Reader's Recollections
Reproduced here are extracts from just some of the hundreds of letters from people that I have received (plus a few competition entries), revealing how Thriller has made an indelible mark on viewers from all over the world in both English and non-English speaking countries. It is also clearly remembered fondly by both sexes, and several people have also commented that their young children are hooked on it too!
I have removed any personal information from these recollections; however if anyone objects to their remarks being reproduced here then please let me know and I will remove them.
My immense gratitude goes to everyone who has ever written a word of encouragement or thanks, and also to those who have written in to share valuable information with other readers. When I first joined the internet in 2000, there was barely any mention of the series anywhere, let alone any factual documentation. Now many tv websites are at last listing the programme in their guides, and lapsed fans everywhere are rediscovering this supposedly "forgotten" gem. And most importantly of all, the series is now being given a dvd release on three continents - a scenario that would have been utterly inconceivable only a few years ago.
I grew up in the 70's and remember looking forward to
watching this with my Mom every week, we loved it. Sadly she's
not here any more but I just know how many memories are going to
come flooding back when I get these fantastic stories on DVD next
year. I was a kid but I remember them being original, scary and
very, very good. Your website is tremendous and I found it
easily. Well done and thanks so much. Gabrielle H.
I'm a Thriller fan from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I would like to
thank you for your marvellous website, which I've enjoyed so
much. I've found it thanks to a British friend of mine, who help
me to remember the name of the TV show after all these year.
Thriller was aired in Argentina during the middle-late seventies
and despite it was transmitted with the original music theme and
"fisheye lens" titles, the name "Thriller"
was wiped out and substituted for the Spanish one, TENSIÓN. The
anthology always seemed a gem, one of the best British TV
productions ever. It had a unique style and a subtle yet
effective way to create different atmospheres and states of minds
in the audience. I really loved it. Carlos P.
I've just seen and been very impressed by the website -
congratulations. It's been long overdue. I've been trying to get
details on the series for years, but I feared it was just lost,
given the apparent lack of interest on cult TV websites. When
Laurie Johnson was spoken of, it was merely for The Avengers or
This Is Your Life themes, but never for his finest moment, the
signature to the greatest credits sequence in television history.
I got the impression that I was the only person who remembered
the programme. I think it's fair to say that my first exposure to
Thriller (the "Possession" episode in April 1973) was a
life-changing moment. I was 9 years old and my parents were too
busy installing some "Ladderex" furniture to bother
about me watching TV past 9 pm. It completely opened up my
imagination. I was so enthusiastic that my parents were happy for
me to watch subsequent episodes. It's good to see there is indeed
still a following for a truly "cult" TV series. Again,
congratulations. Alex
First can I say a very big thank you for all the hard work you
have put into making your totally wonderful "Thriller"
site? I began to think it was only me and my cousin who could
remember "Thriller". We used to love watching it when
we were about 9 years old in the 1970s. We loved the spooky theme
tune! We always said it sounded like our church organist playing
the piano and being pushed down the stairs at the same time :-) I
managed to catch a couple of repeats on the old style
"Bravo" on Sky but that began to think I would never
see the show or hear that creepy music ever again. I did a search
on Ebay and managed to get the two videos. Then I found your site
:-) Wow! It is so interesting and very well laid out! The episode
I remember best is "Sleepwalker". I have told people
about the story but they always say "Mmm that sounds good
but I NEVER saw it!" I began to think I had dreamed it!!
Thanks for a great site. Can't wait until the DVD come out! Paul
T.
My name is Gonzalo, I'm fro Ecuador. Since I was a kid, I
saw many chapters of this fantastic TV Series Thriller. Gonzalo
J.
What a wonderful website and what a surprise to learn that two of
my favorite suspense films (See No Evil , And Soon The Darkness)
were penned by Brian Clemens ! I have only recently rediscovered
Thriller and was am pleased to hear that it will be officially
released in September of 2004. I still remember watching Thriller
on late night television and being absolutely glued to the
screen. Reading your synopses brings back such wonderful
memories. Thank you ! Susan D.
Thanks for putting together a great 'THRILLER' website. I've been
a long time fan of the series since it was first aired way back
in 1973. Interestingly enough my most vivid memories of Thriller
are of the opening titles - that strange "ball" effect
gave me nightmares!!!!! Your wealth of information on your site
led me to a film I'd not heard of before - 'And Soon The
Darkness'. I rushed over to Virgin during my lunch break today to
pick up the DVD - can't wait to get home and watch it tonight! Kevin
H.
Thanks for the brilliant 'Thriller' site - particularly
worthwhile is the detailed listing for each episode. I
desperately need to see this series again. I only got to see it
on it's original run and I have strong memories of it, but only
fragmented parts from various episodes. It was easily my
favourite programme when it was shown, nothing since has matched
it for suspense & eerie atmosphere. I was a teenager at the
time and usually saw it while babysitting for neighbours, so I
was in someone else's house & effectively 'alone'. This added
to the unsettling feeling created by the programe. Keep up the
good work. Like many others, it seems, I pray for the day that
someone has the vision to release all available episodes on DVD. Adrian
T.
