These stories from 'One Step Beyond' are presented as factual and you have to wonder if they could possibly have happened. Series host John Newland challenges the viewer to watch and make your own decision but it's tough with an episode like this one when a character appears from the other side as it were, to terrorize an American photographer (Cloris Leachman) on assignment to capture interesting faces on film. I thought this would have been one of Leachman's earliest film credits, but by 1959 she already had a substantial body of work, mostly in TV. After seeing 1971's "The Last Picture Show" I learned that she was a Miss Chicago in 1946 and for some odd reason, I've always remembered that bit of trivia and think about it when I see her in a picture. In any event, her character here narrowly escapes a raving madman who turns on her during a particular sitting, and then discovers that the man died many years ago. He had killed his young wife and apparently returned to the scene of his crime. What bothered me more was why Miss Wallace (Leachman) followed a man, even though he was a detective, to a darkened cemetery in the middle of the night on a hunch he had. In another series, Boris Karloff might have had himself a Thriller.
12 Reviews
"If old houses could only talk, what stories they could tell."
classicsoncall25 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The Photographer
AaronCapenBanner13 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Cloris Leachman plays Rita Wallace, a photographer on assignment in France who wants to find a suitable face to feature in her fashion magazine. She rents out an old house in Paris and believes that the friendly landlady has sent such a person over to her, who is a seemingly friendly but nervous older man whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic, before he tries to kill her. She escapes, but is alarmed to learn that the landlady sent no such man to her place, and the suspect resembles a deceased man who had lived in the house - and murdered his wife... Effective tale is a bit ragged but atmospheric, with fine direction and memorable setting.
Predictable, but, still a good watch!
b_kite23 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Episode 4 starts as young female photojournalist Rita (a young Cloris Leachman) is on assignment in France. She buys an apartment were one night a strange man Jean Gabot (Marcel Dalio) shows up, and Rita begins to take photos of him. However when none of her friends seem to recall recommending him, Rita gets a strange feeling, but, continues to take photographs of him when he shows up at night. Who or what is this mysterious man and what does he want?...
Even tho I predicted this one as soon as the man showed up, I still enjoyed this story. The conclusion is still enjoyable and it was nice to see a young Cloris Leachman. I also find it kind of odd that a strange man walks into your apartment and you seem alright with it!?. Overall and enjoyable if predictable episode.
Even tho I predicted this one as soon as the man showed up, I still enjoyed this story. The conclusion is still enjoyable and it was nice to see a young Cloris Leachman. I also find it kind of odd that a strange man walks into your apartment and you seem alright with it!?. Overall and enjoyable if predictable episode.
Cloris Leachman gives a natural, unaffected yet theatrical performance in this otherwise flat, predictable story
J. Spurlin11 January 2007
An American photographer (Cloris Leachman) in France asks her new landlady (Ann Codee) for models with interesting faces. When a haunted-looking man (Marcel Dalio) shows up in her room she is thrilled; but the reason for his sadness will prove to be as horrible as who—or what—he really is.
Cloris Leachman is a marvelous actress and puts this episode a cut above many others in this series. Her reactions to surprising events—from the water that shoots out of her faucet to the sudden angry passion of her mysterious visitor—seem natural and unrehearsed. She also has an unaffected theatricality; notice the elegant position of her arm as she holds up a negative to the light. The script has one virtue: the dialogue is invariably convincing. Leachman's character always sounds as a real person would when faced with inexplicable occurrences. Otherwise the story is flat and predictable. As soon as Leachman begins taking photos of her weird new model, we already know what she will—and will not—see after she develops those negatives.
Cloris Leachman is a marvelous actress and puts this episode a cut above many others in this series. Her reactions to surprising events—from the water that shoots out of her faucet to the sudden angry passion of her mysterious visitor—seem natural and unrehearsed. She also has an unaffected theatricality; notice the elegant position of her arm as she holds up a negative to the light. The script has one virtue: the dialogue is invariably convincing. Leachman's character always sounds as a real person would when faced with inexplicable occurrences. Otherwise the story is flat and predictable. As soon as Leachman begins taking photos of her weird new model, we already know what she will—and will not—see after she develops those negatives.
