THRILLER: THE LAST OF THE SOMMERVILLES (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas hosted by Boris Karloff. This episode revolves around the "slowly dwindling" Sommerville clan and Ursula Sommerville's dogged determination to become the last living member of her family, and thus the sole possessor of the family fortune. The program begins as Rutherford Sommerville arrives at the family's foreboding home to visit his Aunt Celia and offer her "a business proposition." He is also surprised to learn that someone else is residing in the house: Ursula, his distant cousin. Later, after Ursula has wielded her influence, Celia decides not to cut Rutherford a $1,000 check for his business venture. He becomes quite angered, as Ursula intended. Then, Ursula -- Celia's sole beneficiary -- offers an enraged Rutherford a deal: She will give Rutherford $20,000 of her inheritance if he helps to murder their aunt. However, a kink seems to be thrown into the proceedings when an old friend of Celia's, Dr. Farnham, comes for a visit. But Ursula plots a way to use Farnham's arrival to their advantage. Rutherford's murder of his aunt goes according to plan, but then a mysterious and damning note arrives in the mailbox and the plotting, potentially paranoid cousins begin to wonder if they will need to murder another person. As suspects for the blackmailer's identity increase, the cousins begin to doubt each other, leading to yet more twists before "the last of the Sommervilles" is ultimately determined. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 6, 1961 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:24
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:48384
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Ida Lupino)
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1960-1962
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- William Frye … Producer
- Doug Benton … Associate Producer
- Ida Lupino … Director, Writer
- R.M.H. Lupino … Writer
- Jerry Goldsmith … Music by
- Boris Karloff … Host, Cast, Doctor Farnham
- Phyllis Thaxter … Cast, Ursula Sommerville
- Martita Hunt … Cast, Celia Sommerville
- Chet Stratton … Cast, Mr. Parchester
- Peter Walker … Cast, Rutherford Sommerville