The Phantom Farmhouse/Silent Snow, Secret Snow

The rating is mostly for the second episode, although the first is interesting. In "The Phantom Farmhouse," David McCallum runs a high priced treatment center (asylum) where his clients sit on platforms in trees and say pithy things and confront each other's conditions. David Carradine is in another world, speaking 1970's slang and playing is guitar (which another patient hates). He talks constantly of a house off in the woods where a haunting young woman lives. He says to see her is to instantly fall in love with her. The natives say that all that is in that space is the leftover fireplace chimney, a well, and three gravestones. There was a terrible fire there in the past. McCallum acts under control but has a sense of curiosity and one day makes his way to the house, where there is a family and beautiful blond woman with whom he immediately falls in love. This is one of those stories where plenty of warning is given and yet the main character doesn't listen. It is quite haunting in both its visual and auditory sense. Much better than most episodes.

Conrad Aiken is a favorite of Rod Serling and here he uses one of his most famous stories, "Silent Snow, Secret Snow." This is the story of a child who appears to be autistic and the pain his parents go through to reach him. Autism was barely on the radar in those days and it's possible there is supernatural element at work. The boy sits in class in a kind of reverie as he stares at a snow globe and imagines himself standing, frolicking in a snowstorm. He is very bright but only comes out of these almost catatonic episodes when screamed at or spoken to over and over. This is indeed a haunting presentation with Orson Welles' voice-over giving it a real depth and beauty.

Since season two of "Night Gallery" is not available yet. I find that I must rely on my memory. From what I remember this is one of the most beautifully disturbing programs that I have ever seen. A young boy's decent into autism. Or maybe not. As narrated by Orson Wells, this become some of the most captivating television ever shown. Season Two of "Night Gallery" was Television at it's finest in the early 70's. Why isn't season two available on DVD yet? Let's hope that when it is released that they take a little more care in the transfers. How season one was presented was a joke. How can we convince the powers that be at NBC, that we the people want and need this? Thank you.

'The Phantom Farmhouse' - David McCallum plays a psychiatrist in a country sanitarium treating his patients(like David Carradine) while a mysterious murder occurs that seems to connect with one of them, who has a pentagram on his hand. A phantom farmhouse with a beautiful woman and her parents also comes into play, as things are not as pleasant as they seem... Effective story adapted from Seabury Quinn has a nice atmosphere, with equal parts of melancholy and menace.

'Silent Snow, Secret Snow' - Orson Welles narrates this spellbinder about a young boy(likely on the autistic spectrum) who loses interest in his everyday reality, retreating into a more comfortable place of snow and privacy, much to the alarm of his baffled parents. Masterpiece is the jewel in the crown of this series, an exquisite story that works on multiple levels.

This "Night Gallery" episode from 1971 is well done and good as the first one features the legendary Orson Wells as a narrator in a tale about a boy going away to a different kind of place and different kind of school. And then a tale that features a man in hell where nothing is to appear or what it seems to be. Then to finish out the last tale with David Carradine as a man housed on a prison like farm who all of a sudden has a little secret a house that is around only this house has a history a curse it turns out that it's a land of werewolves! Really a pretty good entry from the series one to watch for it's suspense and imagination and drama like twist.

This is one of those episodes that I liked better after watching it the 2nd time, as I felt the story was fairly original, and there are several familiar faces. Some of these faces include a pre-Kung Fu David Carradine, David McCallum, Ford Rainey, and Bill Quinn. As you should by now, there are no actual "werewolves" in this segment, although I think the term was mentioned a few times, although I forget who said it. Let me also add that the attacks/chases by the "wolves", or perhaps just big dogs, was filmed rather well and convincing for 1971, as CGI wasn't around quite yet. The scene were the one wolf/big dog fends off the other 2 to help protect Dr. Winter(McCallum) was spot on, and probably my favorite scene of this episode. I also enjoyed the scene with Dr. Winter, Dr. Tom(Quinn), and Betty(Trina Parks), as they all discussed the murders going on at the asylum. Watch out for that forefinger too! That was pretty creepy looking, and it didn't look that fake either. I've never heard this finger mythology regarding the evil creatures, but kudos on it being original.