Cecile on his mind
sol-kay31 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** American magazine photographer Rita Wallace, Cloris Leachman, on assignment to photograph a person who most represents the face of France finds herself stuck in this small French town with a splitting migraine headache. It seems that the place that Rita rented has somehow effected her mind that's almost driving her crazy.
It's later when Rita is getting her equipment or cameras and film together that his little mosey looking man, Marcel Dalio, pops up out of nowhere as if he materialized from out of thin air! Thinking that the man was sent by her French landlady Madame Morel, Ann Codee, as the person who represents the face of French to photograph Rita snaps a number of photos of the somewhat confused looking man who's a bit weird but seems to be totally harmless to her.
Finding out from Madam Morel that the man she photographed wasn't in fact sent by her to be photographed Rita assumes he was the tenant who lived in the place before her trying to help Rita move in. Still the little guy is such a good subject that Rita decides to use, by photographing, him as her next magazine photo spread. It's when Rita tells the little guy to think of something tragic in his life to get him in the mood for a number of moody and sad looking stills, with him looking like he lost his best and only friend in the world, that he completely goes nuts!
Attacking a startled Rita who for some reason he calls Cecile the berserk man chases Rita into her dark room, that she uses for film development, where she locked herself in until the police Det. Mansac, Paul Dubou, and her landlady Madame Morel arrive! As it turned out this crazy weirdo was never there but only a figment of Rita's imagination. Maybe the result of the headaches she was having! Even when Rita developed the film that she took of the man it showed that he never was there at all!
***SPOILERS**** As we soon find out with the help of Det.Dubou that the little guy named Jean Gabot actually existed and lived in the same house that Rita was living in. But that was some 40 years ago! That's when he caught his wife Cecile cheating on him and ended up strangling her with the very rope he tried to strangle Rita! And in the end paid with his life, by being executed, for it!
It's later when Rita is getting her equipment or cameras and film together that his little mosey looking man, Marcel Dalio, pops up out of nowhere as if he materialized from out of thin air! Thinking that the man was sent by her French landlady Madame Morel, Ann Codee, as the person who represents the face of French to photograph Rita snaps a number of photos of the somewhat confused looking man who's a bit weird but seems to be totally harmless to her.
Finding out from Madam Morel that the man she photographed wasn't in fact sent by her to be photographed Rita assumes he was the tenant who lived in the place before her trying to help Rita move in. Still the little guy is such a good subject that Rita decides to use, by photographing, him as her next magazine photo spread. It's when Rita tells the little guy to think of something tragic in his life to get him in the mood for a number of moody and sad looking stills, with him looking like he lost his best and only friend in the world, that he completely goes nuts!
Attacking a startled Rita who for some reason he calls Cecile the berserk man chases Rita into her dark room, that she uses for film development, where she locked herself in until the police Det. Mansac, Paul Dubou, and her landlady Madame Morel arrive! As it turned out this crazy weirdo was never there but only a figment of Rita's imagination. Maybe the result of the headaches she was having! Even when Rita developed the film that she took of the man it showed that he never was there at all!
***SPOILERS**** As we soon find out with the help of Det.Dubou that the little guy named Jean Gabot actually existed and lived in the same house that Rita was living in. But that was some 40 years ago! That's when he caught his wife Cecile cheating on him and ended up strangling her with the very rope he tried to strangle Rita! And in the end paid with his life, by being executed, for it!
Fooled me and it's 50 years later
rob_lou5 February 2009
I have to say that even though I knew something was fishy, this still got me. Cloris Leachman is the best. WOW she was and still is a beautiful woman. Good on her.
I love this series. Glad to say I remember it always because it was made way before I was born and I remember watching reruns on WPIX in New York as a kid......scary series but not in a frightful way more in a strange way. As I understand they are based on real events.
