How The Twilight Zone Recruited a Legendary Horror Director for One Episode

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In the series “The Twilight Zone,” which is consistently aired on SYFY, the anthology structure allowed for an influx of exceptional talent right from its inception. Regardless if we’re discussing writers, technicians, or actors, the show was always welcoming fresh artistic minds to deliver each episode. While much attention is given to the outstanding guest stars who elevated the show, less focus is often placed on the guest directors who helmed individual episodes.

It’s regrettable that in a unique scenario, The Twilight Zone brought on board a filmmaker who was already an icon in the horror genre even prior to his association with the series, leading to a timeless episode.

For More on The Twilight Zone

* What made Rod Serling wait for 36 episodes before he himself appeared in The Twilight Zone?
* One of the most memorable special effects in The Twilight Zone was inspired by a 1960 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ work.
* A classic episode of The Twilight Zone almost caused heatstroke for its cast and crew during filming.

* Why did it take Rod Serling 36 episodes to make his first appearance on The Twilight Zone?
* An iconic makeup effect in The Twilight Zone was derived from a 1960 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novels.
* A significant episode of The Twilight Zone nearly caused the cast and crew to suffer from heatstroke during production.

How “Night Call” got a legendary horror director

In the final episode of the classic Twilight Zone series, titled “Night Call,” renowned author Richard Matheson penned the script based on his own short story, originally published as “Sorry, Wrong Number.” The narrative revolves around a paralyzed woman (played by Gladys Cooper) who mysteriously receives phone calls one evening. As she delves deeper, she suspects that these calls may originate from supernatural sources and are connected to her haunting past. This chilling tale, filled with suspenseful atmosphere, continues to be one of Matheson’s most impactful works. Interestingly, the writer had a particular director in mind to bring this story to fruition.

Matheson recommended that “Long Distance Call” be transformed into “Night Call,” suggesting Jacques Tourneur, a seasoned director known for his early horror masterpieces like “Cat People” and “Night of the Demon.” Producer Bert Granet, who had collaborated with Tourneur on the 1948 drama “Berlin Express,” accepted this suggestion and hired him for the project.

Known primarily for his horror films like ‘Cat People’, Tourneur was a multifaceted director who worked on various genres such as dramas, crime stories, and adventure pictures throughout his career. Prior to working on ‘The Twilight Zone’, he had already directed episodes for shows like ‘General Electric Theater’, ‘Northwest Passage’, and ‘Bonanza’. Although he was an accomplished TV director by that time, there were doubts among the higher-ups of ‘The Twilight Zone’ about his ability to handle the specific demands of the show’s production. However, he soon demonstrated his capabilities and effectively silenced those doubts.

As a devoted admirer reflecting on the past, I recall Richard Matheson expressing some reservations in Marc Scott Zicree’s The Twilight Zone Companion. Initially, there were questions about using Tourneur due to concerns that he was more accustomed to film directing and might struggle with scheduling. However, it transpired that he, apparently, completed one of the shortest shooting schedules for a half-hour production – I believe it took just 28 hours.

In a timely manner, Tourneur submitted the episode, resulting in one of the most chilling stories for The Twilight Zone, just prior to the show wrapping up after completing its fifth season.

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2025-04-30 20:31