Thriller: The Complete Series

June 9, 2010 | By In Movie |

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4 Comments so far

  1. tangerinewolf on June 9th, 2010

    Thriller is getting an official DVD release–and it’s about time!! I originally wrote a review here in Amazon’s forum that appeared under the enrty for Thriller back in early 2008, when having an official DVD release for this awesome 1960′s anthology horror series was only a distant hope for us fans. I say “official release” because there have been more than a few bootleg DVD sets available for many, many years. At that time I mentioned that I had succumbed to buying one of these bootleg sets, thinking ‘what if I die before Universal Home Video (who owns the rights to the series; it was their television affiliate, Revue, that brought the series to network T.V.) gets around to even considering releasing a DVD set! It was quite obvious that they had no interest in dealing with a DVD set after, in the mid 1980′s they released a mere six episodes, sold separately on VHS. Soon after, the same six shows were released in a laser disc package, and that was all, folks!

    I am still blasting Universal for completely ignoring Thriller in their “Classic Television” DVD series, but perhaps this is a blessing in disguise! Universal Home Video typically does a lousy job with their anthology television DVD packages. Usually there are no extras such as video commentary, interviews, television promos, still photos, etc. As an example, I can use one of my (Universal) favorites: Rod Serling’s Night Gallery. In these two packages, the film to DVD transfers are mediocre at best, with poor editing and lousy sound quality. Also, Universal often times takes forever to release one season after another within a reasonable timetable. Here’s one case in point: Steven Speilberg’s Amazing Stories. Season One came out in July of 2006. Where’s the rest of the series? And they are dragging their heels with Alfred Hitchcock Presents: It wasn’t until October of 2005 that season one was released and I believe there are at least eight seasons to get out.

    So here is the blessing in disguise: Image Entertainment has taken on the task of getting Thriller onto DVD! They are on of America’s top independent home video companies, and from what has been written so far, they are making every effort to make the Thriller release, well, thrilling! The original film masters, which have been cleaned up, are being used. There promises to be commentaries from many individuals involved with the series (though these will, of course, be limited since many are deceased) as well as film historians and Boris Karloff scholars. Also, both seasons will be released in one package; no waiting months and months for season two–hell, us fans have already waited long enough!

    Anyway, I have high hopes for a high quality package! Five stars for the series and an anticipated five stars for Image Entertainment’s efforts! And, I almost forgot: Shame on Universal for dissing Thriller!
    Rating: 5 / 5

  2. Gary P. Cohen on June 9th, 2010

    Right on top of the announcement of the release of the entire series of Checkmate, we now are informed of the upcoming release of Thriller: The Complete Series. Two great complete series coming out on DVD. (Interestingly, they both ran two seasons from 1960-’62.) On the cover of the Thriller box, Stephen King says it was the scariest show ever on tv. In this case, hes not lying. I was ten when it went on and twelve when it went off. I remember watching episodes of Thriller half under the covers. About 20 years ago, Universal released about 6 episodes on videotape which I picked up. The Sci. Fi. channel also started showing them late Friday nights (or early Saturday mornings.) I would tape them and watch them back. And boy when it came to being scary, they still held up.

    At the beginning, Thriller was a mixture of horror and crime melodramas. However as the horror episodes proved much more popular, the crime shows eventually petered out. Thriller had it all: gothic horror and modern horror and suspense. Several episodes even took place in midevil times.

    And who better to host than the great Boris Karloff, the king of horror at the time to those of us Famous Monsters-reading horror fans. Boris brought to this show as host what Alfred Hitchcock did to his own series. Boris also starred in about 5 episodes. (I read recently that Hitchcock was not thrilled with Thriller being on the same network as him (NBC) feeling it was a copy of his series. Supposedly he gave them an ultimatum: either Thriller goes or Hitchcock goes. Thriller went. I’m not sure if this story is true but it might explain why this classic series only lasted two seasons.

    Thriller had great scripts, terrific set designs and truly eerie music by Jerry Goldsmith. Like so many shows of that period it had terrific guest stars: William Shatner, Richard Chamberlain, Elizabeth Montgomery, etc. Ursula Andress also guest-starred on Thriller before becoming immortalized as Honey Ryder, the first Bond girl in “Dr. No.”

    Thriller was one of the shows that I’ve been patiently waiting for on DVD, the numerous bonus features make it all the more exciting. If you haven’t seen it you’re in for a treat. Just remember to leave the lights on while watching.
    Rating: 5 / 5

  3. E. D. DORSOGNA on June 9th, 2010

    After years of chasing after dupes, pirates, knock-offs, rip-offs, and third generation retreads of this great series, it is finally coming to DVD! I can still recall being scared to death by PIGEONS FROM HELL when I first saw it (at about age 13). I did have a chance to see a fairly reasonable dupe some few years ago, and it STILL gave me a sense of grue. There has not been anything like THRILLER since. The added bonus of seeing the great Boris Karloff again also thrills. I can hardly wait.
    Rating: 5 / 5

  4. Tante Maren on June 9th, 2010

    I am THRILLED that THRILLER is being released on August 31, 2010 this summer! Image Entertainment has put the entire series, which is two seasons, on 14 discs in this dvd set. All 67 one hour long chilling and some really frightening episodes will be seen in the original fantastic black and white film in all it’s scary shadows and creepiness.