I don't think there is another series like this one.
I would love to see the whole series again as I don't remember them all. It is a kick to see these actors at such a young age.
I love this series. Glad to say I remember it always because it was made way before I was born and I remember watching reruns on WPIX in New York as a kid......scary series but not in a frightful way more in a strange way. As I understand they are based on real events.
I don't think there is another series like this one.
I would love to see the whole series again as I don't remember them all. It is a kick to see these actors at such a young age.
One of The Scariest Scenes I've Ever Seen on TV
jr-565-263668 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This episode features a very gorgeous looking Cloris Leachman and one of the scariest visions of evil I have ever seen portrayed on TV. Ms. Leachman plays an American photographer looking to photograph local residents in rural France for a magazine. After asking her landlady to refer potential subjects, a man (Marcel Dalio) suddenly appears in her studio whom she presumes was sent by her landlady.
As she proceeds to photograph the man, she asks that he remember something sad or something he did that he now "regrets" so that she could capture his expression on film. Right before your very eyes, this benign, harmless looking man turns into the most frightful expression of evil I have ever seen. He flies into a rage and attempts to kill Ms. Leachman.
She manages to escape by locking herself in her darkroom, but when the police arrive, no one believes her story because no one recognizes the man she describes. When she develops the photos, the chair the man sat on is empty.
However, an understanding detective shows her a photograph of a man who died in 1926 whom she recognizes as the man who tried to kill her. The detective goes on to tell Ms. Leachman that the man was executed in 1926 for murdering his wife in the very same room that serves as her studio.
Many reviewers of this episode have raved about Ms. Leachman's acting and beauty. She was Miss Chicago 1946 and almost 13 years later, she is in her early 30s and still looking gorgeous in the fashions she wore for this episode. However, in my opinion Marcel Dalio steals the show by simply changing the expression on his face. The French character actor appeared in many notable movies such as Casablanca, Sabrina, To Have and Have Not and Donovan's Reef (as the lovable priest). A superb actor, without saying a word he displays true acting ability in this episode that few possess.
The series was always one of my favorites that featured compelling stories on par with and sometimes better than the Twilight Zone. I loved both shows and watch them every chance I get.
As she proceeds to photograph the man, she asks that he remember something sad or something he did that he now "regrets" so that she could capture his expression on film. Right before your very eyes, this benign, harmless looking man turns into the most frightful expression of evil I have ever seen. He flies into a rage and attempts to kill Ms. Leachman.
She manages to escape by locking herself in her darkroom, but when the police arrive, no one believes her story because no one recognizes the man she describes. When she develops the photos, the chair the man sat on is empty.
However, an understanding detective shows her a photograph of a man who died in 1926 whom she recognizes as the man who tried to kill her. The detective goes on to tell Ms. Leachman that the man was executed in 1926 for murdering his wife in the very same room that serves as her studio.
Many reviewers of this episode have raved about Ms. Leachman's acting and beauty. She was Miss Chicago 1946 and almost 13 years later, she is in her early 30s and still looking gorgeous in the fashions she wore for this episode. However, in my opinion Marcel Dalio steals the show by simply changing the expression on his face. The French character actor appeared in many notable movies such as Casablanca, Sabrina, To Have and Have Not and Donovan's Reef (as the lovable priest). A superb actor, without saying a word he displays true acting ability in this episode that few possess.
The series was always one of my favorites that featured compelling stories on par with and sometimes better than the Twilight Zone. I loved both shows and watch them every chance I get.
Wow What a Set!
artpf6 October 2013
I will start by saying my review is clouded by discovering an exceedingly young and ravishingly gorgeous Cloris Leachman. My god she was hot.
That said, you can't expect much from these types of TV shows. Basically Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, etc.etc. They all are more or less predictable.
An American photographer in a very tight clingy dress (Cloris Leachman) in France asks her new landlady (Ann Codee) for models with interesting faces. When a haunted-looking man (Marcel Dalio) shows up in her room she is thrilled; but the reason for his sadness will prove to be as horrible as who—or what—he really is.
