Jess-Belle

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!

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.

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 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"

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.