Jess-Belle

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.

One of the best Twilight Zone Episodes ever, and several special effects that were especially frightening at the time, considering how difficult it was to produce this episode. Not to miss. Anne Francis, James Best, Laura Devon, Virginia Gregg, and Jennifer Nolan rattled everything they could out of Earl Hamner's script. Nolan's Granny Hart may have held some aspects of her earlier Lady Macbeth portrayal.

In the countryside of USA, Ellwyn Glover, who is the daughter of a rich farmer, accepts the proposal of the local farmer Billy Ben Turner. Her father gives a party in a barn to celebrate their engagement. His former lover Jess-Belle Stone, who also loves him, becomes jealous and looks for the local witch Granny Hart. However, she does not have money to pay for a love potion to bewitch Billy Ben. Granny Hart gives the potion to her and tells to Jess-Belle that there is a high-cost involved, but the woman does not care for the price. She immediately bewitched Billy Ben that leaves Ellwyn alone in her party. But soon Jess-Belle learns the price she has to pay for accepting the deal with the powerful witch.

"Jess-Belle" is a different episode of "The Twilight Zone", with a love story. Jess-Belle and Ellwyn Glover are both in love with Billy Ben Turner. Their main differences are that Jess-Belle has given to him what every man looks for in a woman, while Ellwyn Glover stayed pure and is daughter of a wealthy farmer. Therefore, he selects Ellwyn Glover to get married with him. Jess-Belle gives her soul to a witch to have her lover back and there is no twist in the end as usual in The Twilight Zone episodes. The plot is not pleasant, but sad in the end. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Jess-Belle"

Earl Hamner (creator of "The Waltons") wrote this script. It is pretty light weight. For a Southerner, he depicts the characters as stereotypical hillbillies. Their accents and use of idioms are almost comical. The story begins with a barn dance. A handsome young man delivers a diamond ring to a pretty farm girl and she accepts his proposal. Her father announces that he has given his blessing. Slinking around in the background is Jess- Belle (Jezebel, I suppose, although it really doesn't follow the Biblical narrative), the raven- haired former lover of the young man. She is dark and driven. She confronts her former beau and he tells her kindly that this is over. She threatens him and his bride to be. There is a woman who is known as a spell weaver and a witch. Jess-Belle purchases a potion which will make her irresistible to her quarry. It works, but she pays a huge price. In a latter day take on Cinderella, she turns into a leopard after midnight each night, so even though he is hopelessly in love with her, she must leave him alone each night.

This leads to considerable consequences for all. There are so many questions one should ask. I supposed that since these people are superstitious (rightfully so) and seen as very simple, they have lost the ability to think. Anyway, it's a pretty lightweight effort.

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.