Customer Reviews

Thriller: The Complete Series

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I am THRILLED that THRILLER is being released on August 31, 2010 this summer! Image Entertainment has put the entire series, which is two seasons, on 14 discs in this dvd set. All 67 one hour long chilling and some really frightening episodes will be seen in the original fantastic black and white film in all it's scary shadows and creepiness.

Thriller was originally shown on Tuesday nights in it's first 1960-1961 season on NBC from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.. Because of parents complaints that the show was too scary for school age children, making them unable to sleep on a school night, NBC moved the show in it's second 1961 to 1962 season to Monday nights at a later time from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m.. The show began with it's host, the great Boris Karloff preparing it's audience for the great horrors and terrors that you were about to see and hear. Boris Karloff not only hosted the one hour long show, but starred in several episodes as well, adding his wonderfully brilliant performances to these extremely well written horror stories. The black and white film is perfect for the super eerie atmosphere of the scary stories and it really does add to the visual terror.

Stephen King calls Thriller the best horror series ever put on television. I call Thriller the only television series that gave me horrendous and terrifying, unable to sleep, nightmares as a child and I don't mean a few of the shows, but most of them! Most of the episodes feature the most disturbing stories of the macabre, twisted murders, terror and a few crime based episodes. The crime based episodes, though very excellent, full of twists and suspense, are not my favorites, as they are not as scary as the supernatural and macabre ones.

Image Entertainment said they have digitally restored the original black and white film and used Dolby digital sound on the recording. I remember getting goose bumps hearing the creepiest sounds and screams in some of the episodes, as if the film wasn't creepy enough with things hiding in every shadow and close ups of glaring dead eyes! In it's first season, Thriller was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Music For Television. It wasn't just the sounds and screams that were terrifying, but also the music! The next season, American Cinema Editors nominated Thriller for Best Edited Television Program, for the episode, A Third For Pinochle.

Thriller featured many well known actors and actresses in their episodes, some being: Boris Karloff, Leslie Nielson, silent film star Mary Astor, Rip Torn, Richard Chamberlain, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Corby, Victor Buono, Mary Tyler Moore, Jack Carson, Warren Oates, Werner Klemperer, Mort Saul, William Shatner, Donna Douglas, Susan Oliver, Ronald Howard, Robert Vaughn, Marlo Thomas, Jeanette Nolan, Tommy Nolan, Edward Andrews, Marion Ross, Brandon DeWilde, Natalie Schafer, Alejandro Rey, John Carradine, Tom Posten, Elizabeth Montgomery, Estelle Winwood, Jo Van Fleet, Bruce Dern, Richard Long, Ursula Andress, Denver Pyle, Sue Ann Langdon, Dick York, Reta Shaw, William Windom and George Kennedy.

I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU TO IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT for putting the time and effort into digitally restoring and releasing the greatest horror television series of all time! They are also including bonus materials of Audio Commentaries, Episodes Promos, Series Promos and Still Galleries. I am so looking forward to getting goose bumps and being terrified all over again with those dreaded nightmares that kept me and all my school friends awake all night and hiding deep under our covers, so afraid of the dark! This being my second time around to see these terrifying Thrillers, I have learned to never watch the supernatural or macabre episodes alone. If I have no choice and have to watch them alone, I will make sure to keep a light on, and most importantly, I'll make sure that there are no reflecting windows, glass or mirrors visible when watching THE HUNGRY GLASS! Even after 50 years, I can still remember the terrified photographer and his wife when they decided to ignore everyone telling them not to move into the haunted seaside house, but moved in anyway to live with the terrors reflected within!

Here Are All 67 Macabre, Horrifying And Terror Filled Episodes:
SEASON 1:
(09-13-1960) THE TWISTED IMAGE- Psycopath mail clerk.(Leslie Nielson)
(09-20-1960) CHILD'S PLAY- Deadly imagination.
(09-27-1960) WORSE THAN MURDER- Strange diary.
(10-04-1960) THE MARK OF THE HAND- Child with a gun.
(10-11-1960) ROSE'S LAST SUMMER- Old movie actress.(Mary Astor)
(10-18-1960) THE GUILTY MEN- Crime boss wants out.
(10-25-1960) THE PURPLE ROOM- Haunted mansion.(Rip Torn)
(11-01-1960) THE WATCHER- Psychotic killer.(Richard Chamberlain)
(11-15-1960) GIRL WITH A SECRET- Spys.(Cloris Leachman, Ellen Corby and Victor Buono)
(11-22-1960) THE PREDICTION- Magician's predictions.(Boris Karloff)
(11-29-1960) THE FATAL IMPULSE- Bomb planted in purse.(Mary Tyler Moore)
(12-06-1960) THE BIG BLACKOUT- Lost memory of murder.(Jack Carson)
(12-13-1960) KNOCK THREE-ONE-TWO- Arranged murder.(Warren Oates)
(12-20-1960) MAN IN THE MIDDLE- Overhearing murder plan.(Werner Klemperer and Mort Sahl)
(12-27-1960) THE CHEATERS- Strange Eyeglasses.
(01-03-1961) THE HUNGRY GLASS- Haunted seaside home.(William Shatner and Donna Douglas)
(01-10-1961) THE POISONER- Easy money by killing.
(01-17-1961) MAN IN THE CAGE- Intrigue in Morocco.
(01-24-1961) CHOOSE A VICTIM- Beach bum fall guy.(Susan Oliver)
(02-07-1961) HAY-FORK AND BILL-HOOK- Witchcraft.
(02-14-1961) THE MERRIWEATHER FILE- Murder mystery.
(02-21-1961) THE FINGERS OF FEAR- Child murderer.
(02-28-1961) WELL OF DOOM- Sorcerer.(Ronald Howard)
(03-07-1961) THE ORDEAL OF DR. CORDELL- Murderous rage.(Robert Vaughn and Marlo Thomas)
(03-14-1961) TRIO FOR TERROR- Occult; Odd bed; Museum hideout.
(03-21-1961) PAPA BENJAMIN- Voodoo melody.
(04-04-1961) LATE DATE- Murder confession.
(04-11-1961) YOURS TRULY, JACK THE RIPPER- Jack is back.
(04-18-1961) THE DEVIL'S TICKET- Artist and pawn shop ticket.
(04-25-1961) PARASITE MANSION- Dark mansion secrets.(Jeanette Nolan and Tommy Nolan)
(05-02-1961) A GOOD IMAGINATION- Cheating wife.(Edward Andrews)
(05-09-1961) MR. GEORGE- Invisible child protector.
(05-16-1961) TERROR IN TEAKWOOD- Severed hands play piano.
(05-23-1961) THE PRISONER IN THE MIRROR- Evil sorcerer.(Marion Ross)
(05-30-1961) DARK LEGACY- Book of spells.
(06-06-1961) PIGEONS FROM HELL- Terrifying manor house.(Brandon DeWilde)
(06-13-1961) THE GRIM REAPER- Cursed painting.(William Shatner and Natalie Schafer)

SEASON 2:
(09-18-1961) WHAT BECKONING GHOST?- Funeral dreams.
(09-26-1961) GUILLOTINE- Executioner.(Alejandro Rey)
(10-02-1961) THE PREMATURE BURIAL- Buried alive.(Boris Karloff)
(10-16-1961) THE WEIRD TAYLOR- Special suit for the dead.
(10-23-1961) GOD GRANTE THAT SHE LYE STILLE- Witch haunting.(Ronald Howard and Victor Buono)
(10-30-1961) MASQUERADE- Vampires.(John Carradine, Tom Posten and Elizabeth Montgomery)
(11-06-1961) THE LAST OF THE SOMMERVILLES- Scheming couple.(Boris Karloff)
(11-13-1961) LETTER TO A LOVER- Intrigue.
(11-20-1961) A THIRD FOR PINOCHLE- Nosy spinsters.(Edward Andrews)
(11-27-1961) THE CLOSED CABINET- Ancient curse.
(12-04-1961) DIALOGUES WITH DEATH- Conversing with the dead; Colonel's revenge.(Boris Karloff and Estelle Winwood)
(12-11-1961) THE RETURN OF ANDREW BENTLEY- Fear of evil sorcerer.
(12-18-1961) THE REMARKABLE MRS. HAWKS- Prize pigs.(John Carradine, Jo Van Fleet and Bruce Dern)
(12-25-1961) PORTRAIT WITHOUT A FACE- Dead artist's painting.
(01-01-1962) AN ATTRACTIVE FAMILY- Murder plans.(Richard Long)
(01-08-1962) WAXWORKS- Frightening figures.
(01-15-1962) LA STREGA- Witchcraft.(Ursula Andress, Jeanette Nolan and Alejandro Rey)
(01-22-1962) THE STORM- Alone with a murderer.
(01-29-1962) A WIG FOR MISS DeVORE- Mysterious wig.
(02-12-1962) THE HOLLOW WATCHER- Town scarecrow.(Warren Oates and Denver Pyle)
(02-19-1962) COUSIN TUNDIFIER- Murdering in the past.(Edward Andrews and Sue Ann Langdon)
(02-26-1962) THE INCREDIBLE DR. MARKESAN- Uncle's scary mansion.(Boris Karloff and Dick York)
(03-05-1962) FLOWERS OF EVIL- Screaming skeleton.
(03-12-1962) TIL DEATH DO US PART- Burying your wife.(Reta Shaw)
(03-19-1962) THE BRIDE WHO DIED TWICE- Desire and death.
(03-26-1962) KILL MY LOVE- Mistress murder.
(04-02-1962) MAN OF MYSTERY- Intrigue.(Mary Tyler Moore and William Windom)
(04-09-1962) THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS- Body snatchers.(George Kennedy)
(04-16-1962) THE LETHAL LADIES- Couple fights to death; Clever librarian.
(04-30-1962) THE SPECIALISTS- Jewel thieves.(Ronald Howard)

