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Unlocked Window - Cast Didn't Know Who The Killer Was

posted 10 years ago by richard.fuller1
11 replies | jump to latest

It says here the cast wasn't given the last few pages of who the killer was to keep up the suspense.

Did TC Jones then 'stay in character' even when they weren't filming?

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

If they were curious, they could have found the short story and read it.

I read the story before seeing the episode. If I hadn't, I probably would have been too scared to finish watching it!

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JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

[–] rms125a 8 years ago

No the original short story was the basis for the film 'The Spiral Staircase' (qv), which starred 'Dorothy McGuire' (qv) not this TV episode which ended up bearing only the vaguest resemblance (a psychotic killer on the loose, killing young women) to the original short story.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 8 years ago

The Spiral Staircase is based on the Ethel Lina White novel called Some Must Watch.

The Hitchcock episode was quite faithful to the short story.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = 

[–] rms125a 7 years ago

Not really. Without spoiling anything, obviously the conclusion of The Spiral Staircase -- which if it was faithful to the original Ethel Lina White novel (which I am sure it was, given the conventions of the time) -- is VERY different from the conclusion of Unlocked Window. Respectfully.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 7 years ago

I didn't say that the conclusions were similar to each other.

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Proud to be Canadian! 🇨🇦 

[–] mmitsos-1 8 years ago

This was hands-down THE BEST episode of the entire series. It gave me nightmares for years.

[–] Jennie_Portrait 8 years ago

I agree it is a great episode. But in the very first scene when saw TC Jones, "she" reminded me of Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot. I tried to ignore my feeling, but in the end it was proven.
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Never say never...

[–] richard.fuller1 8 years ago

I watched this program for the first time forty years ago, I was a kid, but I was terrified of what was going on. I have only watched Some Like It Hot in the past year (I actually thought it was a silly movie), but when I watched Unlocked Window back then, I did not pick up on it being a man at all. The most I remember seeing when I was little was TC screaming that the killer was at the door. I remember all the stuff with the cat as well.

I saw some of the remake with Annette O'Toole and right off the bat, it was obviously a man. I think even a female voice was dubbed in.

[–] rms125a 7 years ago

"Nice" is not the right adjective.

[–] rms125a 8 years ago

That's a good question about T.C. I wonder how T.C. dressed off camera, what bathroom or other accomodations were needed, etc. or if the cast had to know that the transgender issue would be part of the plotline.

[–] 7 years ago

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