Housekeeper," has the ever entertaining Larry Hagman married to a virago who has a fortune of seven million dollars. There is no pre-nup, so he must put up with her dalliances. Through a study of the black arts, using frogs, he has found a way to transfer the brain and personality from one person to another (at one point we are let in on his experiments where a pig crows and a rooster oinks. He puts out an add for an unattractive old lady with a kind heart. He hopes to transfer her kind demeanor to his wife's body, and get his hands on her money. This is utterly silly and yet delightful. When he and the old lady goes to the fancy restaurant, he orders frog legs. Interesting.
'The Dead Man' (scripted and directed by Douglas Heyes, based on the tale by Fritz Leiber Jr.) stars Carl Betz as Max Redford, a doctor who's found a remarkable young patient in the studly John Michael Fearing (Michael Blodgett). Through the power of suggestion, Max can get John to simulate any disease. Tragedy arises when he tries to get John to simulate death, and John dies for good. Max's wife Velia (Louise Sorel), deeply in love with John, goes insane with grief, and his associate Dr. Talmadge (the great character actor and acting teacher Jeff Corey) realizes the mistake that was initially made. But what will the final result be, when Max tries to make things right?
'The Housekeeper') offers a nifty premise when Cedric Acton (Larry Hagman) tries to replace the cold personality of his wife Carlotta (Suzy Parker) with the much more appealing soul of kindly old housekeeper Miss Wattle (Jeanette Nolan). Miss Wattle is not happy with this idea, but Cedric is determined to see his plan come to fruition. Heyes also wrote this segment (under a pseudonym), which is directed by John Meredyth Lucas.
'The Dead Man' doesn't have a particularly imaginative conclusion, but it IS sad and creepy, with 'The Housekeeper' containing more blatantly comedic and silly touches. Cedric has a basement laboratory that would make Dr. Frankenstein proud, and as evidence of his experiments, we see a crowing pig and an oinking rooster.
Overall, the acting is excellent (horror fans will recognize Cathleen Cordell, who played the Colonels' wife in "The Return of the Living Dead", in 'The Housekeeper'), and the directors offer some good atmosphere, pacing, and humor.
Seven out of 10.
Dr. Miles Talmadge (Jeff Corey) 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?
"The Dead Man" is a creepy tale. The tension increases and the conclusion is excellent. My vote is eight.
Cedric Acton (Larry Hagman) 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?
'The Housekeeper" is a shorter and weaker episode with many flaws and confused conclusion without explanation for Cedric´s final words. Maybe the episode was edited to 20 minutes running time and become nonsense. My vote is six.
My global vote to this episode is seven.
Title (Brazil): "O Morto / A Empregada" ("The Dead Man / The Housekeeper")
Did you know
- TriviaThis was Suzy Parker's final role before her retirement from acting.
- GoofsThoth is Egyptian god of the Moon and knowledge, not god of underworld.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Last Housekeeper (segment "The Housekeeper"): Oh dear, how many times, dear God, how many times?
Cedric Acton (segment "The Housekeeper"): Until we get it right.
- ConnectionsFeatures Frankenstein (1931)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Mount St. Mary's College, Doheny Mansion - 10 Chester Pl, Los Angeles, California, USA(Redford Clinic and Convalescent Hospital)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro