Rod Serling's Night Gallery - Blu-ray Forum

kirkman1987 · 03-13-2018, 05:30 AM

Alright, we are getting a bit off topic in The Outer Limits thread (for the excellent KINO release of season 1)....So discuss the Night Gallery here.

Would love to see the show in high def. I just love Rod Serling, and while the show is no Twilight Zone it represent's some of Serling's final work in the genre and his host segments in the gallery are fantastic. There is a lot of filler but episodes like the Pilot, "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar", "Silent Snow, Secret Snow", "The Catapiller", "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes" and others are really worth watching.

Anyway, I assume this show was all put together on film so if the elements are around no reason we couldn't see this on HD. the DVD sets have some great commentaries with the likes of Del Toro and others that could be ported over along with the other Special Features.

Would be a great set for Shout Factory or Kino (if they want to continue down the anthology trail after they finish Outer Limits)

You guys like the Night Gallery? Do you also hit skip on your remote anytime one of those dreaded comedic skits start?

Chiefy · 03-13-2018, 05:39 AM

I loved Night Gallery! It was a little bit before my time, but I caught a bunch of re-broadcasts in the latter 70's as a kid. The one that sticks out in my mind is

[Show spoiler]

I know it's been borrowed/stolen since, but watching that as a kid was just so creepy.

Bolty · 03-13-2018, 05:49 AM

Hated the comedic episodes of TLZ and hated the comedic segments of NG. And the use of "comedy only" actors -- Ruth Buzzi, Joann Whorley, Arte Johnson, Richard Deacon, Johnny Brown, Marty Allen -- just seemed pandering to the Laugh-In fans. (I know all those actors must have done serious work at some point, but really, why?)

The comedic segments were very short -- one wonders instead what scary segments that were equally short might have looked like.

I did love that NG was almost straight up horror and wasn't really a rehash of TLZ ideas. You would have thought that Serling could have gotten more horror writers to contribute.

Also any thoughts on the series being shot in color? Would the series have been scarier in B&W?

I was 10 when the series premiered --- and I have to say some of those episodes had me sleeping with the night light on, the closet door shut and me praying for sunrise.

kirkman1987 · 03-13-2018, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolty

Hated the comedic episodes of TLZ and hated the comedic segments of NG. And the use of "comedy only" actors -- Ruth Buzzi, Joann Whorley, Arte Johnson, Richard Deacon, Johnny Brown, Marty Allen -- just seemed pandering to the Laugh-In fans. (I know all those actors must have done serious work at some point, but really, why?)

The comedic segments were very short -- one wonders instead what scary segments that were equally short might have looked like.

I did love that NG was almost straight up horror and wasn't really a rehash of TLZ ideas. You would have thought that Serling could have gotten more horror writers to contribute.

Also any thoughts on the series being shot in color? Would the series have been scarier in B&W?

I was 10 when the series premiered --- and I have to say some of those episodes had me sleeping with the night light on, the closet door shut and me praying for sunrise.

I actually like a lot of the comedic episodes of Twilight Zone. The Buster Keaton one is a fun nostalgia piece....And the Andy Devine one is fantasticm with some awesome alien makeup/effects at the end that rivals the best work in the more serious episodes.

Sadly, Night Gallery never did comedy well. most of the comedic bits are painfully unfunny.

Serling just never got full creative control. I think this has to be the reason that more horror writers were not brought on as Rod had brought on the best science fiction people for TZ. Pull up some of his college lectures from the time on youtube and he talks about some of his frustrations with Night Gallery at the time.

I'd be interested in knowing why he wasn't trusted more. Surely Serling's name carried a lot of weight post-Twilight Zone, and in '69 he had just received a credit on Planet of the Apes, which was a HUGE hit. I just don't understand the thought process. Everyone seems to just blame Jack Laird....and I guess that's pretty much it. Laird had an in with the studio and thought he knew better than Serling.

On the horror thing....the funny thing is that a lot of the best Night Gallery episodes are non-horror segments! "..Tim Riley..." has almost no supernatural elements at all (would have been a classic Zone with one or two tweaks) and "Silent Snow,Secret Snow" isn't a genre piece at all. Some of their sci-fi stuff was good. "Class of '99" is heavy handed but fun if you like morality plays. A lot of the horror stuff was too silly to really be tense.

Bolty · 03-13-2018, 06:14 AM

Not to derail a thread that was created to prevent derailing of another thread ----

Mr. Bevis
Cavender is Coming
The Whole Truth
Nice Place to Visit
Showdown With Rance McGrew
The Mighty Casey
Mr. Dingle
Mind and the Matter
The Bard
I Dream of Genie
From Agnes, With Love........

........aren't just "subpar" episodes -- they are crap. A stain on TLZ.

