"The Devil in Velvet" is one of the strangest and most over-acted installments of "Studio One" that I have ever seen. The plot is ultra-bizarre AND the acting is just awful.
Whit Bissell plays Professor Geoffery Crawford, an obsessed historian who longs to go back in time to save the life of a pretty young woman who was murdered back in the 17th century. Why THIS particular woman is the object of his obsession isn't really clear. But he apparently has found some supernatural guy named 'The Caretaker' who agrees to send Geoffery back in time to possibly save her...but it will cost him his soul!!
Once in the 17th century, the show bogs down terribly due to overacting. Too often the people (particularly the actresses as well as The Caretaker at the end) act like they are dying of consumption like Camille or are so deadly earnest as they deliver their lines. It's really pretty annoying to watch and never seems realistic in the least. So, while it looks really pretty compared to other teleplays of the era (the sets and costumes are nice), the story and acting really got on my nerves after a while.