Ghost Story: Tough of Madness

 

This is a horror anthology TV series from the 1970's, originally named "Ghost Story" and later it changed the title to "Circle of Fear". Each episode has a different tale of the spooky kind, and sometimes nightmarish. It was hosted by a fictional gentleman character named Winston Essex, owner of a haunted hotel, who introduced the stories. The next episode is "Touch of Madness", directed by Robert Day and stars Sabastian Cabot, Geraldine Page and Rip Torn.

A dying woman leaves a message for her daughter, Janet, and soon after she died, Janet returns to her mother's house. The place is condemned for being so rundown but Janet finds it beautiful, inside and outside in the exterior and garden. Her uncle and aunt remain in the house as eerie residents but the house is still considered unliveable. Certain things don't add up when her own room looks different at night after she wakes up, seeing it full of cobwebs and rats.

The main leads Geraldine Page and Rip Torn were married during this filming. The soundtrack is "Golden Memories" written by Ian Jack, while the singer is Shelby Flint "Joey". While it seems like a straightforward story, it's got hidden clues and small easter eggs, such as the items in the rooms, the music, references to Edgar Allan Poe and nursery rhymes, which implies subtle nightmares.   

I rate this a dusty old house dark strawberry:

Blood Strawberry

Ghost Story: Elegy for a Vampire

 This is a horror anthology TV series from the 1970's, originally named "Ghost Story" and later it changed the title to "Circle of Fear". Each episode has a different tale of the spooky kind, and sometimes nightmarish. It was hosted by a fictional gentleman character named Winston Essex, owner of a haunted hotel, who introduced the stories. The next episode is "Cry of the Cat", directed by Don McDougall and stars Sabastian Cabot, Hal Linden and Marlyn Mason.

At a university campus, the students have been terrified when a girl was found dead, with her blood drained and only wounds on her neck. The vampire is already known straight away and he's one of the teachers, who has a good reputation and is well liked among everyone. No mystery there and no surprises. A woman is drawn to him until she learns his dark secret.

One of the most deepest aspects of the story is about the books written by deceased Professor Pendergast, who wrote about vampires and the connection with a blood disorder. This happens to be THE most interesting character of the episode even tough he's dead! This episode was loosely based on a short story by Elizabeth M. Walters (I plan to review her work in the near future). 

I rate this a blood dripping strawberry for vampirism!

Blood Strawberry

Ghost Story: Cry of the Cat

This is a horror anthology TV series from the 1970's, originally named "Ghost Story" and later it changed the title to "Circle of Fear". Each episode has a different tale of the spooky kind, and sometimes nightmarish. It was hosted by a fictional gentleman character named Winston Essex, owner of a haunted hotel, who introduced the stories. The next episode is "Cry of the Cat", directed by Arnold Laven and stars Sabastian Cabot, Doug McClure and Lauri Peters.

A rodeo named Dan is married to a beautiful and mysterious woman named Maria that makes some people uneasy. Brushing it off as jealousy, Dan ignores anyone who try to offend Maria. Then animals are killed by a cougar, but things don't add up. The cougar responsible for the attacks before died long ago and there shouldn't be anymore in the area. It seems Maria is hiding something. 

A pleasant shapeshifting story of a woman that transforms into a cat. Both Doug McClure and Sabastian Cabot appeared in "Checkmate" from 1960. The director of this episode had also worked in "Planet of the Apes" and "The A-Team." The script writer Richard Matheson also did work for the fantasy film "The Valley of Gwangi." 

A good horror/western story that I shall rate with a dry desert yellow strawberry.

Blood Strawberry. 

Ghost Story: House of Evil

This is a horror anthology TV series from the 1970's, originally named "Ghost Story" and later it changed the title to "Circle of Fear". Each episode has a different tale of the spooky kind, and sometimes nightmarish. It was hosted by a fictional gentleman character named Winston Essex, owner of a haunted hotel, who introduced the stories. The next episode is "House of Evil", directed by Daryl Duke and stars Sabastian Cabot, Melvyn Douglas and Jodie Foster.

An old man named Grandpa visits the home of his deaf mute granddaughter, Judy, who is living with her father, stepmother and stepbrother. Things seem okay until Grandpa gives Judy a dolls house, which is the exact replica of the house Judy and her family already live in. The house keeper has known Grandpa before and doesn't like him. Grandpa and Judy have telepathy and it's this that makes things strange.

The house was used in TV series "Bewitched" in case it looks familiar to anyone watching it.  Jodie Foster plays the girl Judy and Brad Savage, who played Kevin her stepbrother, work together again later on in "Echoes of Summer". The dolls in this episode are made of currant buns! Magic is centred within the dolls house.

I rate this a cookie strawberry for being rather nice with crumbs.

Blood Strawberry