Although very young when Thriller started (I'm now 35) I've often
thought of the series over the years. I was a spoilt child
to say the least and was always allowed to watch what I wanted,
which included the fabulous Thriller. One episode stands out -
"I'm The Girl He Wants to Kill". I found it absolutely
terrifying and had nightmares for weeks after, I was convinced
the killer was going to get hold of me somehow. Your website is
truly a thriller! Brenda J.
I had to e-mail you after I looked at your site devoted to
Thriller. I love this series, I'm 31 years old and I remember
watching some of the episodes on tv here in Illinois when I was
about 9 or 10. I used to watch this on Saturday nights, right
after Saturday Night Live, on the local NBC Affiliate, this was a
great show, very suspenseful, very eerie ,the music, the acting,
I personally liked the fact that this was shot on videotape, I
think it made it seem more suspenseful, although some people
today would fault that, I think they used videotape because it
was a British show, and it was low budget, but that doesen't make
this show any less great. I hope that it is restored to its
original British version, with the British titles, and released
on dvd. Brian G.
As a boy I used to love it when the trailer would advertise a new
series of Thriller (the trailer would be the red fisheye with a
mouth screaming). I remember so many and would discuss the most
recent episode with my mates at school the following Monday. One
Deadly Owner is the one that everyone nowadays remembers 'cos of
the white roller in the story. I have the two vids officially
released and "Come Out ,Come Out, Wherever you Are" and
The Colour of Blood" on video from the Bravo repeats. I also
have the two books from the 70's. It will always be one of my
most loved and vivid memories as a kid. John G.
Thanks for the site - terrific to relive those memories when ITV
had a decent Saturday night TV programme. Dave T.
Hi, thank you for the two minute clip of "I'm The Girl He
Wants To Kill". I remember this as one of the most
suspenseful movies I had ever seen. It was so great to see your
site on this. Cathy D.
What a fantastic site. Thriller was essential viewing for me and
my two brothers on a Saturday night, a special treat if we
behaved. the most vivid story I remember was Possession. The
creepy house and the haunting melody "Greensleeves"
stayed with me for a long time. It also brought about my refusal
to venture down my gran's cellar for a long time after as I was
certain she had a psychic buried down there too. Seeing a few of
the episodes on bravo a few years back brought back terrifyingly
happy memories. Keep up the good work. Jon P.
Just discovered your THRILLER site and am amazed at all the
detail. Being an 'old timer' I can remember watching all of the
original Saturday evening UK screenings, I never missed a single
one, even the inferior Yorkshire programme 'Who Killed
Lamb?" which as I remember was tagged onto the end of a run
under the heading of THRILLER! Do you also remember 'The Eyes
Have It' winning some kind of television award? I do, as I can
remember watching it again about a year after it's original
broadcast, the only episode - to my knowledge - to be repeated at
the time. I recall wanting to see my favourite episode 'Someone
at the Top of the Stairs' repeated so I could see it again as it
frightened hell out of me the first time. This however didn't
occur until 1984 in our region. I was also highly delighted when
the proper version was released as a VHS cassette. Rosalyn
C.
I just want to say that "Thriller" was shown in Spain,
in the (then) only one broadcast (TVE, and I think it was in
TVE1). It's just a slight and vague memory I have, but I think it
was released in the last 70s, early 80s. Spanish title was
TENSIÓN. Since then, I've been trying to find a single cue about
the show, and I didn't found it 'till now, in your website. I
work in TV, and I had the chance to look for tapes of
THRILLER/TENSIÓN in TVE archives; there were no sight of them,
so it'd probably be erased too (in Spanish TVE erasing of old
tapes was a policy, too). Pablo O.
I just discovered your excellent 'Thriller' website today - well
done. Thriller is the coolest programme - ever! Seriously,
Thriller is probably, at a pinch, my favourite TV series of all
time. It was always an absolute joy to watch - the creepy,
brooding music & locations, coupled with the ingenious
scripts and guest stars made for an unforgettable way to finish
Saturday evenings in the mid-seventies. I can still remember the
anticipation of watching a new story unfolding before my eyes.
Many of my friends are fans too - and also my seven year-old son!
If only it could be 'networked' on Saturday evenings now - it's
the antithesis of the endless juvenile pap & 'reality'
programmes we have to endure these days. Maybe the series would
have better long-term life if it had been shot on film, as
opposed to videotape? Who knows. Anyway, keep up the excellent
work with the website - and the episode guide is indispensable.
Thanks so much. Thriller rules!!! Steve C.
Just discovered your website, and I must say it's brilliant!
