Joan Crawford in Night Gallery "Eyes" 1969 (Part 1)

[ToddSweeneyOnce]

I loved this series, but I've felt for years that it's potential was never realized. Any one agree with me?

[mcampeau11]

As she said to Steven Spielberg upon reading the script, "People just don't talk that way!" It is particularly well written. It was his first and only job (aside from Jaws) as a director worthy of note. From thence it went downhill, (try watching Schindler's List, described by David Mamet as "emotional pornography.") But this is a hoot! I actually recall watching as a TV movie in 1969, and being scared shitless by her!

[jguterman]

Good use of playlist. Excellent Night Galley pilot. The young Spielberg handled the difficult Crawford beautifully well after replacing the experienced director who quit after becoming fed up with her crap.

[deb310red]

I love that background music.

[tt247jer]

this makes me cum



[MattHossZone]

Steven Spielberg was only 22 when he directed this. And it feels like a movie, not a TV show. Mad skills.

[TheFutureLooksGrimm]

Did Rod Serling write this one?

[tall32guy]

Was expecting to see the Twin Towers in that opening shot but then I remembered: DUH the WTC wasn't built until like 3 years after this aired. LOL

[geupelboi]

Rarely have I seen someone so cold-blooded and so thoroughly lacking pity as the character Joan Crawford plays here. The line... "Nobody has ever done me justice. BEGINNING WITH GOD!!!" Bone-chilling. She has no reservations stating that she is indifferent to all of mankind. I think that's about as low as you can go, Even hate, hostility, violence and insanity surely must rate higher on the karmic scale than this pitiless regard for her fellow human beings! Brrrr..

[97karenlacey]

Every time I see Joan Crawford in this scene, I am reminded WHY she was one of the greatest actresses of ALL Time. This gives me shivers...

[007jimmymac]

I remember watching this episode with my Mom in 1969-we both loved Joan Crawford, she was so great. Today, I watch another nightmare unfold as my mother looses what eyesight she has left-already blind in one eye, its a matter of time before she will be totally blind. My God, we all take our eyesight for granted. So sad.

[rickw1100]

You've got to hand it to the lady-she really had star power. Shes brilliant in this.

[TheRichcraft]

The first time I heard the word abortionist on TV. I'm a bit surprised that NBC allowed that on their network at the time.

[aculturemind]

Um, what about termincal cases? Great donors. Anyways, blah.

[fromthesidelines]

Rod originally wrote this story for his 1967 novella trilogy, "The Season to Be Wary".

[starquant]

OMG... JOAN CRAWFORD !.

[capie44]

Spielberg knew (back then) that shaking the camera, too close close-ups, zoom-in/pan left, shake, pan right/zoom out, 0.7-1.3 scene changes, distracted the audience and wanted them to change the channel. He knew that the audience wanted to look into the actors eyes, and wanted to see the actor acting--NOT how the film editor & cameraman flunked film school! Directors could (re)learn from him.

[usergently]

Clothes hangers.

[No1KCfan6]

damn...she could scream like a banshee

[MichaelAuthorAllAges]

Love this episode! :)

[Gaeilgeoir]

COLORRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!

[Jellogel]

wow, Serling, Speilberg, and Crawford, one of those weird combos that happen sometimes, very excellent indeed

[richierichnumber1]

"This one Joan's and Spielbergs best works."

[Ybrain100]

Essa série era uma das minhas preferidas e eu não perdia um capítulo se quer!

[slmacph]

I guess ol' Claudia rolled herself a pair of snake eyes. :-/

[nsdcdon]

Spielberg was forbidden to change a single word in the script, and with his first tv production, made the single best show in the series, and an artistic milestone. When I saw the "I want to SEE" sequence I realized I was witnessing something important, a technique to rival the Odessa Steps sequence.

[miatageekscott]

Problem with these shows that were ahead of their time is people back then were not smart enough for them...

[TarotMage]

I want to see something! Trees! Concrete! Buildings! Grass! Airplanes! COLOR!!!! Almost 40 years later that scene STILL gives me chills!

[mcampeau11]

@TarotMage I actually remember seeing it as a TV movie, and being scared shitless by her!

