Watch Out for the Mysterious "Thriller!"

Back in the days when original stories of suspense and the macabre were a regular feature of television programming, there was a British show called Thriller, an anthology series that ran from 1973-1976. The series was the brainchild of Brian Clemens, who’s probably best known for his work on the classic spy series The Avengers. Thriller (not to be confused with the 1960-62 Boris Karloff hosted series with the same title) featured tales of murder, mystery and the supernatural. One of the main selling points of the show was that it featured well-known British actors, usually paired with an American star in a lead or co-starring role. This was done so the series could more easily be marketed to the US and other territories. Outside of the UK, the episodes of the show were often syndicated as standalone features, with title changes, and in some cases, additional footage was added to pad out the running time. In its original form, the series is a lot of fun to watch, with well-crafted stories (most of them scripted by Clemens) featuring offbeat plotlines and twist endings. Let’s take a brief look at a few memorable entries from the show.

Donna Mills & Alethea Charleton

“Someone at the Top of the Stairs” is an eerie episode from the series’ initial season. The story stars Donna Mills and Judy Carne as college students who rent a room in a Victorian style house with an assortment of other tenants. Everyone who lives there seems a little odd, including the overly friendly landlady, Mrs. Oxhey, played by Alethea Charleton. At first, it seems like the other residents of the house are just a bit eccentric, but things start to get very, very weird. Everyone keeps referring to a mysterious, unseen “Mr. C” who lives upstairs, who will “love” the new additions to the household. It all leads to a terrifying climax as the true nature of the house and its residents is revealed. Mills (pre-Knots Landing) and Carne (of Laugh- In fame) are quite good as the damsels in distress, and there’s a great supporting cast of British character actors playing the eccentric members of the household. Donna Mills actually appeared in several episodes of the series throughout its run.

“A Killer In Every Corner” from the third season of the series, concerns Professor Carnaby, a well-respected psychologist who invites three students to his home to discuss his theories, and to demonstrate a new technique he believes will cure homicidal tendencies in people who are predisposed to be murderers. Like all researchers in this type of story, it turns out the good doctor’s theories may have just a few tiny holes in them. And there just may be a violent killer loose in their midst right now! The professor is played by British film veteran Patrick Magee, and one of the students is portrayed by Joanna Pettet, who appeared in many TV movies and series in the 1970s, including Mannix, Night Gallery and The Love Boat. The supporting cast, including Max Wall and Eric Flynn, is quite good. There are a couple of neat twists in the story, though seasoned mystery buffs may spot them ahead of time. This episode is a more of a straightforward thriller, and the buildup to the suspenseful climax is well-handled by director Malcolm Taylor.

Cec Linder & Andrea Marcovicci

Also from the third season, “Nurse Will Make It Better” is a chilling foray into the supernatural. A new caregiver insinuates herself into the family of a diplomat whose daughter has been crippled in a horse riding accident. Suddenly, the daughter can walk again, though her personality has changed drastically, and terrible things begin happening to the family. The youngest child also falls under the nurse’s spell. What is going on, and what are Nurse Bessy’s true intentions, and just who is she? Ruth, the family’s middle daughter, tries to find out the truth, but will she be too late? Diana Dors, who usually played more glamorous roles, is terrific as the dowdy, seemingly benevolent Nurse Bessy. The supporting cast features Ed Bishop (UFO), Cec Linder (Felix Leiter in Goldfinger), Andrea Marcovicci (Hill Street Blues) and Patrick Troughton (Dr. Who, The Omen). This is one of the series’ darkest episodes; if you like Hammer films, Dark Shadows, or movies like Rosemary’s Baby, you’ll appreciate this frightening tale.

Helen Mirren and Michael Jayston

Other standout stories include “A Coffin for the Bride” featuring Michael Jayston as a fortune-hunting killer who falls in love with a young woman played by future Oscar winner Helen Mirren. There’s a neat twist at the end of this episode, and it’s great to see Mirren in an early role. Fans of Stephen King’s Christine might like “One Deadly Owner” in which Donna Mills returns as a woman who buys a used Rolls Royce that just may be haunted. The ghostly car could be the key to solving a mysterious disappearance. Her boyfriend in the episode is played by Jeremy Brett, who went on to portray Sherlock Holmes on British TV in the 1980s and 90s. “Only a Scream Away” showcases Gary Collins (who also appeared in multiple episodes of the series) playing a mysterious man who befriends a new bride played by Hayley Mills. And in “Kiss Me and Die” a man searching for his missing brother gets involved with a young woman (Jenny Agutter of Logan’s Run and An American Werewolf in London) whose possessive guardian is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe. Obviously, things aren’t going to go well for that budding relationship.

The series should really be enjoyable for fans of stylish, old-school tales of mystery and suspense, and it’s a great pleasure to see so many well-known British and American stars in the series. Aside from those already mentioned, you can check out US actors like Barbara Feldon, Patrick O’Neal, Lynda Day George, Bradford Dillman and Carol Lynley, as well as British thespians such as Brian Blessed, Bob Hoskins, Pamela Franklin and Linda Thorson. The show was shot on videotape, so it does have a rather stage-bound, old-fashioned feel to it, but in a way that adds to its charm. The wrap-ups are occasionally a bit rushed, and some of the stories might feel a bit clichéd to modern viewers, but Brian Clemens knows how to spin a good yarn, and I think you’ll have a lot of fun watching Thriller. I remember seeing a few of these stories in syndication in my younger days, and I was delighted to rediscover the show recently. The entire series is available on Amazon Prime, and has also been released on video in the UK. Here’s a link to the title sequence and a brief clip from “Someone at the Top of the Stairs.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCIDwPs34Ns