Death's Head (5 Jan. 1973)
"Ghost Story" Death's Head (original title)

Carol, a woman who hates insects, is unhappily married to Steve, a successful businessman who collects them. She secretly loves Steve's partner, Larry, and would like to make their affair a... See full summary »

Director:

James Neilson

Writers:

Rick Blum, Richard Matheson (developer)

Stars:

Janet Leigh, Rory Calhoun, Gene Nelson

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Janet Leigh	...	Carol
Rory Calhoun	...	Larry
Gene Nelson	...	Steve
Doreen Lang	...	Mrs. Norman
Ayn Ruymen	...	The Young Gypsy Woman
Joshua Bryant	...	The Doctor
Madeleine Taylor Holmes	...	The Old Gypsy

Storyline

Carol, a woman who hates insects, is unhappily married to Steve, a successful businessman who collects them. She secretly loves Steve's partner, Larry, and would like to make their affair a permanent arrangement. One day while shopping, she encounters a gypsy who sells her something that will help her achieve her goal without leaving any traces. However, when Janet carries out her plan, she begins to be terrorized by a Death's Head moth, and discovers that things are seldom as simple as they seem, and that every action has its consequences.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 1973 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Castle Productions, Screen Gems, Screen Gems Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Lots of talent on-board for this middling episode from "Circle of Fear"...

This was the first episode of "Ghost Story" to air under its new title, "Circle of Fear", although all the talents behind the camera are the same--the only exclusion is host Sebastian Cabot, who has been unceremoniously dropped. Disney-vet James Neilson directed this tale of a neglected wife who's fed up with her husband and his insect collection; she has had a secret affair with her spouse's business partner and thinks if she can get rid of her hubby, she can find happiness with Husband #2. So far, so good--but when the woman (adroitly played by Janet Leigh) takes care of her evil business via a witchy potion, her husband's bug collection comes back for revenge. Here is an instance where a special effects team was badly needed, yet one the TV budget probably couldn't sustain. Writer Del Reisman has the semblance of a good idea here, and it must have been disheartening to him to see it all fall apart in visual terms. Leigh runs around swatting at flying bugs we can't see, and the final twist is not only silly but stupid.