The Return of the Sorcerer

'The Return of the Sorcerer'. The first single-segment episode of the series, this was scripted by Halsted Welles, based on a story by Clark Ashton Smith, and directed by extremely prolific 'Night Gallery' director Jeannot Szwarc. Vincent Price stars as John Carnby, a sorcerer who hires young Noel Evans (Bill Bixby) to translate some ancient Arabic texts for him. Noel learns that the two translators before him quit, and for good reason: uttering a particular passage (involving hot coals and dismemberment) will leave a curse on the person doing the reading.

Price is a delight as always, and he IS in his element: a theatrical role in a wonderfully macabre genre tale. Price lends all the needed gravitas that the tale needs, although the sexy Tisha Sterling is equally delightful as a devious young woman living in Prices' abode. Bixby is an excellent "straight man" as a character with no particular love or affinity for the occult, just an appreciation for the Arabic language. He's understandably hesitant at taking the assignment, and his uneasiness naturally proves to be totally warranted, during a genuinely weird second half. This involves Sterling kissing a toad, and a black goat seated at a dinner table! Carnby, who is haunted by repeated scraping sounds, has a nasty history with his late brother, and this is paid off fairly well, although this viewer wouldn't blame others if they didn't feel a complete sense of satisfaction with the ending. After all, the episode is left fairly open-ended.

Director Szwarc DOES have a good flair for the macabre with the way he is able to keep the tension increasing, and the set decoration is 100% effective. Good atmosphere, too: the halls and rooms of this house often fill up with smoke. Bixby, Sterling, and genre icon Price keep things moving along quite nicely. Oddly enough, this episode only runs a half hour, unlike most in the series' run.

Seven out of 10.

I can understand Noel's(Bill Bixby)aversion for kissing the toad, but he kisses Fern(Patricia Sterling)after she kisses the toad, so I guess in reality, he does in fact kiss the toad. Now that's over with, let me speak a bit about this odd Vincent Price segment. Price is in fine form as a strange sorcerer named John Carnby, who hires Noel to translate an Arabic book in order to do weird things, which you probably read about already, although Noel's hesitant to accept the job offer at first. The version I saw seemed to have been edited from the original format, so there's some unanswered questions, which is frustrating, and is typical for this series, but I did enjoy this episode for the most part, especially Price, a black goat, and the eerie interior shots of the house/castle. This has a Roger Corman feel to it, which adds to the eyes. Jeannot Szwarc(Jaws 2)directed this episode, and he's also directed 18 other Night Gallery episodes.

Vincent Price can be relied upon to bring a level of class to almost anything, and in this tale from the Night Gallery he is joined by the excellent Bill Bixby (The Incredible Hulk TV show) and the enchantingly beautiful Patricia Sterling. However, despite this talented trio of performers, and some memorably bizarre moments, The Return of the Sorcerer fails to impress, the story a trite mish-mash of occult nonsense that makes little sense and which ends in a most unsatisfactory manner.

Price plays occultist John Carnby, who hires Arabic expert Noel Evans (Bixby) to translate some passages in an old book, texts which have sent two previous translators packing in fear. Sterling plays Fern, Price's sexy assistant, who has more power than anyone guesses. The good stuff includes an atmospheric location (an old mansion so creepy that even the hallways are swathed in mist), a dinner scene in which a goat is a guest, and an amusing moment where Evans meets what is left of Carnby's twin brother: a twitching dismembered foot and a crawling severed hand. It's just a shame that these fun elements weren't part of a better, more cogent story rather than this meandering mystical mumbo jumbo.

Before the smashing success on Hulk series Bill Bixby made this episode with the iconic Vincent Price, he was hired to translate an ancient handwritten document that has a curse whom read and hear, Price played a old sorcerer who killed his brother and was haunting by whispers and weird noises, but who stolen the episode is the gorgeous and sexy lady Fern played by Patricia Sterling, a true eye candy, valuable short episode!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

One bright spot is watching Vincent Price mug for the camera. He is in full scenery-chewing mode and seems to be having a lot of fun. However, let the viewer be forewarned: if enjoying dinner with a goat or kissing frogs is your thing, you might give it a shot. Otherwise, pass on this forgettable episode. It's rather boring, the plot in virtually incomprehensible, and excepting the aforementioned Vincent Price treat, the acting is somnambulistic. Bill Bixby is stone-faced and delivers his line with a stale monotony. Patricia Sterling is beautiful, but adds nothing to the story and seems to be here just to provide a female presence. She seems to be Vincent's wife, although she appears to be at least thirty years younger than he is. I have no doubt this episode was most depressing for Rod Serling.