The inaugural episode of "Thriller", hosted by the legendary Boris Karloff (his voice and presence just perfect for an anthology series), stars a young and debonair Leslie Nielsen as a businessman of a successful firm who becomes tormented by an obsessed out-of-towner, Lily Hanson (Natalie Trundy in a creepy performance), and a disturbed klepto employee, Merle Jenkins (George Grizzard) who works in his mailroom (and wants to have his life, believing that his career is on the rise).
Lily stares with a piercing force that is hard to ignore and she is soon harassing Patterson, convinced that she is his girl, infiltrating his life. This episode features a memorable performance from Constance Ford (The Cabinet of Caligari; an actress known for her significant television work in the 50s/early 60s), her character a nasty piece of work, as Merle's sister, verbally abusive to him—was jealous of how mother doted on him, showering him with affection she didn't receive—to the point that she has emasculated him. You can see in their scene together (visiting New York City just to see if Merle was a failure, his job in the mailroom, not in an executive position, providing ammunition to torment him) how much control Louise had over Merle when he was a child, clearly a reason he is in such a psychological disarray. What soon results from Merle's desire to imitate Alan (he resembles a cheap knock-off, a bargain-basement version of the man he so wishes to emulate) is a murder and frame-up which puts Patterson in a difficult trap.
I think what damns this particular episode is the incredibly stupid decision on Alan's part to leave the scene of a crime as if he were the guilty man responsible, with the landlord easily signifying him as having been there. You'd think a smart businessman would know better than to implicate himself, but Alan, I guess afraid to be caught at the apartment of a young woman he had been seen with in a restaurant and diner, cuts the light off as Lily lies dead, radio blasting, "dusting himself off", and leaving the premises further damaging his credibility. Merle, on the other hand, is responsible for setting up the man he wishes so desperately to replace, wanting to be in the position of having the finer things, a high class place and lovely wife, merely a lowly thief living in a nondescript apartment, working in the low salary mailroom.
Merle had been on the verge of this snap with Lily able to finally hit the right nerve to send him over the edge; Louise planted the seed and watered his inner beast, with Lily providing the necessary fertilizer to give the increase. The rest of the episode has Alan pursuing Merle who clunked him on the noggin and stole his wallet full of green—he decides to have a "night on the town" at Alan's expense—as the landlord informs the authorities of his findings in Lily's apartment.
Similar to "Alfred Hitchcock Presents ", "The Twisted Image" would seem to fit more on that show than on "Thriller", introduced by a horror icon more known for the Gothic. That said, his voice really sets up the show nicely, even if this episode doesn't quite deserve such a host. Good cast with Grizzard in fine form as the villain with his fair share of neurosis, his Merle fallen completely into this delusion that he is actually Alan, even bursting in on spouse Judy Patterson, kidnapping their daughter, and attempting to flee. Kind of a meh episode overall with the typical ending of a woman in peril, her man coming to the rescue, with the killer threatening to tear apart their lives forever. Episode has something to say about "ordinary" folks falling prey to the illusion that they are destined for greatness, unable to recognize how pitiable they really are. Dianne Foster has the "worried wife" role, fooled by Lily into possibly believing an infidelity.
Lily stares with a piercing force that is hard to ignore and she is soon harassing Patterson, convinced that she is his girl, infiltrating his life. This episode features a memorable performance from Constance Ford (The Cabinet of Caligari; an actress known for her significant television work in the 50s/early 60s), her character a nasty piece of work, as Merle's sister, verbally abusive to him—was jealous of how mother doted on him, showering him with affection she didn't receive—to the point that she has emasculated him. You can see in their scene together (visiting New York City just to see if Merle was a failure, his job in the mailroom, not in an executive position, providing ammunition to torment him) how much control Louise had over Merle when he was a child, clearly a reason he is in such a psychological disarray. What soon results from Merle's desire to imitate Alan (he resembles a cheap knock-off, a bargain-basement version of the man he so wishes to emulate) is a murder and frame-up which puts Patterson in a difficult trap.
I think what damns this particular episode is the incredibly stupid decision on Alan's part to leave the scene of a crime as if he were the guilty man responsible, with the landlord easily signifying him as having been there. You'd think a smart businessman would know better than to implicate himself, but Alan, I guess afraid to be caught at the apartment of a young woman he had been seen with in a restaurant and diner, cuts the light off as Lily lies dead, radio blasting, "dusting himself off", and leaving the premises further damaging his credibility. Merle, on the other hand, is responsible for setting up the man he wishes so desperately to replace, wanting to be in the position of having the finer things, a high class place and lovely wife, merely a lowly thief living in a nondescript apartment, working in the low salary mailroom.
Merle had been on the verge of this snap with Lily able to finally hit the right nerve to send him over the edge; Louise planted the seed and watered his inner beast, with Lily providing the necessary fertilizer to give the increase. The rest of the episode has Alan pursuing Merle who clunked him on the noggin and stole his wallet full of green—he decides to have a "night on the town" at Alan's expense—as the landlord informs the authorities of his findings in Lily's apartment.
Similar to "Alfred Hitchcock Presents ", "The Twisted Image" would seem to fit more on that show than on "Thriller", introduced by a horror icon more known for the Gothic. That said, his voice really sets up the show nicely, even if this episode doesn't quite deserve such a host. Good cast with Grizzard in fine form as the villain with his fair share of neurosis, his Merle fallen completely into this delusion that he is actually Alan, even bursting in on spouse Judy Patterson, kidnapping their daughter, and attempting to flee. Kind of a meh episode overall with the typical ending of a woman in peril, her man coming to the rescue, with the killer threatening to tear apart their lives forever. Episode has something to say about "ordinary" folks falling prey to the illusion that they are destined for greatness, unable to recognize how pitiable they really are. Dianne Foster has the "worried wife" role, fooled by Lily into possibly believing an infidelity.