Well if the devil is in the details, this one has got to be one of the all time classic Thriller episodes. If you've seen enough stories from the likes of 'The Twilight Zone' and this show, you'll probably come up with the first part of the ending here. However the kicker comes when wife Marie (Joan Retzel) brings Hector Vane (Macdonald Carey) a brand new coat and not his favorite flea-bitten one. Unable to produce his pawn shop ticket, old Hector's unable to give the Devil his due.
This episode was well done from start to finish, with a great set up, good follow through and a stunning conclusion. It almost got derailed for me though when I first got a look at the still life Hector was bringing to the pawn shop hoping for a quick ten bucks. A pair of shoes! Seriously, wasn't that painting pathetic?
The Devil/Pawnbroker's (John Emery) mistake of course was in demanding a portrait that captures the soul. An alternative ending might have had Hector do one of Nadja (Patricia Medina), seeing as she got so upset over Hector painting his own wife. Be that as it may, you had to feel sorry for old Hector in the end. There's no worse feeling than painting yourself into a corner.
This episode was well done from start to finish, with a great set up, good follow through and a stunning conclusion. It almost got derailed for me though when I first got a look at the still life Hector was bringing to the pawn shop hoping for a quick ten bucks. A pair of shoes! Seriously, wasn't that painting pathetic?
The Devil/Pawnbroker's (John Emery) mistake of course was in demanding a portrait that captures the soul. An alternative ending might have had Hector do one of Nadja (Patricia Medina), seeing as she got so upset over Hector painting his own wife. Be that as it may, you had to feel sorry for old Hector in the end. There's no worse feeling than painting yourself into a corner.