"Thriller" (1960) TV series 1960-1962

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

13 September 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Anthology series hosted by Boris Karloff that originally told ordinary tales of crime and mystery, but...

Plot Keywords:

Anthology | Cult TV | Jack The Ripper

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Boris Karloff

...

Himself / ... (67 episodes, 1960-1962)

Also Known As:

Boris Karloff's Thriller

Runtime:

50 min (67 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hubbell Robinson Productions

Trivia:

A comic book based upon this series, "Boris Karloff's Tales of Mystery", which was also 'hosted' by Karloff, ran from 1962 to 1980 - more than a decade after the real Karloff was dead.

Quotes:

Boris Karloff: And as sure as my name is Boris Karloff, this is going to be a thriller.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Tomi Knockers (1994) (V)

Haunting and Effective Program

There's no doubt about it, that this show had some of the eeriest and most unsettling stories to ever be aired on network TV. However, it would (I feel), be naive to think this show was the best of its kind. Like other anthology shows of its genre (NIGHT GALLERY, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, etc.) it suffers from a hodgepodge of dull scripts, mixed in with some genuinely effective ones. While the good on this series could be really good, the weaker shows could be insufferably boring. As a horror/fantasy enthusiast, it's those shows which I enjoy the most from this series, but the non-horror, the crime "thriller"s, those are generally a disappointment.

That aside, the horror segments on this show are some of the best ever done for television. Very moody, atmospheric pieces, suitably filmed in black and white. I suppose one could say that this series is what THE TWILIGHT ZONE would have been like, had it been a horror show, or what NIGHT GALLERY would have been like, had it been in black and white. Boris Karloff introduces each segment, in his usual drawl, but although he does fairly well at that, he doesn't have quite the same eerie restraint that Serling had on his series'.

Among some of the better segments on this show, that I enjoy:

"The Weird Tailor": Extremely clever story, with perhaps the most chilling final moments of any of the THRILLER episodes.

"A Wig for Miss Devore": One of Patricia Barry's best roles, and one of THRILLER's best shows.

"The Remarkable Mrs. Hawk": Jo Van Fleet is great in this one, as is John Carradine. This plays like a dark comedy...twisted and fun.

"The Cheaters": Most remember the final moments from this episode, but the whole show is very well done.

Definitely a series worth checking out for horror fans, and those who appreciate quality television. It's a shame this series doesn't get enough of the credence it deserves. It's not perfect, but it's certainly not without its laurels.