Host John Newland takes a more active approach to the episode this time, as he interacts with the cast starring Sean McClory as a washed up ladies man who has been driven to drink by his refusal to believe the supernatural truth regarding a murderous necklace that killed first his older woman lover, then later her female companion who inherited it, and finally winding up on his preferred lover's neck, strangling her too, though of course few believe him. He tells Newland all about it, but can this incredible account be believed? Below average episode is mostly dull and obvious, with paltry F/X and uninvolving story and characters.
6 Reviews
All chocked up
sol12187 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** In this "One Step Beyond" episode the host John Newland himself has a hand in revealing it's supernatural story by interviewing the person Michael Barry, Sean McClory, who went or suffered through it. We get to see Barry looking like he just crawled out of a dumpster in this bar in Mexico Cty drinking his troubles away. Newland a bit taken back at Barry's shabby appearance is encouraged by bar owner Jose, Jose Gonzales-Gonzales, to pour the guy a free shot of cheap, the cheapest he can get, wine that will inspirer Berry to tell him his fantastic story. As Newland starts pouring the wine Barry without the slightest encouragement, he's not even asked, tells the story that put in in the place, the cheap Mexico city bar, and condition, looking like a drunken bum on skid row, that he's in now.
It all started when Barry, a former gigolo, was romancing the hatched faced but very very rich Countess Ferenzi, Lphigenie Castigion. The Countess who promised Barry the world, or her money, reneged on a deal with him after she suddenly passed away by completely cutting him out of her will with the exception of giving him bus fear to see his secret lover Nina, Estelita Rodriguez, who the two timing Barry had been cheating on her with!
We saw earlier in the episode the circumstances of the Countess' sudden and unexpected death: A diamond necklace that like a reticulated python strangled her to death when she put it around her neck! For some strange reason the Countess left almost all her money & property, including her Mexico Ciy Mansion and diamond necklace, to her lowly housekeeper whom she treated like dirt Grace Harkness, Jan Miner. Now filthy rich and all made up to look like a movie star Grace tunes her attention on the penny or peso less Barry whom she had a secret crush on! Putting on the necklace that the Countess left to her Grace suffers the same fate that the Countess did by it, the diamond necklace, strangling her to death!
The final shoe to fall is when Barry, who had no idea of the necklace's strange powers,gave the necklace to Nina as a birthday present! With Nina almost strangled to death, she was only saved because Barry was there to save her, Barry soon flipped out and ended up, in a cheap bar gulping down cheap wine, where we and host John Newland found him in the beginning of the show!
What was it about the strange and homicidal necklace that gave it the power of life and death over those who wore it? Was it part of Montazuma's secret treasure that was a curse to anyone who had possession of it! Or was the whole story conjured up by the down on his luck drunk Micheal Barry who used it as a ploy to get someone like John Newland to buy him a free drink so that he could remain both drunk & happy by forgetting his troubles.
It all started when Barry, a former gigolo, was romancing the hatched faced but very very rich Countess Ferenzi, Lphigenie Castigion. The Countess who promised Barry the world, or her money, reneged on a deal with him after she suddenly passed away by completely cutting him out of her will with the exception of giving him bus fear to see his secret lover Nina, Estelita Rodriguez, who the two timing Barry had been cheating on her with!
We saw earlier in the episode the circumstances of the Countess' sudden and unexpected death: A diamond necklace that like a reticulated python strangled her to death when she put it around her neck! For some strange reason the Countess left almost all her money & property, including her Mexico Ciy Mansion and diamond necklace, to her lowly housekeeper whom she treated like dirt Grace Harkness, Jan Miner. Now filthy rich and all made up to look like a movie star Grace tunes her attention on the penny or peso less Barry whom she had a secret crush on! Putting on the necklace that the Countess left to her Grace suffers the same fate that the Countess did by it, the diamond necklace, strangling her to death!
The final shoe to fall is when Barry, who had no idea of the necklace's strange powers,gave the necklace to Nina as a birthday present! With Nina almost strangled to death, she was only saved because Barry was there to save her, Barry soon flipped out and ended up, in a cheap bar gulping down cheap wine, where we and host John Newland found him in the beginning of the show!
