"Thriller" (1960) TV series 1960-1962

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

13 September 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Anthology series hosted by Boris Karloff that originally told ordinary tales of crime and mystery, but...

Plot Keywords:

Anthology | Cult TV | Jack The Ripper

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Boris Karloff

...

Himself / ... (66 episodes, 1960-1962)

Also Known As:

"Boris Karloff's Thriller"

Runtime:

51 min (67 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hubbell Robinson Productions

Trivia:

A comic book based upon this series, "Boris Karloff's Tales of Mystery", which was also 'hosted' by Karloff, ran from 1962 to 1980 - more than a decade after the real Karloff was dead.

Quotes:

Boris Karloff: And as sure as my name is Boris Karloff, this is going to be a thriller.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Tomi Knockers (1994) (V)

Best anthology show ever seen on TV

"Thriller," which I have had the pleasure of discovering on the SciFi Channel in recent years, is simply the best horror program ever done on TV -- better than Outer Limits (which is a close second), better than The Twilight Zone, better than One Step Beyond, Night Gallery, Tales From the Darkside, Tales from the Crypt, etc. It's a shame this classic only ran two seasons; it deserved far better.

The show took time to find its niche, and maybe this accounts for its premature demise. Today, of course, if a show is not an instant hit, the network executives pull the plug immediately. For about half of the first season, it was kind of a watered down version of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." But once the show came into its own, nothing else could touch it.

The presence of Boris Karloff, of course, adds a lot of class, and he occasionally starred in some of the stories, which was always a special treat for faithful viewers. ("The Strange Door" and "Dialogues With Death" are two episodes where Karloff did more than just host.)

The show obviously owes a lot to the legacy of E.C. Comics, and the better episodes include "The Hungry Glass," "Pigeons From Hell," "The Cheaters," "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" and "A Wig for Miss DeVore." The series often gave us intelligently written stories and, just as important, frequently succeeded in truly frightening viewers. It was really something special, and I highly recommend "Thriller" to those who have a special place in their hearts for the horror genre.