There are many people who have probably heard about this series "Thriller" but have never seen it before. Many people likely do not know anything about the history of the show. I wanted to give a quick background of this groundbreaking series.
Executive producer Hubbel Robinson was quoted as saying "the show simply did not have enough time to find its identity". This was true on many levels. Originally slated for the 1960-61 season it was intended to be a successful mystery-suspense anthology series. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations immediately. The first problem was that it was rushed into production based on Robinson's earlier successes of "Playhouse 90" and "Studio One". Robinson, along with producer Fletcher Markle and story editor James Cavanagh simply could not agree on what makes a "thriller" thrilling. The title itself was much too vague. The stories were a combination of both crime and horror, which just didn't mix well with its audience.
When the show aired its first episode in 1960 "Twisted Image", it was slammed by critics as being a repulsive story. The next show was even dubbed by critics as being "Worse than Murder". Worse yet, the audience was not tuning in. During the span of the first 8 episodes Robinson saw what he thought would be his masterpiece crumbling at its base. the critics were relentless, the ratings were low, and the sponsors were mad as a hatter.
Robinson had to make a change and FAST. After the 8th installment, new producers Maxwell Shane and William Frye were called in. Shane took over the crime shows and Frye worked on the horror stories. The new episodes, under new direction, were a combination of bone-chilling horror with supernatural overtones and violent crime dramas.
The new stories were definitely an improvement. Frye wanted classic-style horror set in gothic mansions complete with lots of cobwebs and ghouls. Shane wanted nail-biting suspenseful crime stories.
With new stories that differed considerably from the first eight installments, new music by Morton Stevens and Jerry Goldsmith, and a new approach that had a narrower interpretation of the word "Thriller", Robinson felt that the show was finally on track. And to have the great Boris Karloff on hand as a host as well as starring in several stories, it looked like the show would finally win over both critics and audiences. Unfortunately, it may have been the old cliche "Too little, too late".
Even with some great stories such as "The Purple Room", "The Cheaters", "Pigeons from Hell", "Prisoner in the Mirror", "Well of Doom"(One episode even starred the PSYCHO house!) as well as fine guest star appearances such as Elizabeth Montgomery, William Shatner, Leslie Nielson, John Carradine, Marlo Thomas, and others, the show didn't make it past two seasons. This does not make it a poor quality show. Actually, many of the stories were true nail biting horror. Personally, I don't believe the red bloody gore that audiences are so aquainted with today is true horror at all. The black and white photography of this series adds to the creepy atmosphere without the blood and gore. It is a delightful show and I applaud that it's finally being released on DVD. I urge anyone who enjoys true suspense and horror tales to purchase the series and see for yourself why the show is called "Thriller". Stephen King was quoted as saying that it was the finest horror series ever aired on television. I suppose there's only one way to find out. Turn out the lights, snuggle up in your blanket, and prepared to be scared to death by entering the world of "THRILLER"!

It will be interesting for me to see how this exceptional, beautifully made and quite subtle gothic horror tv series will be accepted by modern audiences, soaked as they are by the outlandish, over-the-top, ludicrously violent horror films that have been gracing our screens of late. Will they be so jaded by what has been flung at them these past thirty years that they will no longer be able to even recognize quality? I hope not, for if they approach this show on its own simple terms they should be more than admirably entertained.

The release of Karloff's THRILLER is, without question,THE dvd event of the season, and it was an agonizingly long time coming. But Image Entertainment has done the right thing by obtaining the show and giving it a quality release. For that they should be congratulated and supported. I have already ordered the set and those who fondly remember the show from their youth are champing at the bit for August 31st to arrive.

The audio interviews promised are not terribly intersting to me personally; I really don't require people like Stephen King or someone called Ernest Dickerson (who's he??) to tell me how good the show is. I know how good it is. Image might have profitably avoided spending money on these panygerics. But that is a minor quibble and the fact that they have lavished care on the visual and audio presentation is good enough for me. For those interested, by the way: when one has the original 35mm negatives to work with, as Image apparently did here, it is not necessary to "clean up" or "restore" the picture; 35mm will blow out of the water any digital media in the world. All that is required is that the limited digital capturing get as much out of the 35mm original as possible.

It is true that some tv shows fondly remembered from youth don't hold up when one viewed as an adult. Not this one. Having recently seen some episodes on cable I can attest that it is as creepy and horror-filled as I remembered it from 50 years ago. It is true that the first handful of episodes were more mystery thrillers than straight horror, but they are entertaining and well done and should not be lightly dismissed. But if you're the impatient type, pick one of the famous horror ones to see first, turn down the lights and watch it alone.

