As it turns out, Universal edited the series in syndication (the first way I saw them) to have more episodes available for syndication. Originally 60-minutes long, seasons one and two were edited down to fit in 30-minute time slot. Many segments were severely cut, while those that were too short had stock footage noticeably added to fill up the time. Reportedly, 39 of the series 98 episodes were severely altered for their syndicated versions.
Kino Lorber’s recent Blu-ray releases of the series are a boon for fans, presenting the original one-hour format of Season 2 as it originally aired. While still occasionally uneven, Night Gallery is a far more enjoyable series in its original form.
Season two begins with a personal favorite, “The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes.” Directed by John Badham (Saturday Night Fever), A young boy (Clint Howard) becomes a TV star because of his uncanny ability to predict the future. Easily one of the most haunting episodes, this one sticks with me for a while, each time I see it. Other highlights include one of the most remembered segments, “The Caterpillar” features Laurence Harvey (Butterfield 8) as a man determined to vanquish his romantic rival. What a final twist… “Class of ‘99” features Vincent Price as the principal of a graduating class having a bleak ceremony. “You Can’t Get Help like That Anymore” features Cloris Leachman and Broderick Crawford as a couple who take out their frustrations on the help—a robot.
There are many other interesting segments. Like any other anthology series, enjoyment varies. If you’re a fan of The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery offers something to enjoy. Buoyed by some strong scripts, the series attracted a list of impressive guest stars. Season two includes appearances by Ray Milland, E.g. Marshall, Brandon de Wilde, Vincent Price, Robert Morse, Kim Stanley, Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, Fritz Weaver, Susan Strasberg, Virginia Mayo, Cesar Romero, David Wayne, Patty Duke, John Carradine, Murray Hamilton, Forrest Tucker, Yaphet Kotto, Tony Roberts and many others.
Kino’s Night Gallery: Season Two is spread over five Blu-ray discs. Presented in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio, the 2K restoration of these episodes looks great. Colors pop off the screen. Blacks are deep and inky. Delineation offers a nice level of fine detail throughout. Grain levels are pleasing. There are no real image imperfections. Viewers should be pleased with the results.
The Master Audio mono mixes are clean and surprisingly full, effectively conveying the chilly environs. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout. The musical scores by Gil Mellé and others, are livelier than ever before.
English SDH subtitles are included.
Kino has included at least one audio commentary with each episode, done by the likes of horror experts Jim Benson and Scott Skelton, film historians Tim Lucas, Amanda Reyes, Kim Newman, director John Badham, and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, among others. A holdover from the DVD release, Revisiting the Gallery: A Look Back is a 30-minute featurette including several actors (some who have since passed away), who appeared on the show. Also included is Art Gallery: The Painting, an all to brief look at the various paintings used at the beginning of each episode. The Syndication Conundrum Part Two features film historian Craig Beam continuing his look at how episodes were changed for syndication. Along with various TV spots and promos, a booklet containing an episode guide is included.
