After portraying a cynical tough-guy private eye on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in the episode "40 Detectives Later" in 1960, Franciscus returned to the show a few months later, in January 1961, as a wholesome, preppie suburban husband and father in the supernatural tale "Summer Shade." Franciscus's character, Ben Kendall, is househunting in rural New England with his wife, Phyllis (Julie Adams), when they chance upon their dream home. But, as always in tales like this, if something looks too good to be true, there's a catch - in this case one that may involve witches and ghosts.
Great episode. The scene where Julie Adams asks the priest about an exorcism is so reminiscent of Chris McNeil asking father Karras the same thing in The Exorcist that I cannot believe it is coincidental. The whole episode is so like The Exorcist that it's ... well, scary. Mr. Blatty, did you see this episode?
ReplyDeleteJames would do sterling work in another creepy movie for television ... Shadow Over Elveron in 1968.
ReplyDeleteHi nice readingg your blog
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