Earlier today, my mom and I were discussing movies and recalled
Someone At the Top of the Stairs. I decided to do an internet
search to see if I could obtain a copy of the teleplay, and links
led me to your "marvellous" site! I first saw Someone
At the Top of the Stairs in 1973. At that time, I was seven years
old (!) It was telecast on ABC late night here in America as part
of the ABC's Wide World of Entertainment program. I found it
suitably (and memorably) creepy. Eight years later in late 1981,
it turned up again on Chicago's independent station WGN-TV as
part of their late-night movie series. I vividly recall staying
up until three AM on a school night to watch with my mother. I
remembered it instantly from my initial viewing way back in 1973.
However, it was NOT until tonight that I realized it -as well as
many other telefilms I'd loved as a child- were in fact part of a
British TV series entitled Thriller! The funny thing is, my
mother only saw this one time in 1981. Even after 22 years, when
something spooky or odd occurs, she'll affect a dazed look on her
face and say, "Marvelloussss" -just as they did in the
telefilm. Obviously it has had an impact on many people, as it
appears quite frequently in your reader's poll of favorite
episodes. I'm having a ball perusing your website and learning so
much information about telefilms I enjoyed so very long ago. It's
even more delightful to realize others continue to appreciate
these programs, too. I seem to be one of the few who even
remember the old Wide World of Entertainment. I can tell you that
the "fisheye credits" were retained, as well as Laurie
Johnson's memorable theme. Both of those initially drew me to the
series of films. As a youngster, distorted camera angles and
discordant music always disturbed me, but I loved every second. I
did not realize that these films were part of a series. I knew
they had a similar format, the same production values, and were
all produced by ATV, but I was a kid and simply assumed that this
was a standard practice for the production company (much like the
similarity Hammer produced films). Of course, the Thriller films
were interspersed with American-produced knock-offs (also
recorded on videotape) and other British telefilms (American Dark
Shadows producer Dan Curtis did several adaptations of classics,
one of the most memorable being a multi-part adaptation of The
Picture of Dorian Gray starring Shane Briant). Thanks So Much for
the trip down memory lane. Mark F.
I am from the Philippines and just wanted to let you know that
"Thriller" was an immense and almost indelible part of
my childhood, as much as "UFO", "The
Professionals" (Doyle and Bodie) and "The Night
Stalker" was. In manila, "Thriller" was lamely
re-titled "Sunday Suspense Theatre" but I still
remember it fondly. The theme music has permanently set up camp
in my consciousness and so has the name of Brian Clemens. I have
a few favorite episodes (haunted car, girl on wheelchair stalked
by killer in empty apartment, "Nurse Will Make It
Better", blind kids stopping an assassination attempt etc.
etc.) whose titles I'll be checking out. Just wanted to let you
know there's a fan on the other side of the world and was
wondering if A & E or any other enterprising video company
has a DVd set of this in the pipeline? The show was ;pretty
popular back then. It ran for a good three or four years then was
revived later on, on another day, and retitled, I think
"Thursday Suspense Theatre". It had a brief revival
after that as an afternoon program. I think the programs were
aired as is, not dubbed nor subtitled. I've been trying to get
some info on these shows for ages and I just stumbled , by happy
accident, on your site. It's been a revelation and a delight. Eduardo
D.
What an excellent web sight! Ironically I was looking on the
Internet about the 1980's series "Tales of the
unexpected" when I came across yours. Just reading about
some of the episodes has brought back some great memories of
Saturday evenings back in the 70's. The thing I liked about
thriller was it was either supernatural, crime, mystery or a
combination of all three which had twists in them. Although only
ten years old when thriller started I could normally predict
which characters were going to get 'done in' but was often
surprised by the who the killers or the evildoers would be. It
was great to see normally 'goody-goody' characters such as Gary
Collins, or 'too good to be true' Christopher George and the
'mild mannered' John Le Mesurier turn out to be the bad guys.
Being so young at the time I am prepared to admit that often I
went to bet with a light on in my room after watching thriller
i.e."someone at the top of the stairs" in particular
gave me the willies! Another episode that I found traumatizing
was "Screamer" and "Nurse will make it
better". My parents even tried to ban me watching the show
when they discovered that I was not sleeping too well afterwards!
Graham W.
I always remember Thriller on TV and how scary it was to watch
but couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The music well eerie
just thinking about it now makes me want to keep all the lights
on when I go to bed. Great to see a web site going for the show
and the news about its release on DVD. Amazing I did`nt
know that Brian Clemens and Laurie Johnson were involved. Melvin.