[windstorm1000]

Crawford is magnificent. And Spiegelburg gives a fluid, almost expressionistic direction to the proceedings (notice the freeze frames back and forth on Claudia suggesting something will go wrong. You wish he had continued this style later in his career--so stylish and suspenseful. Matheson writes a great script. Again, the best NG episodes hinge on irony--this is no different.

[Poodlepups]

Why not just one eye?

[sbergman27]

07:15 - It's too bad they couldn't have gotten Ayn Rand to play Claudia Menlo. She would have been magnificent.

[skylur44]

Interesting to see her with Barry Sullivan again after Queen Bee. They both look fantastic.

[rickw1100]

A great Actress. A great director. The best in the series. A perfect morality play.

[mari66101]

What a great actress she was, Night Gallery was one of my favorite shows growing up...I remember this pilot episode we,,...thanks so much for uploading it.

[S1969C1969]

WOW! Where did yer find THIS? I only heard about it on the story of her life+ how she didn' t appreciate being Directed by Spielberg! Part1 seems well put together... Part2 now.

[IMPei100]

@S1969C1969 Miss Crawford spoke very highly of Spielberg and they remained friends til her death. Likewise Spielberg has never spoken against her.

[S1969C1969]

@IMPei100 Well it was Christina who spoke about it+ WHAT would she know as she hardly saw her in later years. Hearsay perhaps? Anyway she' s great in it+ shouldn' t have turned- down so much tv.!

[DiabolicalAngel]

@S1969C1969 Yeah because she thought Spielberg, who was just a kid, had no place directing someone with her years of experience. She was wonderful, beautiful and I love her, but she was a Diva and had bitch tendencies. She only grudgingly admitted that young Spielberg had talent.

[eyescreamstuff]

this is my ALL TIME favorite episode of night gallery. i loved this show. it was on when i was like 9 or 10. terrify-ing and no gore or special effects. thanks crawford fan, you rock! any baby jane clips?

[PeterFormaini]

THANK YOU fro adding this!!!!! One of the finest Crawford appearances in a non-movie - and Speilberg's direction is magnificent!!!

[timm55]

Bette Davis did the same thing in All about Eve saying she was 40 when she was actually 50

[skylur44]

@timm55 I thought she was older when she made that film. She did a great job and married Gary Merrill who she met while filming.

[jeffeastwood15]

@timm55 When Bette Davis made All About Eve, she had just turned 42, NOT 50. Please get your facts straight in the future.

[timm55]

@jeffeastwood15 Thanx MOM LOL

[judyrusso]

This was the best episode out of the series. I've always thought this series paled in comparison to Twilight Zone.

[418sadeyes]

@judyrusso I agree, but it wasn't as good as One step beyond, imho.

[baros62]

@judyrusso This was actually a TV movie pilot of the television series _"Night Gallery" (1970)_ , Rod Serling introduces three separate paintings, each with its own story of uncanny vengeance against evil to tell. The first is THE CEMETERY starring Roddy McDowall. The second is EYES starring Joan Crawford. The last one is THE ESCAPE ROUTE starring Richard Kiley and Sam Jaffe.

[baros62]

@judyrusso This was actually a TV movie pilot of the television series _"Night Gallery" (1970)_ , Rod Serling introduces three separate paintings, each with its own story of uncanny vengeance against evil to tell. The first is THE CEMETERY starring Roddy McDowall. The second is EYES starring Joan Crawford. The last one is THE ESCAPE ROUTE starring Richard Kiley and Sam Jaffe. Also, this series was a spin-off from THE TWILIGHT ZONE series.

[ebf1957]

@baros62

Didn't Serling pitch this to ABC and the title was going to be called Rod Serling's Wax Museum?

[mkrobinson95]

2:10 - eh, 54 years? Joan would like us to think that, though she's playing a role here. She was famous for lying about her age. She was 64 when this film was made.

[DiabolicalAngel]

@mkrobinson95 May we all look that fabulous when we are 64 lol.

[ao666ofDarkside]

This is a great episode, I remember from when I first saw it years ago. JC is great in it.