What was it about the strange and homicidal necklace that gave it the power of life and death over those who wore it? Was it part of Montazuma's secret treasure that was a curse to anyone who had possession of it! Or was the whole story conjured up by the down on his luck drunk Micheal Barry who used it as a ploy to get someone like John Newland to buy him a free drink so that he could remain both drunk & happy by forgetting his troubles.
Necklace of evil.
planktonrules29 October 2018
Each episode of "One Step Beyond" claims that these supernatural stories are true. Yeah...and I am the Easter Bunny. Still, some of the shows are quite entertaining...even if I am very dubious about the voracity of the programs.
This story is told by a Mexican bartender, so it's truthfulness is beyond question. It's about a cursed necklace. The story begins with a surly rich older woman about to go out with her gigolo boyfriend. Soon, she after putting on her beloved necklace, she begins choking and dies. Then, the lady who inherited the necklace dies as well. And, the next lady...the same fate awaited her. Apparently, what we have is a case of a nasty and cursed expensive piece of jewelry.
Overall, a mildly interesting story...mildly. Nothing particularly special here...pretty much more of the same.
This story is told by a Mexican bartender, so it's truthfulness is beyond question. It's about a cursed necklace. The story begins with a surly rich older woman about to go out with her gigolo boyfriend. Soon, she after putting on her beloved necklace, she begins choking and dies. Then, the lady who inherited the necklace dies as well. And, the next lady...the same fate awaited her. Apparently, what we have is a case of a nasty and cursed expensive piece of jewelry.
Overall, a mildly interesting story...mildly. Nothing particularly special here...pretty much more of the same.
The Dangers of Chokers
theowinthrop3 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This should have been a better episode of ONE STEP BEYOND, but a fatal error was made with trick photography too early.
At the start we see Michael Barry (Sean McClory) in a hospital bed, apparently on his last legs, explaining that he was innocent of the two deaths that were involved in the crime blamed on him. And he begs that his listener (John Newland) hear his story.
Countess Ferrengi is a selfish, nasty old lady (Iphigenie Castiglioni) who has two servants, Barry (her butler) and Nina (her maid - Estelita Rodriguez). Barry has a girlfriend, Grace Harkness (Jan Minor), who is losing interest in him because he can't give him anything that she wants, like jewelry. Barry keeps noticing the Countess's extensive jewelry collection - possibly he could steal some. He also has to keep Nina, who is really interested in him, from pursuing him.
Then the Countess is found dead. The police are called in, because the woman was choked to death. But although plainly strangled, no fingerprints are found on the woman's throat. However, the police notice that the chief piece of jewelry that belonged to the Countess has vanished - a stunning choker. They narrow their questions to Barry, who claims he knows nothing about the theft and murder.
Barry is packing his own property, when Nina approaches him. She wants him to run away with her - they can afford it. How, he asks. She says she'll show him. She goes into her room, and we see her putting on the choker. Then we hear her scream. Barry runs in, and finds Nina strangled, and the missing choker on the ground. He picks it up and flees with it.
He goes to Grace, and tells her he has just found the choker - they can go abroad with it and they'll be set. She asks if she can try it on. He gives it to her, and she puts it on, and then starts screaming that she can't breath. She tries to rip the choker off, and Barry does. Grace collapses breathing heavily, while Barry (thoroughly confused) looks at the choker - and sees it twisting together like two hands of a strangler.
At the tail end of the show Newland explains that there have been several cases of property (especially jewelry) picking up kinetic energy of a destructive nature from owners that cruel or nasty. He even mentions a young woman in the 19th Century strangled by her necklace. I couldn't say if that is true or not (I tend not to believe it). But I will say the effect of the episode was ruined when (after the death of the Countess) they show the choker close up, and it is trembling and twisting as though it is strangling a throat. In short, the secret of the plot was prematurely revealed to the audience. Too bad.
At the start we see Michael Barry (Sean McClory) in a hospital bed, apparently on his last legs, explaining that he was innocent of the two deaths that were involved in the crime blamed on him. And he begs that his listener (John Newland) hear his story.
Countess Ferrengi is a selfish, nasty old lady (Iphigenie Castiglioni) who has two servants, Barry (her butler) and Nina (her maid - Estelita Rodriguez). Barry has a girlfriend, Grace Harkness (Jan Minor), who is losing interest in him because he can't give him anything that she wants, like jewelry. Barry keeps noticing the Countess's extensive jewelry collection - possibly he could steal some. He also has to keep Nina, who is really interested in him, from pursuing him.