I watched this great series of films in Canada when I was young
and I adore it. Alain C
I came across your site purely by chance after logging onto
a Classic TV forum. I've been a big fan of Thriller for a number
of years and it's wonderful to finally see a website dedicated to
this brilliant programme - and what a website! I have just spent
the last hour or so reading through the various pages, catching
up on the background history of the show and learning of the
various versions of the episodes that exist. Some of the opening
titles to the 'movie' versions are simply laughable - completely
over the top and not 'frightening' at all - especially those ones
by Dolphin Productions(!) Whoever designed the Murder Motel
titles must've been on some kind of illegal substance! I hope
that Carlton in the UK give the original ATV Thriller series the
honour of a DVD release. I for one, would have no problem
whatsoever buying the complete box set (likely to be on 14 or 15
discs and retail for well over £200). Another Thriller-type
series I enjoyed was Thames TV's 'Armchair Thriller'. The episode
'Quiet As A Nun' still haunts a lot of people (even though it's
never been repeated since its original transmission). Mark
McM.
Having been a researcher and collector of classic television for
years, I have to say that your website is fantastic, informative
and beautifully researched. I am myself an avid Thriller fan,
having stumbled across two video's in a store back in 1993, from
then I have never looked back. Steve B.
My name is Gianluca and I live in Rome, Italy. I've seen THRILLER
many years ago on RTI, an local television of Rome and i loved
this series. Thanks for your "memory-archive"! Gianluca
Saw your great site - Brilliant! I am in the UK. If ever any of
the episodes are aired, please advertise that on your site and I
hope the series makes it to DVD. Mark
Just wanted to write and say thanks for a fantastic web site. I
was a fan of thriller in the early 70's and grew up with them. I
have searched for ages on the internet in the past and found
nothing about them. Now, at last, I have found your brilliant
site and read story summaries that reminded me of all the
nightmares I had as a kid! Roger H.
Just a short e-mail to say how much I have enjoyed going through
your Thriller website. It brought back a lot of memories. I first
started watching Thriller in 1975 - the first episode I saw was
the one with Judy Geeson and the disappearing body on the train.
After that I watched it regularly until its demise in 1976. Many
of them were shown in their American format on ITV during the
1980s; I preferred the English version with the spooky intro. My
favourite episode and the one which scared me the most was 'Dial
A Deadly Number'. I'll never forget that sequence where Peter
Schofield - as the mild-mannered detective - walked up the stairs
and straight towards the camera lens, blotting out everything
else, only to stumble back seconds later - his shirt blood-soaked
and a look of surprise and horror on his face. He then tumbled
down the stairs dead and a hand is shown holding a blood-stained
dagger. I didn't sleep too well that night I remember. Jimmy
K. (Ireland)
Thanks for your great website. The series is one of the best I
have ever seen. (unknown)
Just writing to say how much I have enjoyed looking through your
site. This programme was riveting viewing in the early 1970s and
so much so that some episodes have stayed in my memory even
though I have not seen the episodes in 30 years. I was 9
when the series started and was allowed to stay up to watch an
episode which I now realise was probably "Someone at the top
of the stairs". Unfortunately I was so scared that I had
problems sleeping for a few nights and nightmares to go with it.
This resulted in me being banned from watching
"Thriller" for some time. It didn't help that I lived
in a creepy old house which belonged to my grandmother which was
full of passages, gloomy landings and blind corners. She was not
keen on us turning the lights on upstairs so we had to navigate
the upstairs floor often in the pitch black ! Eventually I was
able to see more of them. "I'm the girl he wants to
kill" was intensely scary and the episode which I most
remember vividly was "Screamer". That was a nasty one.
I was hoping that you could tell me which episode this scene
appears in; I think it may well be from "Screamer" but
either way the memory is still vivid : A girl gets off a train at
a country station and walks home while being aware she is being
followed. As she speeds up to get away she gets to her house,
gets inside ,and slams the door shut. Then the camera zooms in on
the outside of the front door. She has left the keys hanging out
of the lock !!! A man outside is trying to get in and shortly
afterwards she realises that not only has she left the keys
outside, but they are no longer hanging there. I remember this so
clearly, and thought of it often , this scene alone sums up for
me the essence of the Thriller series. Jon S.
Your information on Thriller is fascinating. Thriller reminded me
of Armchair Thriller which I adored (even though it scared me
s***less). Eamon
I have really enjoy your web-site of the Brian Clemens thrillers
The Belgium television have broadcast this thrillers early 90's
all of them. So I was very happy to read that this thrillers will
be available next year on dvd. My favourite after all this years
is "Night is time for killing. It makes me always laughing
because of the appear of Charles Gray (Hilary Vance) who steal
the show in this episode....(unfortunately dies in 2000) Gerdi
K.
Congratulations on a marvellous site devoted to the much
underrated gem of a series 'Thriller'. I loved the twist in the
tale storylines and the sheer suspense and menacing scenes that
were a feature of this classic series. Laurie Johnson's music
score was unique. My absolute favorite episode is 'Kill Two
Birds'. I saw a repeat of this on Thames TV in the early 80's
when they were showing quite a few of the episodes. I really hope
the series is repeated soon and not consigned to the archives. I
remember watching some of the episodes a while back on Bravo
before they changed their station format. Thanks again for
bringing back some wonderful memories Rob D.
