The main attraction of viewing the Nightmare episode is the presence of special guest star Joan Crawford. The screen legend was nearing the end of her career. Like fellow aging movie stars Bette Davis and Barbara Stanwyck, Crawford had limited job offers and accepted guest shots on quality TV series like The Virginian. That's another reason why 60s TV is superior to contemporary fare lacking that kind of star power.
Story is basically routine. Crawford marries a wealthy man with a jealous ne'er-do-well brother. The husband is paralyzed in an accident then dies in a fire. Crawford suffers a breakdown and stands trial for murder. The Virginian helps to uncover the truth. Trampas is absent in this episode.
Crawford's performance is surprisingly low key. By this point, her style had become over-the-top grande dame movie star and don't you forget it. She is heavily made-up though the camera isn't gauzed as some of her other roles of this period. You can snicker a bit at the 66-year-old being with Michael Conrad whose 21 years younger and there's no mention of younger man-older woman.
It's always worthwhile checking old TV shows when featuring a star of such magnitude.
Story is basically routine. Crawford marries a wealthy man with a jealous ne'er-do-well brother. The husband is paralyzed in an accident then dies in a fire. Crawford suffers a breakdown and stands trial for murder. The Virginian helps to uncover the truth. Trampas is absent in this episode.
Crawford's performance is surprisingly low key. By this point, her style had become over-the-top grande dame movie star and don't you forget it. She is heavily made-up though the camera isn't gauzed as some of her other roles of this period. You can snicker a bit at the 66-year-old being with Michael Conrad whose 21 years younger and there's no mention of younger man-older woman.
It's always worthwhile checking old TV shows when featuring a star of such magnitude.