    Thriller was originally shown on Tuesday nights in it’s first 1960-1961 season on NBC from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.. Because of parents complaints that the show was too scary for school age children, making them unable to sleep on a school night, NBC moved the show in it’s second 1961 to 1962 season to Monday nights at a later time from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m.. The show began with it’s host, the great Boris Karloff preparing it’s audience for the great horrors and terrors that you were about to see and hear. Boris Karloff not only hosted the one hour long show, but starred in several episodes as well. The black and white film is perfect for the super eerie atmosphere of the scary stories and it really does add to the visual terror.

    Stephen King calls Thriller the best horror series ever put on television. I call Thriller the only television series that gave me horrendous and terrifying, unable to sleep, nightmares as a child and I don’t mean a few of the shows, but most of them! Most of the episodes feature the most disturbing stories of the macabre, twisted murders, terror and a few crime based episodes. The crime based episodes are not my favorites, as they are not as scary as the supernatural and macabre ones.

    Image Entertainment said they have digitally restored the original black and white film and used Dolby digital sound on the recording. I remember getting goose bumps hearing the creepiest sounds and screams in some of the episodes, as if the film wasn’t creepy enough with things hiding in every shadow! In it’s first season, Thriller was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Music For Television. It wasn’t just the sounds and screams that were terrifying, but also the music! The next season, American Cinema Editors nominated Thriller for Best Edited Television Program, for the episode, A Third For Pinochle.

    Thriller featured many well known actors and actresses in their episodes, some being: Boris Karloff, Leslie Nielson, silent film star Mary Astor, Rip Torn, Richard Chamberlain, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Corby, Victor Buono, Mary Tyler Moore, Jack Carson, Warren Oates, Werner Klemperer, Mort Saul, William Shatner, Donna Douglas, Susan Oliver, Ronald Howard, Robert Vaughn, Marlo Thomas, Jeanette Nolan, Tommy Nolan, Edward Andrews, Marion Ross, Brandon DeWilde, Natalie Schafer, Alejandro Rey, John Carradine, Tom Posten, Elizabeth Montgomery, Estelle Winwood, JoAnn Fleet, Bruce Dern, Richard Long, Ursula Andress, Denver Pyle, Sue Ann Langdon, Dick York, Rita Shaw, William Windom and George Kennedy.

    I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU TO IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT for putting the time and effort into digitally restoring and releasing the greatest horror television series of all time! They are also including bonus materials of Audio Commentaries, Episodes Promos, Series Promos and Still Galleries. I am so looking forward to getting goose bumps and being terrified all over again with those dreaded nightmares that kept me and all my school friends awake all night and hiding deep under our covers!

    Here Are All 67 Macabre, Horrifying And Terror Filled Episodes:

    SEASON 1:

    (09-13-1960) THE TWISTED IMAGE- Psycopath mail clerk.(Leslie Nielson)

    (09-20-1960) CHILD’S PLAY- Deadly imagination.

    (09-27-1960) WORSE THAN MURDER- Strange diary.

    (10-04-1960) THE MARK OF THE HAND- Child with a gun.

    (10-11-1960) ROSE’S LAST SUMMER- Old movie actress.(Mary Astor)

    (10-18-1960) THE GUILTY MEN- Crime boss wants out.

    (10-25-1960) THE PURPLE ROOM- Haunted mansion.(Rip Torn)

    (11-01-1960) THE WATCHER- Psychotic killer.(Richard Chamberlain)

    (11-15-1960) GIRL WITH A SECRET- Spys.(Cloris Leachman, Ellen Corby and Victor Buono)

    (11-22-1960) THE PREDICTION- Magician’s predictions.(Boris Karloff)

    (11-29-1960) THE FATAL IMPULSE- Bomb planted in purse.(Mary Tyler Moore)

    (12-06-1960) THE BIG BLACKOUT- Lost memory of murder.(Jack Carson)

    (12-13-1960) KNOCK THREE-ONE-TWO- Arranged murder.(Warren Oates)

    (12-20-1960) MAN IN THE MIDDLE- Overhearing murder plan.(Werner Klemperer and Mort Sahl)

    (12-27-1960) THE CHEATERS- Strange Eyeglasses.

    (01-03-1961) THE HUNGRY GLASS- Haunted seaside home.(William Shatner and Donna Douglas)

    (01-10-1961) THE POISONER- Easy money by killing.

    (01-17-1961) MAN IN THE CAGE- Intrigue in Morocco.