Many good directors worked on the show, and one writer rightly praised the fine work done by Miss Ida Lupino (Mrs Howard Duff). She was as fine a director as she was an actress. It is charming, too, to contemplate that one of my very favorite episodes, "Pigeons from Hell" was directed by that debonair and highly silled actor/director John Newland, of ONE STEP BEYOND fame (every episode of which was directed by him). Newland's superior pictorial sense is well on display there.

The brilliant black and white photography of THRILLER makes it clear that had the show been filmed in color it would have lost 60 per cent of its effectiveness. Here is black and white cinematography done by cameramen who know how to use black and white (as, frankly, they all did in those days). The mood that was created was dark, and damp and dreadful.

Obviously this is a show that I can highly recommend to all. It was an excellent show in the early 1960s and it is an excellent show today. And the price tag? Yes, it is a high one, but like a favorite book that one returns to year after year THRILLER is a show that you will want to return to more than once.

On Tuesday, April 18th, 1961, my brother and I first stumbled across "Thriller" via the network premiere of the first-rate episode "The Devil's Ticket"; after that, we never missed a show. ("The Devil's Ticket" remains of the 3 or 4 absolute best of the series--superb, deft scripting by Robert Bloch, plus flawless direction, scoring and acting...and remember as you watch...these guys had to crank out a complete, hour-long episode EVERY WEEK!)

MY BROTHER AND I WERE THERE on those 2 consecutive Tuesdays in June of '61 to witness the premieres of "Pigeons from Hell" and "The Grim Reaper", followed a week later by the re-run of "The Purple Room"; LORD, what a time it was--the Golden Age of TV at its horrific height!!! The "Untouchables" had largely managed to evade the censors in terms of its dark, brooding, violent content, and thus NBC and Hubbell Robinson, after weathering the initial chaotic identity crisis of the show, hit their stride as "Thriller" (running concurrently with "Twilight Zone", "Hitchcock Presents", Roald Dahl's "Way Out" and NBC's "Great Ghost Tales") began to earn its reputation as TV's All-Time Greatest Horror Show!

Even after all of the gruesome, demented stuff that has graced movie and TV screens during the past 5o years, "Thriller" still manages to rise above it. There's something that's very hard to put your finger on here...something that's somehow scarier, more disturbing than most anything you will encounter. Maybe it's the claustrophobic, "chamber-drama" atmosphere of he show, the ominous, b&w cinematography and the profoundly unsettling effect of its musical scores (note that Hermmann's strings-only "Psycho" score had created a sensation at this time, and most of Morton Steven's and Jerry Goldsmith's "Thriller" scores emulated this sound with amazing effectiveness; in fact, I would cite Goldsmith's score for "The Grim Reaper" as the single greatest episodic TV score of all time. But the lesser-known Morton Stevens could deliver music that was equally effective, as you will see/hear in "Pigeons from Hell". The "Eula Lee" music--the eerie, seductive female wailing, accompanied by delicate, glistening violin harmonics, not to mention a flock of cooing pigeons...is enough to make one wet their pants in terms of the sheer terror it evokes).

THIRLLER was also a showcase for ACTORS! It was produced during the hey-day of that great school of performers of the late '50's-early '60's, who had come from the legitimate STAGE, and whose phenomenal work is now preserved for future generations to treasure.

Here's some Highlights:

HENRY JONES--who usually played meek henchmen or hum-drum officials, delivers an Emmy-quality performance as the title chracter Eric Borg in "THE WEIRD TAILOR".

WALTER BURKE---the fabulous and underrated little guy usually relegated to minor roles shines in the final scenes of "MAN OF MYSTERY" (with Mary Tyler Moore, no less!), a script written by Robert Bloch with Burke specifically in mind.

OSCAR HOMOLKA, the great Austrian expatriat, brings down the house in the magnificently morbid "WAXWORKS." Watch this guy sit and twirl a cigarette during the somber, low-key interrogation scene with Booth Coleman to witness a true PRO at work! (credit also to Revue staff director Herschel Daugherty, one of "Thriller's"
unsung heroes).

GUY ROLFE - the superbly villanous Brit dominates every scene in the morbid "Terror in Teakwood", the oppressive atmosphere (and fine performances by Charles Aidman, Reggie Nalder and Jerry Goldsmith's score) of which is unfortunately undermined a bit by the very final shot.

CRAHAN DENTON -- again, a minor role kind of guy, delivers a superbly realistic and understated performance in the unbelievably creepy "PIGEONS FROM HELL" (fabulously directed by "One Step Beyond"'s John Newland).

JOHN EMERY --- another uniquely suave and distinctive villain portrays a most restrained, sometimes whimsical and only-occasionally malevolent Prince of Darkness in "THE DEVIL'S TICKET".

