In this TV episode from 1951, a beloved older woman is supposed to inherit the fortune of her uncle, Dr. John Rant, as soon as she can find his will. He only tells her that it's in a book and that she probably won't recognize when she sees it! But, the cryptic clue could result in the inheritance going to another relative, and, the late Dr. Rant is not happy about this!
This one stars Leslie (FORBIDDEN PLANET) Nielsen, Russell (FAIL-SAFE) Collins, Pat (THE DAY OF THE DOLPHIN) Englund (she died January 6, 2018, at age 92), Eva (KISS OF DEATH) Condon and John (THE SWIMMER) Gerstad.
Our host Frank Gallop clues us in on the story before he blows the candle out...
The story starts with an older gentleman who comes to a library looking for a rare book. Bill, the librarian, then goes to the book aisle to look for it.
Bill notices someone looking through the books. When Bill asks if he can help, the man turns around, Bill screams in horror, then, faints...
Bill lays on the floor as his fellow workers come to his aid. After Bill returns to the land of the living, he says that there was a man dressed in black that had the face of a monster, there were even spider webs on him!! Alas, no one else even saw the man there.
Look at the awkward position Bill's in for the shot, that's live TV in the early fifties for you!
Anyway, Bill needs a rest so takes a train to his destination for a small vacation.
But, in the hallway shadows at the train station, a strange man is watching over Bill.
Wow, Bill meets up with Mary Simpson and her mother on the train. He's invited to stay with them and the topic of a will comes up. Of all things, mom is supposed to find the will in an obscure book. Bill puts two and two together and it dawns on him that the book he was looking for at the library was the book with the will in it.
So, he heads back to the library to pick up the book. Unfortunately, the book has been mailed out to the man who had originally asked for it. Bill gets the address and heads out.
So, the man is picking up the book at his hotel, then, turns to see the mysterious man in black, who is actually his relative, the dead Dr. Rant!!
The man dies, Bill grabs the book and goes back to Mary and her mom's place...
They find the will and mom inherits the fortune! Then, Bill asks Mary to marry him, bringing our tale to a happy ending!.
Here's the book that caused all the trouble!
And, good old Frank closes the curtain after blowing out the candle. So, tune in tomorrow when Eegah!! is in the batting cage, with more cool junk just for you!!
The Tractate Middoth is the name of the story the episode is an adaptation of as well. :)
ReplyDeleteIn 1981, Leslie Nielsen remembered every damn one of his early '50s live tv performances (like this one) and told a lot of funny little stories about making them.
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