A chilling episode of a shipwreck on a fungus island. It was notably filmed five years later as the Japanese monster flick Matango, also released as Attack of the Mushroom People -- but don't let that deter you; this is much more than cheesy B-horror.
It's from a story by noted British fantasist William Hope Hodgson (The House on the BorderlaThomasson (barbara Rush) and her husband James (nd, The Night Land. Carnacki, the Ghost-Finder), first published in 1907, then reprinted in his 1911 collection Men of Deep Waters. The story is considered one of Hodgson's best and has been reprinted over 50 times, including (interestingly) in Alfred Hitchcock's Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV. (Why "interestingly"? Read on.)
Shipwreck survivors Eleanor Thomasson (Barbara Rush) and her husband James (James Donald) land on an uncharted island where a menacing fungus covers everything. Soon it begins to cover them. Also featuring a pre-The Avengers Patrick McNee and a young James Coburn in only the second of his 174 IMDb credits.
This episode was directed by Arthur Hiller (Love Story, The Hospital, Silver Streak). Sterling Silliphant (In the Heat of the Night, The Towering Inferno, Charlie) wrote the teleplay.
Now here's where it gets confusing. The exact title of the episode as it appeared in the screen was Alfred Hitchcock's Voice in the Night. Hitchcock? I thought this was a story he couldn't do on TV? (Actually, that anthology title was a bit of a hokum, given to the book to help sales.) So...Hitch must have been the producer or something, right? But his name is not listed anywhere on the credits; in fact, no producer is listed. But here is an Associate Producer -- Joan Harrison. And an Assistant to the Producer -- Norman Lloyd. Both were heavily involved with Hitchcock's television programs. So why was his name omitted except in the title (which was immediately followed by another title -- this time without Hitchcock's name). Curious.
Doesn't matter, because there is Hitchcockian vibe to the entire episode. And it's a good one.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODsxReT8RLw
The gimmick of STORIES THEY WOULDN'T LET ME DO ON TV was reasonably earnest...the sponsors (as they changed) or network censors (perhaps likewise) apparently relented or no longer cared to hassle with Shamley Productions in later years. And SUSPICION was indeed a sister series (I believe from Shamley) without AH-branding, that ran for a single season.
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And happy birthday, Jerry! Or belated. Sorry health matters are crimping the celebrations a bit.
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