ROBERT MIDDLETON -- the big, burly character actor, cast in a sympathetic and ultimately tragic pivotal role in "GUILLOTINE."

MURRAY MATHESON --- first-rate actor (who will be remembered, if at all, for his role as the caustic clown in TZ's "5 Characters in Search of an Exit"), in a stand-out performance as the title character in "THE POISONER".

DICK YORK--- Quite a solid "legit" actor prior to being pegged for the role of Darin in "Bewitched"; you may gain a new sense of respect for his dramatic abilities in "DR MARKESAN."

HENRY DANIELL!!! --- my nominee for all-time greatest film villain, appears in FIVE Thriller episodes. Fans of great acting are indeed lucky that the "Thirller" guys called on one of the classic actors from Hollywood's Golden Age in his final years to add class to their series. Check "WELL OF DOOM" --- a stunning, virtuostic performance by Mr. Daniell, perhaps the series' standout! (sorry, Boris...I had to say it). Two of his other appearances are brief prologue roles, but "GOD GRANTE THAT SHE LYE STILLE" features Henry in a substantial role as the neighborhood parson/vicar; still a tad sinister, but a rare "good guy" part for him, much like his lead role in 1944's "The Body Snatchers". Here, he is reunited in a TV series with his old pal and compatriot....

BORIS KARLOFF!!! ---What an ongoing honor to have Mr. K. on screen throughout this great series. It's OK to watch him as the kindly, urbane host in the early episodes, but once "Thriller" found itself dramatically, the crew unleashed a weekly orgy of Karloff on the unsuspecting world--- whether in his beautifully rendered introductions or his occasional dramatic roles, "Thriller" documents some of the King of Hollywood Horror's greatest work.

There is simply too much to praise in this historic series. True, most of the crime dramas are not very interesting (and one of them "Mark of the Hand" is so bad that I wanted to kick out the TV screen while watching it recently), but the horror shows are truly of classic quality, the sort of thing we will never see again. They're impossible to duplicate, since "THRILLER" was a product of it's own time, and this dvd release...50 years after the series' initial debut, is the ultimate way to honor its superb achievement----by preserving it for generations of viewers to come.

Sad to report that the "Pigeons from Hell" print suffers a bit from a graininess problem, but in general, the prints look great--MUCH more atmospheric than the 90's video/Laser Disc group, which were processed with a much-too-high brightness level. Thanks for the bonus features, including commentary tracks by Richard Anderson ("Purple Room"), Patricia Barry ("Wig for Miss Devore"), and other notable contemporary horror-folk, including the irrepressible and expert author David J. Schow, the knowledgeable and eloquent producer Steve Mitchell, and Gary Gerani, the distunguished author of everybody's favorite reference book "Fantastic Television." You can't go wrong with this group of guys--they actually make learning FUN!

LR

As of this date (6/14/10) there has been one "bad" Amazon review for this set by someone who derides Thriller for reminding him of Outer Limits and therefore not being original. That's funny because Thriller predated OL by three years... He also slams Karloff. Karloff is fantastic but, even if you don't like him (wha???) he's only in a handful of episodes as a player (he does serve as host for the entire run... and he's wonderful).

If anyone hasn't seen this show before and decides to pick it up on spec (at $100 a pop that seems unlikely), you should know that the first several episodes are subpar crime/suspense melodramas; don't give up after seeing these! The show eventually changed some behind-the-scenes key players, found its footing, and proceeded to produce some of the greatest horror televison ever aired (absolutely rivaling Twilight Zone and Outer Limits in production values and chills). When it was 'on' (which was most of the time), Thriller was unmatched and the episodes stand up today... truly some scary stuff.

The only reason I give it four, rather than five, stars is that there are several 'crime' shows interspersed with the 'horror' episodes. Some of these are very good (up there with the finer Hitchcock episodes) but some aren't. Thriller could never decide if it wanted to be a straight ahead horror show or a crime series, and so they produced both. That's why, despite the high production values and quality of the episodes, it only lasted two seasons. Horror fans would tune in and be presented with a "whodunnit" while crime fans found the fantastic creep fests too incredible and not their cup of tea.

Still, it's an excellent series and, with all the extras provided on this DVD, a real grand slam release.

Once upon a time, best beloved children, a distinguished, loveable English gentleman named Uncle Boris visited our homes every week. Most weeks he introduced a story that scared the living bejeebers out of us. Some weeks, with a twinkle in his eye that belied Jack Barron's gruesome makeup, he played a part in those stories. The storybook was called "Thriller."

