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THRILLER: THE GRIM REAPER (TV)

Summary

One in this series of dramas hosted by Boris Karloff.

In France in 1848, the artist Henri Radin hangs himself after completing his final painting: an unsettling image of the Grim Reaper. In modern times in California, Paul Graves visits his aunt Beatrice, a wealthy, eccentric mystery writer. She habitually buys morbid and death-centric paraphernalia in order to further her public image as a "character." Paul meets Beatrice's latest husband, a television actor named Gerald Keller. Paul gets his autograph for his landlady's daughter. Beatrice also introduces Paul to her secretary Dorothy Lyndon, who tells her that the staff have been quitting because of "it." "It" is soon revealed to be Radin's painting, which Beatrice recently purchased.

Paul reveals that his visit concerns the painting; he wants Beatrice to get rid of it due to its supposedly cursed nature. He explains that nearly everyone who owned the painting over the years met with an unfortunate end. Beatrice responds that she bought the painting for that very purpose: she hopes to use her ownership of the painting for publicity. Paul elaborates that the painting supposedly "warns" its owners of their impending death by means of a stigmata, specifically dripping real blood from the blade of the scythe in the painting. As he explains this he reaches over to the painting and apparently wipes some blood off of the scythe, seemingly proving the story true. Everyone is unnerved by this development. Dorothy tries to call a doctor to calm Beatrice, as she has been drinking heavily since the reveal of the stigmata. However, Gerald prevents her from doing so; he only married Beatrice for her money and is in love with Dorothy. He tries to force himself on her but she protests and he leaves her alone; unbeknownst to them Beatrice is listening in on them.

Paul speaks to Dorothy and they talk about Beatrice's recent drinking problem. He wants to get rid of the painting, fearing the worst. He is deeply concerned about Beatrice, since she is his only living relative. Dorothy believes he can convince Beatrice to get rid of it, and he finds her in the library staring at the painting. She is quite drunk and ignores his pleas to get rid of the painting, believing that Gerald and Dorothy are conspiring to either kill her or get her sent away to a sanitarium. Later that night, everyone wakes up to discover that Beatrice has apparently fallen down the stairs to her death. The police rule it an accidental death but Dorothy believes the painting was involved somehow, although the police can find no evidence of any blood on the painting. Dorothy suspects that Gerald might have murdered Beatrice to get access to her fortune, but before she can pursue the matter further, Gerald brings Beatrice's lawyer in to read her will. In her will Beatrice leaves her estate to Gerald.

Dorothy leaves for the weekend, leaving Paul and Gerald alone in the house together. That night, Gerald cannot sleep and Paul gives him a sleeping pill. Paul reveals that there was no blood on the painting and that he only made it appear that way in order to generate fear. He reveals that he was the one who killed Beatrice for her money, but that Gerald received the estate instead. The "sleeping pill" kills Gerald, and Paul has already prepared a suicide note-cum- confession to Beatrice's murder complete with Gerald's signature, which he obtained earlier. The police take Gerald's body away, leaving Paul the sole heir to Beatrice's estate. As he inspects the painting again, the faces of Beatrice and Gerald seem to be superimposed on the skull of the Grim Reaper. Dorothy returns and wishes to destroy the painting, but Paul reveals his plot to her, offering to share his newfound fortune with her if she keeps the matter secret. She runs out and locks him in the library while she gets the police. The Grim Reaper appears to come out of the painting and attack Paul, slicing his throat with its scythe. Dorothy and the police return to find Paul's dead body, and they notice the Grim Reaper painting has blood trickling down the blade of the scythe. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: June 13, 1961 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:49:38
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: B:55491
  • GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1960-1962
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • William Frye … Producer
  • Herschel Daugherty … Director
  • Robert Bloch … Writer
  • Robert Bloch … Based on a short story by
  • Jerry Goldsmith … Music by
  • Boris Karloff … Host
  • William Shatner … Cast, Paul Graves
  • Natalie Schafer … Cast, Beatrice Graves
  • Elizabeth Allen … Cast, Dorothy Lyndon
  • Scott Merrill … Cast, Gerald Keller
  • Fifi D'Orsay … Cast, Toinette
  • Henry Daniell … Cast, Pierre Radin
  • Paul Newlan … Cast, Sgt. Bernstein
  • Robert Cornthwaite … Cast, Mr. Phillips