I can only imagine the serious episode scripts that were rejected for these duds. Even if they weren't great they'd have to have been better.

The only 2 comedic episodes I liked were the awesome "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up" and the charming "Penny for Your Thoughts."

But we agree, "NG comedic" = terrible

Jlouisbarrett · 03-13-2018, 07:01 AM

I’d love to see this on Blu-ray, if only for stuff like that Steven Spielberg-directed episode starring Joan Crawford.

AnamorphicWidescreen · 03-13-2018, 02:51 PM

It would be great to see this series on Blu.

Though I missed NG when it was first aired (too young), I remember seeing re-runs in the late '80's on network TV. I later enjoyed seeing the three seasons on DVD. Great series, and instead of just being a "Twilight Zone for the '70's", it really had a unique vibe/tone all it's own.

I liked the horror/suspense aspect to the show, and thought the paintings that introduced each episode were amazing; though, I always wondered if the paintings were specifically commissioned for the show, or were pre-existing (I couldn't find any info. online about this). It appears that they were pre-existing, but who knows?!

Some of my favorite episodes of the series aired during the third season: "Return of the Sorceror" (Excellent!), "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes" (Creepy & Chilling), "The Ring with the Red Velvet Ropes", "Spectre in Tap Shoes", "D. on a Barge", and "Something in the Woodwork".

Most of the episodes are permeated with a sense of creepy unease; the show is definitely head & shoulders above many more recent horror anthology TV series.

kirkman1987 · 03-13-2018, 03:30 PM

The paintings were done specifically for the series, mostly by Tom Wright, who eventually became a successful Television Director. (He has done episodes of Firefly, X-Files, The Wire, CSI, Castle...lots of shows....A working TV director)

HotRats · 03-13-2018, 04:04 PM

Just finished watching the DVDs and the comedy stories are excruciating. Best episode for me was The Waiting Room. I'd certainly buy it on blu ray

AnamorphicWidescreen · 03-14-2018, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkman1987

The paintings were done specifically for the series, mostly by Tom Wright, who eventually became a successful Television Director. (He has done episodes of Firefly, X-Files, The Wire, CSI, Castle...lots of shows....A working TV director)

Good to know. Those paintings were great, and in some cases were better than the episodes they were related to.

It must have been a lot of work to do these for a weekly show.

Here are some links pics. of some of them:

https://hifructose.com/2015/10/26/th...night-gallery/

https://dangerousminds.net/comments/..._night_gallery

MJD64 · 03-14-2018, 01:47 PM

I have all three seasons on DVD, but a reasonably priced upgrade to Blu would be sweet; I fear the likely scenario would be a release via Mill Creek, which would also likely mean the smattering of extras done for the DVD's would be omitted (including commentary on several episodes from season 2 from Guillermo del Toro!). Like most anthology shows, this was a mixed-bag but even the lesser episodes have a nostalgic appeal now. I was pretty young when the series first aired, and the music combined with distorted faces and images over the opening credits were enough to freak me out!

Bolty · 04-12-2018, 03:31 AM

Question for those in the know.......

Is there any reason they can't do Blu-ray for NG? Is it all shot and finished on film? Are the elements lost or incomplete?

Thanks!

klauswhereareyou · 02-26-2019, 01:27 PM

Going through the series right now and find it entertaining. Not on the level of The Twilight Zone or even the horror segments of Thriller, but there are still enough good segments to keep me watching. I'd buy a blu-ray set if the quality was good. Maybe someone like Shout could get their hands on it?

crushersteve · 11-04-2020, 01:18 AM

I would definitely buy this on bluray!
Maybe not a masterpiece...but definitely better than most tv shows on bluray.

kirkman1987 · 05-27-2021, 04:45 PM

Thought I’d give my thread a little bump here. It’s been three years since starting this thread and still no Night Gallery. There is a hope that Kino will release Night Gallery as they have stated they have another Universal TV show in the works (they have previously announced Kolchak for this October). I think it’s a good chance but at this point it’s largely wishful thinking.

Anyway, something cool we did get get was this book, Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: the Art of Darkness. Hoping a few super fans on the forums have been able to enjoy it.? Really cool to see all the paintings in such high quality

thornhill · 05-28-2021, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkman1987

Thought I’d give my thread a little bump here. It’s been three years since starting this thread and still no Night Gallery. There is a hope that Kino will release Night Gallery as they have stated they have another Universal TV show in the works (they have previously announced Kolchak for this October). I think it’s a good chance but at this point it’s largely wishful thinking.

Anyway, something cool we did get get was this book, Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: the Art of Darkness. Hoping a few super fans on the forums have been able to enjoy it.? Really cool to see all the paintings in such high quality

I’ve been meaning to pick this up.

yellowcakeuf6 · 05-28-2021, 04:25 PM

The episode segment "A Feast of Blood", with Sandra Locke, haunted my childhood.