By now anyone reading these reviews has learned, or is reminded, that this short-lived anthology (2 years, 67 episodes) suffered a split personality that could never come to rest in a consistent genre. Well, all right. The most memorable installments--the ones that made this DVD set happen--were perhaps the purest expressions of gothic horror ever produced by an American network (NBC). Watching some of them today--the famous "Pigeons from Hell," "The Incredible Dr. Markesan"--you wonder how on earth they ever got past 60s censors and sponsors. But here's the surprise: The lesser known episodes, even the hard-boiled crime stories and the forgotten black comedies with nary a ghoul in sight--are full of delightful surprises and are never less than entertaining. Excepting one or two dogs that any season of any series will suffer, "Thriller" was a beautifully produced and well written show, featuring a Who's Who of Hollywood (Ann Todd, Macdonald Carey, Everett Sloane, John Carradine, Karloff himself), wonderful character actors of the 50s stage and screen (Jeannette Nolan, Harry Townes, Edward Andrews, the incomparable Henry Daniell), and youngsters like William Shatner, Ursula Andress, Robert Duvall, Elizabeth Montgomery, Rip Torn, and Mary Tyler Moore. In addition to the actors and scripts (notably by Donald Sanford and Robert Bloch), the series was consistently elevated by its production design, which drew from Universal's marvelous sets and backlot (Hitchcock's "Psycho" house guest stars in several episodes); by its gifted directors (John Brahm, Ida Lupino, and Herschel Daughtery, among others); and by its magnificent music, mostly composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Morton Stevens.

The series was produced by Revue/Universal, and we can thank August Derleth's dark divinities that Universal did not produce this set: Otherwise, it would have cheaped us out as shamelessly as with all its other titles. No, "Thriller" is a product of Image Enetrtainment, and they have done up this project to a fare-thee-well. There are more original trailers, promos, audio commentaries, and isolated soundtracks than you can shake a cadaver at. While some of the audio commentaries are subpar ("Here's a list of this actor's 30 other genre films"; "Look at those cobwebs!"), most are intelligent; a few are brilliant and even heartwarming. Deserving special mention are a reproduced interview with the late Doug Benton, the series' associate producer, whose lines are read by his son; two interviews with TV musicologist Jon Burlingame, who helps us appreciate what Goldsmith and Stevens brought to the party; and warm, informative interviews with several of the few actors still with us, such as Richard Anderson ("The Purple Room"), Patricia Barry ("A Wig for Miss Davore"), and Beverly Washburn ("Parasite Mansion"). For a series made fifty years ago, the transfers and sound are astonishingly sharp and clear. Given the picture that rabbit-eared TV sets gave you in 1961 and the subsequently dismal prints in syndication, until now no one has ever seen "Thriller" look and sound this good.

Finally, there is William Henry Pratt, better known as Boris Karloff. Every soul on every commentary agrees that he was universally admired for his professionalism and adored as a human being. According to Benton, he radiated goodness. Even when playing the heavy or the monster, that goodness shines through. We shall never see his like again.

Despite Amazon's discount, this set costs a pretty penny. It's worth it. These episodes are as addictive as chocolates. This is a set I'll enjoy for years to come.

Your post, in reply to an earlier post on Aug. 31, 2010 1:34 PM PDT
Sam A. Juliano III says:
Well, I just spent a few hours looking through this set (I bought it at Barnes and Noble) and am relieved. D. Guenzel is reporting here for "April Fool's Day" eight months too early. I am not trained enough to say definitively whether the prints used here were 16mm or 35mm (or even a combination of both) but I will say the work on such episodes as THE DEVIL'S TICKET, THE INCREDIBLE DOKTOR MARKESON, THE GRIM REAPER and a number of others (including the very first episode THE TWISTED IMAGE that Mr. Guenzel takes issue with) is superlative. In fact with GRIM REAPER and DOKTOR MARKESAN, the DVD has matched the laserdisc equivolents from the mid 90's (which I still own and just compared) Yeah there is a slight grain on the classic PIGEONS FROM HELL, but it still looks exquisite, and was never released before on LD or video tape. I have a long way to go, but assuming that Mr. Guenzel isn't a fired Image entertainment employee looking to slander this product (yeah, I read his talk of wanting badly to praise the set and all that) it's a case of expecting a miracle. As it is we have a near-miracle, and a set well worth the wait for the avid fans. Let the celebration begin.

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Well, I just spent a few hours looking through this set (I bought it at Barnes and Noble) and am relieved. D. Guenzel is reporting here for "April Fool's Day" eight months too early. I am not trained enough to say definitively whether the prints used here were 16mm or 35mm (or even a combination of both) but I will say the work on such episodes as THE DEVIL'S TICKET, THE INCREDIBLE DOKTOR MARKESON, THE GRIM REAPER and a number of others (including the very first episode THE TWISTED IMAGE that Mr. Guenzel takes issue with) is superlative. In fact with GRIM REAPER and DOKTOR MARKESAN, the DVD has matched the laserdisc equivolents from the mid 90's (which I still own and just compared) Yeah there is a slight grain on the classic PIGEONS FROM HELL, but it still looks exquisite, and was never released before on LD or video tape. I have a long way to go, but assuming that Mr. Guenzel isn't a fired Image entertainment employee looking to slander this product (yeah, I read his talk of wanting badly to praise the set and all that) it's a case of expecting a miracle. As it is we have a near-miracle, and a set well worth the wait for the avid fans. Let the celebration begin THRILLER fans!

