Mistero in galleria: The Funeral

(The Night Gallery: The Funeral)

1972, regia di John Meredyth Lucas

Scheda: Nazione: USA - Produzione: Universal TV - Distribuzione: NBC (National Broadcasting Company) - Soggetto: Richard Matheson - Sceneggiatura: Richard Matheson - Fotografia: Lionel Lindon, Leonard J. South, Bud Thackery - Montaggio: Howard Epstein, Larry Lester, Sam Vitale - Art Director: Joseph Alves jr. - Set Decoration: Sal Blydenburgh, John M. Dwyer, James M. Walters - Costumi: Clon - Musiche: Paul Glass, Gil Melle, Oliver Nelson - Formato: Technicolor - Durata: 20'.

Cast: Joe Flynn, Cameron Mitchell, Pernell Roberts, Werner Klemperer, Elsa Lanchester, Susan Oliver, Michael Bell, Harvey Jason, James Nusser, James Davidson, Harry Hickox, Charles Macaulay, Jack Laird, Brooke Mills, Bill Quinn, Laara Lacey, Larry Watson, Jeff Burton, Leonidas Ossetynski, Diana Hale, George Keymas, Jerry Summers, Rod Serling.

Trama e commenti: it.wikipedia.org: «Mistero in galleria (Night Gallery) è una serie televisiva statunitense di genere fantastico e horror, trasmessa per 3 stagioni dalla NBC, dal 1970 al 1973 e ideata da Rod Serling. La serie ha avuto una serie di vicissitudini fin dai suoi inizi, quando venne proposta all'interno del programma contenitore Four-in-One, e introdotta dall'omonimo pilot l'8 dicembre 1969 in formato film Tv (importante perché segna l'esordio, nella regia del secondo episodio, di Steven Spielberg, allora ventunenne: il regista firmerà anche un altro episodio della serie, nel 1971). Ma fu soprattutto dopo la chiusura (1973), che la serie (originariamente composta da 28 episodi di un'ora e 15 da mezzora) venne smantellata e resa irriconoscibile: tra le varie modifiche, tagli e aggiunte, venne unita a un'altra serie, Sesto senso (1972), a sua volta modificata per esigenze di produzione. In Italia la RAI trasmise la serie nel febbraio del 1988, limitandosi ai 15 episodi della stagione 3, ossia quelli che erano rimasti invariati rispetto ai tagli successivi alla chiusura».

Plot Summary, Synopsis, Review: IMDb - nightgallery.net - video.tvguide.com - flixster.com - fancast.com - en.wikipedia.org - crazyabouttv.com - taliesinttlg.blogspot.com: «The Night Gallery was Rod Serling’s follow up to the Twilight Zone and was composed of short visual stories, as it were. In truth this is less an episode in its own right but a segment of a larger whole. It was from season 2 and was written by Richard Matheson, which just goes to show that even the greats can have on off day – though the first half of the episode was rather good. As always the episode was introduced by Serling himself, showing us a painting that relates to the story. In this case it is the painting of a horse drawn casket and mourners at a funeral and the story takes place at the Silkline funeral home. The sign on the door telling us of their cut price catafalques. The owner, Morton Silkline (Joe Flynn) is at his desk when there is a knock on the door. In comes one Ludwig Asper (Werner Klemperer) who wishes to arrange a funeral. He wishes the largest parlour and the finest casket, but does not wish to arrange for the Silkline sermon – one of his friends will speak. When Morton asks for the name of the deceased he says Asper and then adds, me. He explains that he never got a proper going off and has always regretted that. Morton slams his appointment book, incensed at the joke but it is no joke. Asper reveals fangs and states that all will be ready on Tuesday and that the mirror in the foyer (and any others) will be covered. He leaves, we hear squeaking and Morton sees a really crap bat leave through the window. To this point it has been quite interesting but it is at the funeral, as the episode takes a much more comedic turn, that we see it fall apart. Asper is delighted with the parlour and then the mourners appear, Ygor (Jack Laird) the hunchback servant, a werewolf, vampires and Jenny the witch (Laara Lacey) – it has all descended into cliché. The vampires in attendance, for some reason, are all blue faced. I say for some reason because Asper isn’t and we have to wonder at this double standard. The Count (Charles Macaulay) is the friend who is speaking but his flowery language doesn’t go down well in all quarters and chaos ensues. All in all it is an episode that misses more than hits but had an interesting idea at least...».

Approfondimenti: Movie Review

Episodio 21 della stagione 2, insieme a Green Fingers e The Tune in Dan's Cafe, della serie tv The Night Gallery (in Italia: Mistero in galleria), conosciuta anche con i titoli: Galería nocturna; Rod Serling's Night Gallery; Rod Serling's Wax Museum; Yöjuttu.

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