The DVD set PQ is very good, but should be on Blu-ray by now.

FilmBuff · 06-01-2021, 05:23 AM

Received the book. Expensive, but nicely done

. The packing and shipping weren't the best though

. Had to exchange it due to damage because of poor packing and a too-small box wrapped around the heavy hardcover version my GF bought me.

I do really hope someone will do a proper Blu-Ray and or 4K HD of this great series.

FilmBuff · 06-01-2021, 05:28 AM

Tales From the Darkside restored/remastered on Blu would be sweet too

.

VikingHead2000 · 06-06-2021, 01:56 AM

Love to see this get released on Blu-ray, but I think that’s more likely not to happen. I own the three DVD sets and I’ll happy with those. If it does happen, it’ll most likely be done by Kino or Shout! Factory. Talked with a friend recently who works for Xfinity and it’s coming to the streaming service Peacock in August.

03-13-2018, 05:30 AM	#1
kirkman1987 Active Member Member since:Dec 2012 4K collection:11 Blu-ray collection:486 DVD collection:13	Rod Serling's Night Gallery Alright, we are getting a bit off topic in The Outer Limits thread (for the excellent KINO release of season 1)....So discuss the Night Gallery here. Would love to see the show in high def. I just love Rod Serling, and while the show is no Twilight Zone it represent's some of Serling's final work in the genre and his host segments in the gallery are fantastic. There is a lot of filler but episodes like the Pilot, "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar", "Silent Snow, Secret Snow", "The Catapiller", "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes" and others are really worth watching. Anyway, I assume this show was all put together on film so if the elements are around no reason we couldn't see this on HD. the DVD sets have some great commentaries with the likes of Del Toro and others that could be ported over along with the other Special Features. Would be a great set for Shout Factory or Kino (if they want to continue down the anthology trail after they finish Outer Limits) You guys like the Night Gallery? Do you also hit skip on your remote anytime one of those dreaded comedic skits start?

03-13-2018, 03:30 PM	#8
kirkman1987 Active Member Member since:Dec 2012 4K collection:11 Blu-ray collection:486 DVD collection:13	The paintings were done specifically for the series, mostly by Tom Wright, who eventually became a successful Television Director. (He has done episodes of Firefly, X-Files, The Wire, CSI, Castle...lots of shows....A working TV director) Last edited by kirkman1987; 03-13-2018 at 03:38 PM.

03-13-2018, 05:39 AM	#2
Chiefy Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Nov 2013 Location:Twin Cities, MN 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- MA collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:421	I loved Night Gallery! It was a little bit before my time, but I caught a bunch of re-broadcasts in the latter 70's as a kid. The one that sticks out in my mind is [Show spoiler] I know it's been borrowed/stolen since, but watching that as a kid was just so creepy.

03-13-2018, 05:49 AM	#3
Bolty Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Lake Worth Be...ah, no, Fl 4K collection:76 Blu-ray collection:100 Digital collection:93 Trading Score:82	Hated the comedic episodes of TLZ and hated the comedic segments of NG. And the use of "comedy only" actors -- Ruth Buzzi, Joann Whorley, Arte Johnson, Richard Deacon, Johnny Brown, Marty Allen -- just seemed pandering to the Laugh-In fans. (I know all those actors must have done serious work at some point, but really, why?) The comedic segments were very short -- one wonders instead what scary segments that were equally short might have looked like. I did love that NG was almost straight up horror and wasn't really a rehash of TLZ ideas. You would have thought that Serling could have gotten more horror writers to contribute. Also any thoughts on the series being shot in color? Would the series have been scarier in B&W? I was 10 when the series premiered --- and I have to say some of those episodes had me sleeping with the night light on, the closet door shut and me praying for sunrise.

03-13-2018, 06:14 AM	#5
Bolty Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Lake Worth Be...ah, no, Fl 4K collection:76 Blu-ray collection:100 Digital collection:93 Trading Score:82	Not to derail a thread that was created to prevent derailing of another thread ---- Mr. Bevis Cavender is Coming The Whole Truth Nice Place to Visit Showdown With Rance McGrew The Mighty Casey Mr. Dingle Mind and the Matter The Bard I Dream of Genie From Agnes, With Love........ ........aren't just "subpar" episodes -- they are crap. A stain on TLZ. I can only imagine the serious episode scripts that were rejected for these duds. Even if they weren't great they'd have to have been better. The only 2 comedic episodes I liked were the awesome "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up" and the charming "Penny for Your Thoughts." But we agree, "NG comedic" = terrible

03-13-2018, 07:01 AM	#6
Jlouisbarrett Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Oct 2015 Location:The 5th Dimension	I’d love to see this on Blu-ray, if only for stuff like that Steven Spielberg-directed episode starring Joan Crawford.