Horror and TV were not the best of companions in the early 1960's. A couple of anthology series -- "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955-1965) and "The Twilight Zone" (1959-1965) -- made occasional forays into the macabre, but network television, the only game in town before cable TV entered our lives, usually steered clear of horror because of its intensity.

One series, not widely known today, not only featured tales of terror, but employed such writers as Robert Bloch, the author of "Psycho," to pen the episodes. "Thriller" was a one-hour anthology series aired by NBC from 1960 to 1962. It was the brainchild of Hubbell Robinson, a TV pioneer and executive who produced "Climax," "Studio One," and the prestigious "Playhouse 90" in the 1950's. He recognized that since the characters changed from week to week, the show's continuity would have to be provided by a host, the same host each week. For this all-important role, he made a fortuitous choice -- screen legend Boris Karloff. "Thriller: The Complete Series" features all 67 remastered episodes on 14 DVD's.

Karloff was born William Henry Pratt in England in 1887. He worked for years as a stage actor in Canada and the United States and took on mostly bit parts in silent pictures. Karloff's most famous role, and the one that made him a star, was "Frankenstein," the 1931 James Whale-directed adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel. Most people don't know that he made 80 films before "Frankenstein."

"Thriller" started its TV run as a schizophrenic anthology. Some involved with the show thought thrillers should be crime or suspense dramas. To others, the term suggested horror or fright tales. So the first season presented a combination of the two kinds of stories. It was the horror tales, however, that boosted the ratings and gave the show its identity, especially those set in distant periods, such as "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper," a variation on the serial murderer of the 1880's, and "God Grante That She Lye Stille," about 17th century witchcraft and vampirism. Other tales, such as "The Cheaters," presented prologues set in the past and then showed their effect on present-day folks.

The scripts were excellent and featured gifted actors of the period, including William Shatner, Elizabeth Montgomery, Cloris Leachman, Hazel Court, John Carradine, Jo Van Fleet, Mary Tyler Moore, Leslie Nielsen, Richard Chamberlain, and others. Stephen King, no stranger to tales of the macabre, once referred to "Thriller" as "probably the best horror series ever put on TV."

Boris Karloff not only hosted every episode of "Thriller," he appeared in five. "The Prediction" was the first to star him. He played a mentalist who performs a stage act and is eventually involved in murder. "Dialogues of Death" contains two stories. In the first, Karloff plays Old Pop Jenkins, a morgue attendant who carries on extended conversations with the recently deceased. In the second, he chews up the scenery as Col. Jackson Beaureguard Finchess, who has to point out to a couple of visitors that they are, in fact, dead. "The Incredible Doktor Markesan" is the frightening story of a man who's discovered a method of reviving the dead. Karloff's make-up in this episode is particularly ghastly. In "The Premature Burial," based on stories of Edgar Allan Poe, he plays a physician who is not quite convinced that his deceased patient is in fact dead. This episode drips with suspense and ranks as one of the series' most memorable episodes.

Karloff's introductions are reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock 's intros on his own show -- witty and tongue in cheek, almost as if the great horror star was winking at the viewer. No one could set up a suspense tale like Boris Karloff. He really got the viewer in the mood along with atmospherically filmed prologues.

Karloff was one of the first name actors to embrace the medium of television, appearing as a guest star on variety shows spoofing his boogeyman image, as "Colonel March of Scotland Yard," as host and actor on "The Veil," in "Hallmark Hall of Fame" dramas, and on sitcoms. He was also the subject of "This Is Your Life, Boris Karloff."

Karloff made 170 movies, performed on radio, made children's recordings, including a great version of "Peter and the Wolf," won a Grammy for "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and appeared on Broadway in "Arsenic and Old Lace" as a criminal who looked remarkably like Boris Karloff, and as Captain Hook in "Peter Pan."

Robert Bloch, a frequent contributor to "Thriller" scripts, once said, speaking about horror, "TV never quite comes off... but `Thriller' was in a different category entirely." "Thriller" lasted only two seasons, not because of poor ratings, but because of studio politics.

To get the full impact of the best of "Thriller," have a look at "Pigeons From Hell," a tour de force of horror with an unforgettable opening sequence. Two young brothers are driving through the American south when their car goes out of control. They come upon a forbidding old plantation and decide to spend the night. They set up their sleeping bags and go to sleep, but later that night, one of the brothers is disturbed by a creepy wailing. He heads upstairs and sees the shadow of a man with a hatchet approaching him. Terrifying, intense, and unforgettable, "Pigeons From Hell" is regarded by many as the best "Thriller" episode ever, but don't overlook "The Hungry Glass" and "The Weird Tailor," which score high in the chills department.

