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
Big mistake. The only platform on which it's currently available has allowed it to be butchered by the ceaseless adverts of a well known, somewhat kitsch, entertainment/theme park company. These appeared no fewer than FIFTEEN times in 37 minutes. A particularly cruel refinement of this torture was that sometimes the programme would resume, only to return to the advert after a few seconds.
I'm not opposed to advertising in principle. Indeed, I'd prefer the BBC to be funded by it in place of the collectivist/socialist system where everyone with a television has to pay £159 pa for it whether they watch the BBC or not. But do advertisers really imagine such absurd overkill will endear them even to those who may be attracted to their products?
I refuse to watch any further episodes similarly disfigured. Alfred Hitchcock often made wry remarks about adverts but I doubt his shows had it this bad. Without the ads I'd have probably scored it 6 or 7.
In The Dead Man, Dr. Max Redford (Carl Betz) invites his friend Dr. Miles Talmadge (Jeff Corey) to his home, to introduce him to John Fearing (Michael Blodgett), a patient who he has conditioned using hypnotic suggestion to fall ill, and return to health, on his command; Max believes that his control method may even help conquer death. Redford's experiments take a horrific turn when his subject dies and he is unable to bring him back as planned. When Miles goes through Max's case notes and recordings, he discovers his friend's mistake - an error that proves to have deadly consequences. The final EC-style twist in this episode is enjoyable, but like the stories in the pilot, I think it would have been more impactful if they had been able to up the gruesomeness.
Story number two is a more whimsical affair, Larry Hagman playing Cedric Acton, the husband of a wealthy and attractive woman with a horrible personality. Using the dark arts, Cedric hopes to carry out a personality transplant, replacing his wife's obnoxiousness with the more benign nature of housekeeper Miss Wattle (Jeanette Nolan). Obviously, things don't go according to plan. The light-hearted tone makes this an inoffensive bit of fun, while the short running time ensures that it never bores. Unlikely to give you nightmares, but entertaining nonetheless.
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