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your "Thriller"
website. It brought back a lot of memories for me (generally
memories of being terrified but unable to look away from the
screen!). Your site has enabled me to put a title to one of the
scariest things I can recall seeing as a kid - "I'm the Girl
He Wants To Kill". I have often thought about this story
over the years. The one with Diana Dors as a witch always sticks
in my mind, too. I managed to catch a couple of the
"Bravo" broadcasts a few years back, including the
second episode (sorry, forgotten the title) with the couple that
move into the country house. That was another one which had
always stuck in my mind although seeing it again made me realised
that as a child (well, in my early teens) I didn't really grasp
the plot. Peter Fr.
Just a few words to say how much I enjoyed your site. I certainly
didn't realise that so many of the episodes existed in their
original UK format. I'm sure it will be a big seller when
released on DVD. Simon W.
Well done on your Thriller website. Long overdue! It is a series
I have a great affection for being the first series I was allowed
to stay up late and watch as a child. Alan S.
Just a quick word to say keep up the good work. I am enjoying the
growing information on your site about this forgotten show, so
thanks again. Martin W.
I just wanted to say that your site is excellent. I'm a
27-year-old English teacher in France and Thriller was one of the
programmes I liked most when I was a teenager. I think I must
have been the only one in my school, other kids watching Airwolf
or K2000 (yuck !)... But since I was a child, I have always been
fascinated by suspense and mystery, which made me a big fan of
The Avengers and Thriller, even 20 years after their creation.
Now, as a teacher, I have based one of my lessons on my favourite
episode "A coffin for the bride". I try to do it every
two years. My students seem to like it. And they don't expect the
end, so it proves that the show is still great, doesn't it ? Patrick
M.
I have just visited your Thriller web site, and it all came
flooding back. The BEST series ever to grace tv; people must be
made aware that there is a loyal following of the cult series,
and that it must be made available to buy on DVD or Video. Mark
P.
Well done on getting the Thriller site together. I have very fond
memories of being scared to death every Saturday night. I
remember certain episodes vividly especially "Someone at top
of the stairs" and "Nurse will make it better."
Not bad considering I was nine of ten at the time. I dearly hope
they will be released on DVD one day. Here's hopin'. Keep up the
good work. Lee B.
THRILLER was THE event each weekend in 1973 for me. I was 12 and
it was the best TV around, gripping and unpredictable (at the
time), had me on the edge of my sofa frequently. The first season
was the best as far as I am concerned, with the exception of the
first Season 2 story ONLY A SCREAM AWAY. I lived in a windmill in
1973 in Kent, very very similar to the windmill conversion done
by Howard Heston AKA Giles Darcy, and the scenes were he is
chasing Sam down the spiral stairs gave me nightmares for months.
Our windmill was never the same again at night, especially when
my parents were out and my grandma was babysitting, with the
trees knocking against the windows, and the dark shadows on the
spiral stairs. The episode is truly excellent, superb Gary
Collins performance, especially in the final 15 minutes. Jason
After 35 years I do not remember too many plot details from this
wonderful series, but I do recall that it was perhaps the finest
thriller series EVER. Wonderful suspense and surprise endings. I
do recall one macabre ending (I forget the title of the episode)
where the killer ends up locked in an abandoned house or basement
with no escape possible and nobody knows he is there. A truly
gruesome ending. George C.
When it comes to favourite scenes, I'm actually torn between two:
The one is taken from "Sleepwalker", where Katie,
sleepwalking, finds the passage to the house next door through
the mirror; the whole scene as she sleepwalks with the toys in
the attic taking on a sinister look had me refusing to go to
sleep for weeks afterwards (I was eleven or twelve at the time).
The other is taken from "Dial a deadly number", which
had the same effect as "Sleepwalker", only worse: One
scene I remember more clearly than any other is the one where
Dave Adams goes down into the cellar and peeks behind the wine
rack only to gaze into the dead eyes, beneath cellophane
wrapping, of [SPOILER REMOVED] Unlike the graphic, gory horror
films of today's age of technological perfection, the
"Thriller" series of the 70's were targeted to tickle
the psyche, something which, of course, also may have to do with
the fact that they're British and not American. Diane
F.
"I'm The Girl He Wants to Kill" is my favourite and I
thought the scariest. I saw this as a young girl back in 1974 in
the Philippines. My siblings and I made sure we had our supper
first and then brush our teeth before the show start as no one
would dare go to the bathroom after the show! As a 12 year old
girl, I found this too much to take but Thriller was the only
show that gave me the feeling of fear that I wanted to experience
over and over again. I've seen other suspense movies years later
but they never had the same plotline and appeal that Thriller
possesses. Having developed a taste for horror and suspense genre
in entertainment because of early exposure to Thriller, I'd say
that nothing so far had surpassed the quality that will draw me
like Thriller did. Susan K.
