Nightmare Classics
| Nightmare Classics | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Shelley Duvall's Nightmare Classics |
| Directed by |
Graeme Clifford Gabrielle Beaumont Michael Lindsay-Hogg Noel Black |
| Starring |
Amy Irving Meg Tilly Anthony Andrews C. Thomas Howell |
| Narrated by | Linda Hunt |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Shelley Duvall |
| Producer(s) |
Shelley Duvall Bridget Terry |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Think Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | Showtime |
| Original release | August 12 – November 26, 1989 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Tall Tales & Legends |
Nightmare Classics (also known as Shelley Duvall's Nightmare Classics) is a 1989 horror anthology television series created, produced and executive produced by Shelley Duvall featuring adaptations of well-known horror stories by authors including Henry James, Sheridan Le Fanu, Robert Louis Stevenson and Ambrose Bierce. Following her success with Faerie Tale Theatre and Tall Tales & Legends – both of which were aimed at the elementary-school set – Duvall attempted to branch out to the teenage and adult audience with Nightmare Classics.
Nightmare Classics originally aired on Showtime from August 12 to November 26, 1989. Although planned as a six-episode series, only four episodes were ultimately produced and it was the least successful series that Duvall produced for Showtime. [1]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Adapted by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Turn of the Screw" | Graeme Clifford | James M. Miller, Robert Hutchison | August 12, 1989 |
|
A young governess on her first assignment at Bly Manor estate is hired to look after two neglected children, who show signs of having been corrupted by the evil influence of the manor's resident ghost. The governess becomes obsessed with saving the children from what she sees as a mortal threat to their very souls. Cast: Amy Irving (The Governess), David Hemmings (Mr. Harley), Micole Mercurio (Mrs. Gross), Balthazar Getty (Miles) | ||||
| 2 | "Carmilla" | Gabrielle Beaumont | Jonathan Furst | September 10, 1989 |
|
Marie is a lonely girl living with her overbearing father on a plantation during the Civil War era. Their placid lives are invaded when they rescue a sole survivor from a carriage wreck: a mysterious woman named Carmilla who is believed to be a vampire when bodies start turning up with holes in their neck. Cast: Meg Tilly (Carmilla), Ione Skye (Marie), Roy Dotrice (Leo), Roddy McDowall (Inspector Amos) | ||||
| 3 | "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" | Michael Lindsay-Hogg | J. Michael Straczynski | October 29, 1989 |
|
Henry Jekyll, a shy and unassuming doctor who is obsessed with the idea of separating the good from the evil within humans by using the chemical concoctions he made. He is also obviously attracted to Rebecca, daughter of the head teacher of the medical school he works for, but the timid doctor just cannot say so until he himself drinks the portion to become Mr. Edward Hyde, handsome and confident gentleman whose wish should never be denied. Cast: Anthony Andrews (Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde), Nicholas Guest (Richard), George Murdock (Professor Laymon), Laura Dern (Rebecca) | ||||
| 4 | "The Eyes of the Panther" | Noel Black | Art Wallace | November 26, 1989 |
|
A crusty Old West hermit relates the story of the eerie experiences of a Midwestern pioneer family whose home was invaded by a mysterious panther. But in the years that follow, an unnatural curse haunts the family's beautiful daughter, Irene, who finds herself answering the call of primordial, inhuman instincts. Cast: C. Thomas Howell (Jenner Brading), Daphne Zuniga (Irene Marlowe), John Stockwell (Malcolm Barrington) | ||||
Home media releases
Following their initial broadcast on Showtime, all four episodes of Nightmare Classics were released as a stand-alone VHS in 1990 by Cannon Video.
See also
References
External links
- Nightmare Classics at the Internet Movie Database
- The Turn of the Screw at the Internet Movie Database
- Carmilla at the Internet Movie Database
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the Internet Movie Database
- The Eyes of the Panther at the Internet Movie Database