Jess-Belle

I was 12 when I saw this when it was first on TV and it scared me out of the living room. I first became aware of James Best in Dukes Of Hazard. He did a great job with that part but I certainly hope that does not cause people to not see the other excellent work that he did before and after that. Similar to the image that Elvis Presley has to a lot of people as the image just before he died and that was not the real Elvis either. I was saddened to hear last year that Mr. Best departed this life and may he rest in peace after a life well lived. This was one of this best performances just like all of his appearances in The Twilight Zone.

This was one very well written and acted program, Jezz-Belle, and I really liked how it ended. As a Christian, I appreciate the mention of the faith that many people have and how important it is in their lives.

Rod Serling made TV history with The Twilight Zone and later Night Gallery. Everything he wrote was first class and we lost him too soon at age 50. I only have one thing to say that bothers me. It appears that when he presented stories that were set in rural America that were understood to be contemporary, we were led to believe that the people still lived in houses with wooden cooking stoves and kerosene lamps. I don't know if he thought that is what people watching TV expected or if those around him really thought people outside of the the cities really lived that way in the 60's. This not meant to be disrespectful of Mr. Serling and the Hollywood of that time but it appears that some of them needed to get out into "flyover country" and get a good look at it.

I also wish for Mr. Serling to rest in peace and that his work will always be enjoyed and appreciated.

The primary appeal of this witchcraft and folklore entry is to see Anne Francis starring in the Zone again after the classic 'The After Hours', (series one). She plays Jess-Belle a country girl who is determined to still get her man Billy Ben (James Best) even when his engagement to Elly (Laura Devon) is announced. Jess-Belle is impulsively naughty in turning to Granny Holt (Jeanette Nolan)- a finely played prim but duplicitous witch. Anne Francis carries the piece in a long black wig as the passionate girl tormented by the consequences of her supernatural powers. She makes Jess-Belle a sympathetic character who never means any harm beyond her desperate action to steal away Billy Ben. She keeps this Valentine's Day/Halloween story from sinking amidst the form-changing silliness in the plot. It's light entertainment that's far from TZ at it's best, but is well played by all, including Virginia Gregg (from 'The Masks', series five) as Jess-Belle's mother.

Rod Serling introduces the tale as one with ancient elements put into a setting nearer our time. The story seems more like 'Night Gallery' than TZ - a little more in the vein of 'I'll Never Leave You-Ever' with Lois Nettleton in ancient Wales. Serling asked writer Earl Hamner Jr to produce a script using his knowledge of folklore. He surely got that.

Jeanette Nolan was married to John McIntire who also sold a love potion in 'The Chaser' (series one) as Professor A. Daemon. Those two stayed married- unsurprisingly.

Both Virginia Gregg and Jeanette Nolan provided the voice of Norma Bates in Hitchcock's 'Psycho'. I shall stop showing off my trivia knowledge now.

A supernatural romance-novel of an episode, "Jess-Belle" stars the bewitching Anne Francis as the title character, a mountain girl who loses her man and will do whatever she can to get him back. Looking at it objectively, this episode shouldn't work nearly as well as it does - the dialogue is sometimes laughably melodramatic and Billy Ben doesn't seem handsome, intelligent, or charismatic enough to merit the undying devotion of two beautiful women - but the strength of the acting sells it. The fact that this was filmed in black and white does a lot to add to the spookiness of the story; I can't see it working nearly as well in color. Definitely recommend this one. Oh, and I love the fact that this was originally aired on Valentine's Day!

I remember seeing this as a 10 year old kid, and I saw it recently on a New Years marathon on a cable channel.

Although it has been 50 years since I first saw it, I think it's rather unusual, if not a bit fascinating to watch.

JEANETTE NOLAN stole the show with her portrayal of Granny Hart (the Witch). She was rather scary when I saw her as a kid, and she still is now!!

Give it a look if it comes around....

9/10.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, lovesick Jess-Belle(played by Anne Francis) is heartsick that her great love Billy Ben Turner(played by James Best) is set to marry another woman(played by Laura Devon), who is the daughter of a successful farmer. In desperation, she turns to a witch named Granny Hart(played by Jeanette Nolan) who casts a love potion for her that works fine, but comes at a high price, so now Jess-Belle has a whole new problem to solve, even with Billy Ben's undying love... Nice little supernatural love story looks and feels authentic, with some clever touches and good performances, though again feels padded to fill out an hour.