That said, you can't expect much from these types of TV shows. Basically Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, etc.etc. They all are more or less predictable.
An American photographer in a very tight clingy dress (Cloris Leachman) in France asks her new landlady (Ann Codee) for models with interesting faces. When a haunted-looking man (Marcel Dalio) shows up in her room she is thrilled; but the reason for his sadness will prove to be as horrible as who—or what—he really is.
This one would have caused a few sleepless nights.
Sleepin_Dragon22 May 2024
American photographer Rita Wallace takes up a position in France, her mission to photograph an ordinary Frenchman, one with a characterful face, all is arranged, and an interesting man appears, however, all is not as it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, yet again, so far ahead of its time, The Dark Room is a mystery, but there are definitely horror elements here, elements which make it quite a chilling watch.
Sure the story is a little predictable now, but for 1959, this was ahead of its time.
That scene where Rita is tormented by Jean Gabot, fantastic, and those screams were very realistic.
Quality performances, Cloris Leachman was excellent, she plays the part with absolute sincerity, but never overdoes it, Marcel Dalio, who did indeed have a fascinating face, adds a real menace.
Quality viewing.
8/10.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, yet again, so far ahead of its time, The Dark Room is a mystery, but there are definitely horror elements here, elements which make it quite a chilling watch.
Sure the story is a little predictable now, but for 1959, this was ahead of its time.
That scene where Rita is tormented by Jean Gabot, fantastic, and those screams were very realistic.
Quality performances, Cloris Leachman was excellent, she plays the part with absolute sincerity, but never overdoes it, Marcel Dalio, who did indeed have a fascinating face, adds a real menace.
Quality viewing.
8/10.
Cloris Leachman in France
wes-connors28 June 2009
American photographer Cloris Leachman (as Rita Wallace) is on assignment in France, looking for faces to photograph for her magazine. Suffering from inexplicable headaches, Leachman says she he wants to capture "the spirit of the country." The mysterious Marcel Dalio (as Jean Gabot) shows up quite suddenly, in her apartment; and, Ms. Leachman assumes he's one of the French models promised by landlady Ann Codee (as Madame Morel). She's wrong, of course
Finding post-"Lassie" dramatic work, Leachman is wonderful. But, the story is amusingly predictable... to a fault.
**** The Dark Room (2/10/59) John Newland ~ Cloris Leachman, Marcel Dalio, Ann Codee
**** The Dark Room (2/10/59) John Newland ~ Cloris Leachman, Marcel Dalio, Ann Codee
The Dark Room
Prismark1024 May 2023
It's the Dark Room in several senses. Photojournalist Rita Wallace (Cloris Leachman) on a visit to France for a photo assignment.
While staying in her new apartment, a strange melancholic man suddenly turns up one night. He is Jean Gabot (Marcel Dalio) and she assumes that her landlady has sent him as a model.
On another occasion, Gabot becomes disturbed and begins to attack Jean. She goes to the police and when asked for his description, she develops the picture she took of Gabot. They show no figure of him.
It looks like Gabot does not exist in this town, no one has seen him. One policeman thinks he has the answer.
There were no surprises here. Once Gabot turns up, you think she might be a figment of Rita's imagination. Especially as Rita suffers from headaches.
At times Leachman's acting does border on the hysterical.
While staying in her new apartment, a strange melancholic man suddenly turns up one night. He is Jean Gabot (Marcel Dalio) and she assumes that her landlady has sent him as a model.
On another occasion, Gabot becomes disturbed and begins to attack Jean. She goes to the police and when asked for his description, she develops the picture she took of Gabot. They show no figure of him.
It looks like Gabot does not exist in this town, no one has seen him. One policeman thinks he has the answer.
There were no surprises here. Once Gabot turns up, you think she might be a figment of Rita's imagination. Especially as Rita suffers from headaches.
At times Leachman's acting does border on the hysterical.
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