Congratulations on a fabulous website ! Excellent. The Thriller
series was always one of my favorites and your site is a great
tribute. Whenever I discuss the subject of the series with
friends we end up having hours of nostalgic memories, remembering
fragments of : the one with the white car, the one with the man
upstairs who spies on two girls in a bedsit, the one with the
cloven hoof at the finale etc. Wed always discuss them the
following Monday at school waxing lyrical for ages. For me they
are a major enjoyable memory. It now seems strange to think that
the first one I saw when I was 9 years old and now 31 years later
it still leaves a huge impression in my mind ! David H.
I just had to write to congratulate you on your superb Thriller site. I am most impressed with the very detailed 'Episode Index' which brought back many great memories. One of my favorite episodes is 'The Next Voice you see' . I was a young lad when the show was first aired in the UK and would be allowed to stay up and watch as a weekly treat! Great times!! Mark B.
I'm 22 years old and live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I remember staying up late and watching this series in its "TV- movie" form on WGN- TV in the late '80's, sometimes staying up until 4 in the morning because that's when they usually ran it. It was while watching this series that I "discovered" some of my now favorite British actors, including Pamela Franklin, Judy Geeson, Hayley Mills, Patrick Magee, Charles Gray, and Jeremy Brett. It was an absolutely fascinating series to me and I have nothing but fond memories of it. Since I have hardly seen or heard anything of the series since then, you can guess how delighted I was when I found your wonderful website. Thank You so bringing back those great memories. Chad E.
One of the great memories of my teens was gathering around the tv every Sunday night with part of my family to watch MISTERIO (that was the title chosen for Venezuelan tv )..looking for information about Brian Clemens i knew its real title was THRILLER..I remember clearly the episode of Sister Mary and The Carnation Murderer but l liked the all series. Hope one dayI could get the series on dvd....in Venezuela THRILLER was aired in 1976.....it was a great to find this page... thank you. Jorge C.
Brian Clemens + Laurie Johnson + Horror, Mystery and
Suspense = Brilliance! And you can add to the mix superb
direction, fine acting and inspired design. "Thriller"
had it all. No fancy special effects, no catalogue of corpses, no
explicit violence. In short, no gimmicks, just great television.
We've never seen anything like it! Alan B.
I think your site is fantastic. I used
to watch the programme "Thriller" with my gran many
years ago on a Friday or Saturday night from memory. I must have
been only 9 or 10. Funnily enough, I dreamt about the programme
last night, having not thought about it for years. Decided to do
an internet search for it and hey ho, found your site. I didn't
realise it had such a cult following!! Martin F.
I just wanted to say I found your site a few days ago and the
memories of me and my sister being allowed to stay up on a
Saturday night to watch it came flooding back. The attention to
detail is brilliant, this has to be one of the best laid out
sites I have visited! Well done. Rob T.
Just found your website and have to say "about time" I
am nearly 40 years old now but even though I have just played the
opening clip here at work it still gave me the old hair standing
up on the back of the kneck treatment. also great work on your
armchair thriller site. still creepy. Dean F.
All right dude, nice work on THRILLER, I grew up with all those
old series and was well chuffed to see that Thriller is at last
available on DVD. Steve
Fantastic informative web site, really, really good. From age 6-9
I remember being absolutely terrified watching 'THRILLER' on
Saturday night, I'm sure it's not just nosalgia and being young
and niaeve 'at the time' that I keep such strong memories of the
spine tingler, and that I have a fond memory for the stories that
really did have depth and originality, and a very intimate
unerving effect that has never in my opinion been bettered. I
thought I had gone mad, or was the oldest person on earth, when I
ask around no one can seem to recall the show, I have been
waiting for this for what seems like forever, many thanks
again...and here's to Sept 20th when the DVD is released I
believe... Simon T.
I was doing a websearch on Brian Clemens tonight and stumbled
upon your spectacular Thriller site. Well done! I watched that
entire series in the mid-70's during it's initial US network run.
It is driving me buggy that I can not recall the name that ABC
gave to their stateside airings of Thriller. I found the
atmosphere of those programs with the exterior shots of mg's,
austin healeys and other brit cars racing along winding country
lanes with massive old estates nestled back in the hedgerows
absolutely intoxicating. As I remember the exteriors were shot on
film while the interior shots were all on tape. That sort of
production work looked very foreign (and appealing) to me. Brian
Clemens screen credit was always the thing that really stuck in
my head whenever I watched and that is how my friends and I
referred to the show back in those days, "Hey did you see
Brian Clemens last night?" As I recall the name they chose
may have been a bit weaker than "Thriller". I am
thinking that it was a two word title that included the word
"Strange" I keep coming back to "Strange
Voices". I remember the title being understated like that,
something that would put you just a little bit ill at ease - just
like those eerie opening credits. Thanks again for the wonderful
Thriller site. Mark B.
