Watch Rod Serling's Night Gallery
- TV-PG
- 1969
- 1 Season
-
7.9 (6,340)
Rod Serling's Night Gallery is an American television anthology series that aired on NBC from 1969 to 1973. The show was created by Rod Serling, who is also known for creating and hosting the iconic series The Twilight Zone. Night Gallery is a horror and suspense series, where every episode starts with an eerie painting that serves as the premise of each story.
The show's opening credits sequence features eerie, Gothic images accompanied by some of composer Bernard Herrmann's most haunting music. The opening narration, delivered by Rod Serling himself, sets the tone with his unmistakable voice: "Good evening, and welcome to a private showing of three paintings, displayed here for the first time. Each is a collector's item in its own way - not because of any special artistic quality, but because each captures on a canvas, suspended in time and space, a frozen moment of a nightmare."
Once the introduction ends, the painting suddenly comes to life, changing the genre of the series from art house to horror. The first episode, titled "The Cemetery," is about a man who walks through a graveyard and becomes trapped inside a mausoleum. The second episode, "Eyes," deals with an impatient doctor who performs an experimental surgery on a blind patient. Other episodes feature chilling suspense stories, often with a supernatural twist that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.
Night Gallery is a series that focuses on dread and suspense rather than outright horror. Many of the stories are psychological in nature, relying on atmosphere and tension to create fear in the viewer. The show is also notable for its use of surprise endings, often with a twist that shocks the audience. These twists are typical of Rod Serling's writing style, which was also used in The Twilight Zone.
Unlike The Twilight Zone, which was mostly science fiction, Night Gallery's stories are rooted in the supernatural and the macabre. They often feature ghosts, witches, and curses, adding a creepy ambiance to the show that makes the viewer feel like they are watching a horror movie from the comfort of their own home.
The series has an impressive cast of guest stars, including many well-known actors such as Vincent Price, Burgess Meredith, and Barbara Eden. One of the most memorable episodes of the series is "The Caterpillar," in which Laurence Harvey stars as a man who becomes obsessed with a deadly insect.
Another notable feature of Night Gallery is the artwork that introduces each episode. The paintings are created by well-known artists such as Tom Wright, who created the show's iconic image of a sinister, grinning clown. The use of art as the basis for each episode lends a unique sophistication to the show, elevating it above standard horror fare.
In addition to the artwork, Night Gallery also features a musical score composed by the legendary Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann is perhaps best known for his work on Alfred Hitchcock's films, including Psycho and Vertigo. His rich, dramatic music adds tension and emotion to each episode, helping to ramp up the suspense and horror in just the right moments.
Night Gallery ran for three seasons on NBC and was eventually canceled due to low ratings. However, the show remains a cult classic among horror and sci-fi fans, and its influence can be seen in many contemporary horror series and films. Rod Serling's unique brand of suspense and terror, along with the show's atmospheric music and iconic artwork, make Night Gallery a classic of the horror genre, celebrated even today.