Then the Countess is found dead. The police are called in, because the woman was choked to death. But although plainly strangled, no fingerprints are found on the woman's throat. However, the police notice that the chief piece of jewelry that belonged to the Countess has vanished - a stunning choker. They narrow their questions to Barry, who claims he knows nothing about the theft and murder.
Barry is packing his own property, when Nina approaches him. She wants him to run away with her - they can afford it. How, he asks. She says she'll show him. She goes into her room, and we see her putting on the choker. Then we hear her scream. Barry runs in, and finds Nina strangled, and the missing choker on the ground. He picks it up and flees with it.
He goes to Grace, and tells her he has just found the choker - they can go abroad with it and they'll be set. She asks if she can try it on. He gives it to her, and she puts it on, and then starts screaming that she can't breath. She tries to rip the choker off, and Barry does. Grace collapses breathing heavily, while Barry (thoroughly confused) looks at the choker - and sees it twisting together like two hands of a strangler.
At the tail end of the show Newland explains that there have been several cases of property (especially jewelry) picking up kinetic energy of a destructive nature from owners that cruel or nasty. He even mentions a young woman in the 19th Century strangled by her necklace. I couldn't say if that is true or not (I tend not to believe it). But I will say the effect of the episode was ruined when (after the death of the Countess) they show the choker close up, and it is trembling and twisting as though it is strangling a throat. In short, the secret of the plot was prematurely revealed to the audience. Too bad.
You're Choking in It!
wes-connors14 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Your "One Step Beyond" host John Newland (as himself) visits a Mexican bar, where he finds Irishman Sean McClory (as Michael Barry) drowning his sorrows. Believing his rumored supernatural tale would make a good TV episode, Mr. Newman buys Mr. McClory some wine, and hears the drunk's story
Sober and attractive, McClory serves (apparently) as a gigolo for older Countess Iphigenie Castiglioni (as Ferenzi). When she dies, plain Jan Miner (as Grace Harkness) inherits her wealth, but not McClory. Giving herself a make-over, Ms. Milner makes a play for McClory, but he is sleeping with shapely, slip-wearing young Estelita Rodriguez (as Nina). The characters are cursed by the dead Countess' diamond necklace, which gets everybody choked up
Back in the present, Newland seems to feign objectivity, but you know he likely believes McClory's story. The cast entertains, especially with a good look at Miner in an acting role - she was "Madge" ("You're soaking in it!") in the Palmolive dishwashing liquid commercials.
**** The Inheritance (10/27/59) John Newland ~ Sean McClory, Jan Miner, Estelita Rodriguez, Iphigenie Castiglioni
Sober and attractive, McClory serves (apparently) as a gigolo for older Countess Iphigenie Castiglioni (as Ferenzi). When she dies, plain Jan Miner (as Grace Harkness) inherits her wealth, but not McClory. Giving herself a make-over, Ms. Milner makes a play for McClory, but he is sleeping with shapely, slip-wearing young Estelita Rodriguez (as Nina). The characters are cursed by the dead Countess' diamond necklace, which gets everybody choked up
Back in the present, Newland seems to feign objectivity, but you know he likely believes McClory's story. The cast entertains, especially with a good look at Miner in an acting role - she was "Madge" ("You're soaking in it!") in the Palmolive dishwashing liquid commercials.
**** The Inheritance (10/27/59) John Newland ~ Sean McClory, Jan Miner, Estelita Rodriguez, Iphigenie Castiglioni
"They're so beautiful, they almost hypnotize you."
classicsoncall31 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Occasionally you get a story from a series like "One Step Beyond" where instead of being scared or challenged, you just wind up laughing at the goofiness of it all. This episode reminded me of the 1960 flick "Tormented" in which a disembodied hand of a woman who died crawls along the floor looking for a wedding ring. You get the same effect here when a jeweled necklace takes on a life of it's own to strangle the women who had the silly notion that it was for wearing. The interesting part of the tale if there is one, is that series host John Newland makes himself part of the story by plying a booze-hound with cheap wine in order to get his story of the choking choker. Actually, watching Newland take himself so seriously before each of these episodes comes across a bit silly as well sometimes. I'd like to see him lighten up a bit and as I continue viewing more episodes, maybe he will. Now I know what to watch for.
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