With the help of the VRT belgian television crew, I found your
website! I was 13 when I saw in the early '90 the Thriller
episodes on de begian national television and these movies where
amazing to me at that time. I still remember an episode about a
satanic village where they all had clubfeets... In another
episode, I remember a full hidden house behind a room... Tom
HI can fondly remember THRILLER as the TV series which really
scared me as a child (I was 10 when the first episodes aired) on
a Saturday night - and indirectly me to pursue a hobby devoted to
horror and the macabre - I can still remeber the theme and it was
with great excitement that I learned the other day that the first
series would finally be released on DVD. Few episodes remain
clearly in my memory, having all been a blur at the time (due to
probably hiding behind a cushion)... except one which, having
scanned the episode guide on your tremendous website I have
pinned down to I'M THE GIRL HE WANTS TO KILL - I can still
remeber the woman frantically fleeing up and down the stairs in
the building and eventually coming face to face with the would-be
killer... very scary... Carl
I have been visiting the Thriller website and firstly would like
to say how much I enjoyed it. Thriller was probably my favourite
programme on TV as a child, eagerly awaited every Saturday. I am
delighted that the first series is shortly to be released on DVD.
I have been fascinated reading all the episode synopses, and many
memories have been brought back. Many thanks for a great website!
Joe K.
My name is Brad, I'm 26 and I live in Australia. I'm emailing
after just discovering your website and just wanted to say that
it is a dream come true for me seeing such a detailed website on
Thriller. Me and my older brother have been big fans of Thriller
since we saw it on TV in Australia in the late 80's. I was so
excited to see on your Death In Deep Water page that it was shot
in Totnes as I have always wondered where in England that cottage
is. It's wonderful to see that so many people still like Thriller
as I often wondered if me and my brother were the only ones on
earth who liked the show, thanks to the internet it's good to
know were not alone. Brad P.
I just wanted to say that I was amazed to see a Thriller box set
at Play ... which I ordered of course ... and then I discovered
your website. I'm almost too scared to look at it! I'm an ageing
39 now but I remember watching an episode of Thriller when I was
about 8 or 9 when a negligent friend was supposed to be
babysitting ... it involved someone saying 'cat's cradle' and I
was scared witless. I saw a few more (incl one where someone
plummets from the roof of a manor house?) and my (smaller!!)
brother and I used to terrify each other by singing the music at
the worst possible moments ... I'm getting a chill just thinking
about it. (Although not as bad as the all-over total body freeze
I get every time I describe Don't Look Now to anyone ... )
Anyway, I must be brief now, but your site influenced me to send
for And Soon The Darkness too, and probably Blind Terror (See No
Evil) soon, although I haven't seen that (I remeber it being
advertised for its first tv screening though). David S.
Just wanted to drop you a line to say how much I like the site.
This series was essential and compulsive (albeit TERRIFYING)
viewing as I was growing up in the 70s, and influenced my own
writing tastes and helped cement the genre that I would enjoy
working in the most (my writer's website:
http://clik.to/chrisharveywebsite ). Always been a big fan of
Clemens' work, and indeed Laurie Johnson's music. Chris
H.
Just saw your site and I must admit I was a very impressed. Well
done. Bravo. I am 29 year man and 'Thriller' was of course before
my time. But I always liked the old anthology series. I remember
watching 'Tales of the Unexpected' as a child and brought a DVD
set of that. I also bought a DVD boxset of 'Hammer House of
Horrors' although I don't remember any of that at all. I never
really heard of 'Thriller' before. I only just bought it
yesterday night. I already watched two episodes 'Lady Killer' and
'Spell of Evil' and throughly enjoyed them. I just watched the
first part of 'Possesion' and it is looking promising. Keep up
the good work. Bless your heart! Layin M.
I was really glad to come upon your site. I remember being in
grammar school (in the US) and re-enacting
"Marvelous..." for my schoolmates the day after I saw
it on TV. I remember being at a loss trying to express just how
scary this movie I saw on TV actually was (it was "Someone
at the Top of the Stairs"). The film's title has stayed in
my head for 25 years now - I recently looked it up on IMDB.
I live in NYC now and I'm going to write a letter to the execs at
the new Horror Cable channel (scheduled to start-up here in the
states in the next year or so) suggesting they pick up the whole
series for re-broadcast. Also, the Mystery channel (cable) would
be perfect for showing the whole series. Thanks again for having
a great site! Brian D.
I just want to thank you for your fantastic Thriller website.It's
amazing.So much information and such dedication.I can only
remember a few episodes mainly "Possession".There were
shown on Irish tv in the 80's. Stephen L.