    (01-24-1961) CHOOSE A VICTIM- Beach bum fall guy.(Susan Oliver)

    (02-07-1961) HAY-FORK AND BILL-HOOK- Witchcraft.

    (02-14-1961) THE MERRIWEATHER FILE- Murder mystery.

    (02-21-1961) THE FINGERS OF FEAR- Child murderer.

    (02-28-1961) WELL OF DOOM- Sorcerer.(Ronald Howard)

    (03-07-1961) THE ORDEAL OF DR. CORDELL- Murderous rage.(Robert Vaughn and Marlo Thomas)

    (03-14-1961) TRIO FOR TERROR- Occult; Odd bed; Museum hideout.

    (03-21-1961) PAPA BENJAMIN- Voodoo melody.

    (04-04-1961) LATE DATE- Murder confession.

    (04-11-1961) YOURS TRULY, JACK THE RIPPER- Jack is back.

    (04-18-1961) THE DEVIL’S TICKET- Artist and pawn shop ticket.

    (04-25-1961) PARASITE MANSION- Dark mansion secrets.(Jeanette Nolan and Tommy Nolan)

    (05-02-1961) A GOOD IMAGINATION- Cheating wife.(Edward Andrews)

    (05-09-1961) MR. GEORGE- Invisible child protector.

    (05-16-1961) TERROR IN TEAKWOOD- Severed hands play piano.

    (05-23-1961) THE PRISONER IN THE MIRROR- Evil sorcerer.(Marion Ross)

    (05-30-1961) DARK LEGACY- Book of spells.

    (06-06-1961) PIGEONS FROM HELL- Terrifying manor house.(Brandon DeWilde)

    (06-13-1961) THE GRIM REAPER- Cursed painting.(William Shatner and Natalie Schafer)

    SEASON 2:

    (09-18-1961) WHAT BECKONING GHOST?- Funeral dreams.

    (09-26-1961) GUILLOTINE- Executioner.(Alejandro Rey)

    (10-02-1961) THE PREMATURE BURIAL- Buried alive.(Boris Karloff)

    (10-16-1961) THE WEIRD TAYLOR- Special suit for the dead.

    (10-23-1961) GOD GRANTE THAT SHE LYE STILLE- Witch haunting.(Ronald Howard and Victor Buono)

    (10-30-1961) MASQUERADE- Vampires.(John Carradine, Tom Posten and Elizabeth Montgomery)

    (11-06-1961) THE LAST OF THE SOMMERVILLES- Scheming couple.(Boris Karloff)

    (11-13-1961) LETTER TO A LOVER- Intrigue.

    (11-20-1961) A THIRD FOR PINOCHLE- Nosy spinsters.(Edward Andrews)

    (11-27-1961) THE CLOSED CABINET- Ancient curse.

    (12-04-1961) DIALOGUES WITH DEATH- Conversing with the dead; Colonel’s revenge.(Boris Karloff and Estelle Winwood)

    (12-11-1961) THE RETURN OF ANDREW BENTLEY- Fear of evil sorcerer.

    (12-18-1961) THE REMARKABLE MRS. HAWKS- Prize pigs.(John Carradine, JoAnn Fleet and Bruce Dern)

    (12-25-1961) PORTRAIT WITHOUT A FACE- Dead artist’s painting.

    (01-01-1962) AN ATTRACTIVE FAMILY- Murder plans.(Richard Long)

    (01-08-1962) WAXWORKS- Frightening figures.

    (01-15-1962) LA STREGA- Witchcraft.(Ursula Andress, Jeanette Nolan and Alejandro Rey)

    (01-22-1962) THE STORM- Alone with a murderer.

    (01-29-1962) A WIG FOR MISS DeVORE- Mysterious wig.

    (02-12-1962) THE HOLLOW WATCHER- Town scarecrow.(Warren Oates and Denver Pyle)

    (02-19-1962) COUSIN TUNDIFIER- Murdering in the past.(Edward Andrews and Sue Ann Langdon)

    (02-26-1962) THE INCREDIBLE DR. MARKESAN- Uncle’s scary mansion.(Boris Karloff and Dick York)

    (03-05-1962) FLOWERS OF EVIL- Screaming skeleton.

    (03-12-1962) TIL DEATH DO US PART- Burying your wife.(Rita Shaw)

    (03-19-1962) THE BRIDE WHO DIED TWICE- Desire and death.

    (03-26-1962) KILL MY LOVE- Mistress murder.

    (04-02-1962) MAN OF MYSTERY- Intrigue.(Mary Tyler Moore and William Windom)

    (04-09-1962) THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS- Body snatchers.(George Kennedy)

    (04-16-1962) THE LETHAL LADIES- Couple fights to death; Clever librarian.

    (04-30-1962) THE SPECIALISTS- Jewel thieves.(Ronald Howard)
    Rating: 5 / 5

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