After "Thriller," Karloff went back to feature films, starring in "The Raven," "Comedy of Terrors," and Peter Bogdanovich's first feature film, "Targets" as aging horror movie star Byron Orlok.

Bonus extras on the "Thriller" box set include 29 audio commentaries on selected episodes, episode promos, 31 isolated musical scores by Jerry Goldsmith and Morton Stevens, and still galleries.

After years of chasing after dupes, pirates, knock-offs, rip-offs, and third generation retreads of this great series, it is finally coming to DVD! I can still recall being scared to death by PIGEONS FROM HELL when I first saw it (at about age 13). I did have a chance to see a fairly reasonable dupe some few years ago, and it STILL gave me a sense of grue. There has not been anything like THRILLER since. The added bonus of seeing the great Boris Karloff again also thrills. I can hardly wait.

Premiering on NBC in September 1960, Thriller was a weekly anthology series hosted by horror icon Boris Karloff. The complete, 67 episode series is now available for the first time on DVD giving horror fans a chance to see the series for the first time in decades. When the show debuted, its plots were mainly centered on crime suspense tales but that didn't last for long. Knowing that they needed to up their game, the producers of the show started doing primarily horror tales, often written or based upon stories by such legends as Robert Bloch and Richard Matheson.

The first horror-themed episode was shown just before Halloween 1960 and was called "The Purple Room". A playboy (Rip Torn) inherits a family estate but the will calls for him to spend a night in the reportedly haunted house befoe he can claim the fortune. Eagle-eyed viewers will recognize the house as the very same one used in the classic film Psycho. With this episode, Thriller was truly off and running with episodes which would feature up and coming Hollywood talent such as William Shatner, Robert Vaughn, Leslie Nielsen, Richard Chamberlain, Mary Tyler Moore, Ursula Andress, Marion Ross, Elizabeth Montgomery, and many more...all future major TV and film stars.

Thriller was filmed in gorgeous black and white, which was a perfect complement to its dark and gritty tales. Karloff was in his early 70s by this time but still an imposing figure as he introduced each episode similar to what Rod Serling did with The Twilight Zone. He set the tone for what was to follow and then, as now, Thriller is a great series to watch with all the lights out.

"The Cheaters" is about a owner of a salvage business who finds a pair of glasses with a unique property. They allow him to see people as they really are and to hear their dark thoughts. He discovers that his wife and his young assistant are conspiring to murder him. This episode is unique in that it follows the magical glasses as they pass from owner to owner.

"Hay-Fork and Bell-Hook" has one of the best openings in Thriller history as a frightened farmer relates a tale of witchcraft and a monstrous horror that is terrifying his local village. When a Scotland Yard investigator arrives he finds himself running up against the villager's rural superstitions. This episode co-stars Alan Napier who played Alfred the Butler on the 1960's Batman TV series. Napier would so-star in a handful of Thriller episodes.

While Karloff's main function was as the show's host, he also was called on to star occasionally as in "The Prediction" where he plays a struggling magician and psychic whose predictions suddenly start coming true.

As mentioned several of the episodes were written by Robert Bloch or based on his stories. These included one of Bloch's most famous stories, "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper". In this tale, Jack is still alive and well in 1960 and killing victims to maintain his immortality. Another episode based on a Bloch story is "The Devil's Ticket" in which a struggling artist discovers that the Devil is the proprietor of the local pawnshop, and he works out a deal to exchange his own soul for a few months of fame and fortune. William Shatner appears in "The Grim Reaper" another Bloch-based story about a painting that brings death to anyone that owns it.

But perhaps the most famous episode in Thirller history was "Pigeons from Hell" which was based on the short story by Conan the Barbarian creator, Robert E. Howard. In this tale, car trouble forces two brothers to spend the night in an abandoned mansion they stumble upon in Louisiana; a mansion where thousands of pigeons perch and an even more terrifying evil lurks inside. Pigeons from Hell is one of the greatest short horror stories of all time and this was a fantastic adaptation.

Thriller is a show that is perfect for DVD. After fifty years it has been saved from dusty vaults to be viewed by new generations of horror fans. Superb writing and exceptional casting was a staple of the show. And the show's transfer to DVD is fantastic. The sound and video quality are first rate. With the exception of The Twilight Zone, Thriller is the best anthology TV show...ever!

Extras

It would have been perfectly wonderful if just the show was released on DVD but the producers of the DVD have given fans a bounty of extras. Most importantly is that 27 of the episodes have an audio commentary track featuring some of the actual cast and crew members who worked on the show, as well as noted horror historians David Schow and Gary Gerani. It's simply wonderful to hear some of the stars relate their stories about working on the show and with Karloff.

The DVD comes with original episode promos, show promos, still galleries, and isolated musical scores.