03-13-2018, 02:51 PM	#7
AnamorphicWidescreen Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2014	It would be great to see this series on Blu. Though I missed NG when it was first aired (too young), I remember seeing re-runs in the late '80's on network TV. I later enjoyed seeing the three seasons on DVD. Great series, and instead of just being a "Twilight Zone for the '70's", it really had a unique vibe/tone all it's own. I liked the horror/suspense aspect to the show, and thought the paintings that introduced each episode were amazing; though, I always wondered if the paintings were specifically commissioned for the show, or were pre-existing (I couldn't find any info. online about this). It appears that they were pre-existing, but who knows?! Some of my favorite episodes of the series aired during the third season: "Return of the Sorceror" (Excellent!), "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes" (Creepy & Chilling), "The Ring with the Red Velvet Ropes", "Spectre in Tap Shoes", "D. on a Barge", and "Something in the Woodwork". Most of the episodes are permeated with a sense of creepy unease; the show is definitely head & shoulders above many more recent horror anthology TV series.

03-13-2018, 04:04 PM	#9
HotRats Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2009	Just finished watching the DVDs and the comedy stories are excruciating. Best episode for me was The Waiting Room. I'd certainly buy it on blu ray

03-14-2018, 01:47 PM	#11
MJD64 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2016 Blu-ray collection:847 DVD collection:854	I have all three seasons on DVD, but a reasonably priced upgrade to Blu would be sweet; I fear the likely scenario would be a release via Mill Creek, which would also likely mean the smattering of extras done for the DVD's would be omitted (including commentary on several episodes from season 2 from Guillermo del Toro!). Like most anthology shows, this was a mixed-bag but even the lesser episodes have a nostalgic appeal now. I was pretty young when the series first aired, and the music combined with distorted faces and images over the opening credits were enough to freak me out!

04-12-2018, 03:31 AM	#12
Bolty Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Lake Worth Be...ah, no, Fl 4K collection:76 Blu-ray collection:100 Digital collection:93 Trading Score:82	Question for those in the know....... Is there any reason they can't do Blu-ray for NG? Is it all shot and finished on film? Are the elements lost or incomplete? Thanks!

02-26-2019, 01:27 PM	#13
klauswhereareyou Blu-ray Knight Member since:Mar 2012 4K collection:233 Blu-ray collection:2200 Digital collection:25 Prime collection:1	Going through the series right now and find it entertaining. Not on the level of The Twilight Zone or even the horror segments of Thriller, but there are still enough good segments to keep me watching. I'd buy a blu-ray set if the quality was good. Maybe someone like Shout could get their hands on it?

11-04-2020, 01:18 AM	#14
crushersteve Member Member since:Nov 2012 Home Theater Gallery:15 4K collection:523 Blu-ray collection:3914	I would definitely buy this on bluray! Maybe not a masterpiece...but definitely better than most tv shows on bluray.

05-27-2021, 04:45 PM	#15
kirkman1987 Active Member Member since:Dec 2012 4K collection:11 Blu-ray collection:486 DVD collection:13	Thought I’d give my thread a little bump here. It’s been three years since starting this thread and still no Night Gallery. There is a hope that Kino will release Night Gallery as they have stated they have another Universal TV show in the works (they have previously announced Kolchak for this October). I think it’s a good chance but at this point it’s largely wishful thinking. Anyway, something cool we did get get was this book, Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: the Art of Darkness. Hoping a few super fans on the forums have been able to enjoy it.? Really cool to see all the paintings in such high quality

05-28-2021, 04:25 PM	#17
yellowcakeuf6 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2008 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews: 16	The episode segment "A Feast of Blood", with Sandra Locke, haunted my childhood. The DVD set PQ is very good, but should be on Blu-ray by now.

06-01-2021, 05:23 AM	#18
FilmBuff Active Member Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray reviews:7	Received the book. Expensive, but nicely done . The packing and shipping weren't the best though . Had to exchange it due to damage because of poor packing and a too-small box wrapped around the heavy hardcover version my GF bought me. I do really hope someone will do a proper Blu-Ray and or 4K HD of this great series.

06-01-2021, 05:28 AM	#19
FilmBuff Active Member Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray reviews:7	*Tales From the Darkside* restored/remastered on Blu would be sweet too .

06-06-2021, 01:56 AM	#20
VikingHead2000 Active Member Member since:Aug 2020	Love to see this get released on Blu-ray, but I think that’s more likely not to happen. I own the three DVD sets and I’ll happy with those. If it does happen, it’ll most likely be done by Kino or Shout! Factory. Talked with a friend recently who works for Xfinity and it’s coming to the streaming service Peacock in August.

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