I've just been reading your thriller page and all I can say is
how much it made me smile with fondness! I remember the show very
well although I was only 13 when the show started I was already
up for anything remotely scary!!!! UNDERSTATEMENT!! I cant tell
you how much me and my brother would wait up till about 9ish on a
saturday night, switch on to ITV and then those chilling cords of
music would fill the air!! And that was it for an hour and a
bit!! Sheer terror!! I loved those shows and so did my brother,
we have many laughs huming the theme!!! I kid you not!! I love
the stuff brian clemens used to write,they had an uneasy air to
the stories and the mood was pitch perfect!! I love horror and
mystery movies and I hav a huge library of movies and tv shows,
but nothing compares to THRILLER!!!!! AT THIS POINT HUM THE
THEME!! Allyson B.
Congratulations on a marvellous site devoted to the much
underated gem of a series 'Thriller'. I loved the twist in the
tale storylines and the sheer suspense and menacing scenes that
were a feature of this classic series. Laurie Johnson's music
score was unique and i loved the long trailers in and out of the
episodes! My absolute favorite episode is 'Kill Two Birds'. I saw
a repeat of this on Thames TV in the early 80's when they were
showing quite a few of the episodes. I really hope the series is
repeated soon and not consigned to the archives. I remember
watching some of the episodes a while back on Bravo before they
changed their program format. Thanks again for bringing back some
wonderful memories Rob D.
Well I always remember Thriller on TV and how scary it was to
watch but could`nt take my eyes off the screen. The music well
eerie just thinking about it now makes me want to keep all the
lights on when I go to bed. Great to see a web site going for the
show and the newa about its release on DVD. Amazing I did`nt know
that Brian Clemens and Laurie Johnson were involved. Melvin
What can I say!! Visited your site from Memorable TV's link. What
a find. Being a child of the 60's and 70's' Thriller' and indeed
'Armchair Thriller' were two of my all-time favourite programmes.
Ecstatic that Thriller is to be released on DVD; I for one can't
wait and will be buying the lot. Congratulations again on two
fantastic sites, and for keeping the memory of these two
sometimes forgotten classics alive. Ricky C.
I am writing to say how much I appreciate your 'Thriller'
website. I only discovered it about a month ago and it is without
doubt the most comprehensive source of data on this wonderful
series that I have found. I watched Thriller when it was
originally screened in the UK from the 2nd episode (Possession)
through to the end. I also saw most of the repeats on Southern
TV/TVS in 1981/82 and the 17 episodes shown on Bravo in 1996.
I can well remember being genuinely scared by many of the
episodes when I first saw them (I was only 10 in 1973) and can
well remember that it was the most popular series amongst me and
my other school friends at the time. I have always been amazed
but how little reference there is to the series in many books
about UK TV and equally by how few people remember what was in
its day a highly successful primetime Saturday evening series.
This is no doubt mostly down to the reformatting of the original
ATV episodes into the movie format before they were ever
repeated. I don't think that the original ATV episodes have ever
been repeated on UK terrestrial television.
Even though it is over 20 years since I last saw many of the
episodes I still vividly recall many of them. The teaser to 'Sign
it death' with the lady hiding behind the curtains is one
particular thing that I remember. I also recall being sacred
stiff by 'Possession' which is still one of my favourites. One of
my other favourites is 'I am the girl he wants to kill' which is
a wonderfully produced drama which keeps you on the edge of your
seat all the way through. Never mind being behind the sofa for
Doctor Who, I spent far more time behind the sofa when watching
Thriller! Keep up the excellent work. Robert J.
Thank you for the information about "Thriller" in the
web. "Thriller" was broadcasted in Germany in 1982,
when I was 16 and since then it has been my favourite series and
I have hoped all the years that it would be broadcasted again. I
was so happy to read that "Thriller" will be recorded
on DVD next year. Carmen M.
what a wonderful website and what a surprise to learn that two of
my favorite suspense films (See No Evil , And Soon The Darkness)
were penned by Brian Clemens ! I was very pleased to hear that
the series would be officially released in September of 2004. I
still remember watching Thriller on late night television and
being absolutely glued to the screen. Reading your synopses
brings back such wonderful memories. Thank you ! Susan
D.
[Note that since some of these comments were made, Thriller has begun to appear on DVD]
Special Thanks To:
Ian Kerr, who's early-90's article in "Timescreen" was for years the only material available on the subject. As well as being a mine of information, he has campaigned for twenty years to gain the series more recognition and was partly responsible for the ATV versions finding their way onto Bravo in 1996.
Franz Antony Clinton, for donating a mountain of reference material to the site and for allowing me to use his taped interview with Brian Clemens.
Mark Faulkner, for settling once and for all the prickly question of what exactly was shown in the US in the early 70's.
Martin Marshall, for general help and encouragement.
Alan Briscoe, for loads of reviews.
Werner Schmitz, for screencaps and info on "If It's A Man - Hang Up!"
Jon Scott for a load of TV Times scans.
Mark McMillan for hosting the site and general support.