"Thriller" A Wig for Miss Devore (1962)

User Rating:

9.2/10   

Director:

John Brahm

Writers:

August Derleth (adaptation)
August Derleth (story)

TV Series:

"Thriller" (1960)

Original Air Date:

29 January 1962 (Season 2, Episode 19)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title | Anthology | Cult TV | Jack The Ripper

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Baragrey	...	George Machik
Patricia Barry	...	Sheila Devore
Barry Bernard	...	Chester #1
Maurice Dallimore	...	Baker #1
Bernard Fein	...	Lester Clyne
John Fiedler	...	Herbert Bleake
Kendrick Huxham	...	Bishop
William O'Connell	...	Chester #2
Herbert Rudley	...	Max Quinke
Pamela Searle	...	Meg Peyton
Ina Victor	...	Betty
Linda Watkins	...	Arabella Foote

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Revue Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hubbell Robinson Productions

Wigging out on "Thriller"

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

In 18th century England, a courtesan is hanged for witchcraft and two hundred years later an over-the-hill Hollywood sex goddess, Sheila Devore, blackmails her former studio head into starring her in a film about the sorceress' life and legend. To ensure authenticity, the director buys the actual wig worn on the day of the hanging from an old museum and when Sheila starts wearing it, amazing things begin to happen: the lady looks years younger and the film becomes a smash hit. Miss Devore is a superstar once more -but leaving a trail of dead bodies in her wake...

This memorable episode of the Noir/Horror/Suspense THRILLER TV series hosted by Boris Karloff and directed by veteran filmmaker John Brahm balances horror with a few lighter moments as Hollywood machinations are spoofed; Patricia Barry as Miss Devore does a mean Marilyn Monroe and a gossip columnist even wears outré hats a la Hedda Hopper. There's also a great open-ended ending right out of ALL ABOUT EVE. This isn't the TV show I saw as a child where an actress kills her agent with an Oscar-like award but nevertheless it kept me spellbound.