Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) The Open Window (1984) User Reviews

Tales in (New) England

[safenoe · 6/10 · 16 November 2016]

This very talky episode of Tales of the Unexpected is set in Connecticut, another American production of this fine series. I guess any Tales of the Unexpected episode is better than none, and I wish it was rebooted.

The New England country scenery is lush, and we get to hear Roald Dahl's introduction, which is something viewers cherished from the earlier episodes when he sat on his comfortable lounge chair by the fireside. Valerie Mahaffey stars as Jane, and Valerie later won an Emmy for a supporting role in the classic series Northern Exposure (which went downhill after Rob Morrow left by the way).

"I'm one with the primal chaos!"

[classicsoncall · 4/10 · 27 January 2022]

I have to side with the other reviewers of this episode who didn't get the point of the story. Jane (Valerie Mahaffey) tells of the grim anniversary being acknowledged at her home to visitor Gregory (Richard Dow), while her mother Marjorie (Dina Merrill) speaks as if her second husband Stuart, and son Stanley, are still alive and about to return from the hunt. For his part, Gregory relates his own history and how he spent the entire year prior in a sanitarium. When all three see the father and son return, I couldn't be sure if it was real, or a figment of Marjorie's imagination that they all shared. At the same time, Gregory gets quite frantic to leave, and Jane relates a story of a former girlfriend ripped apart by wild dogs. Were all three of them insane, and if not, what is one supposed to take away from the program? Every once in a while these types of anthology shows come up with a pointless episode. To my mind, this was one of them.

At least we got a few seconds of Roald Dahl!!

[Sleepin_Dragon · 3/10 · 21 February 2016]

Connecticut is the setting, Gregory is holidaying in the area, he encounters a girl called Jane, who tells him about her family's recent misfortunes.

I see they tried to get Roald Dahl back on board to add something back into the episodes, that now feel alien to the opening few series. I think the producers realised by this point that the show's future was now very much in doubt, they definitely lost their way in this seventh series.

This is as bland an episode as you could ever watch, a wafer thin plot, lifeless performances and poor, dull direction. I don't really get the point of the episode, it's such a nothing non entity of a story.

Not much to love, 3/10.

A Light-Hearted Short Story Changed to a Gruesome Drama

[andyrobert · 7/10 · 22 June 2021]

As soon as I started watching this episode of Tales of the Unexpected, I realized that it was similar to a story that I had heard read on Radio 4 (then known as the Home Service), when I was a child in the early 1960s. However, the ending was a little more romantic and lighthearted compared to the gruesome and depressing ending that this episode had. This was as well as the scene being changed from rural England to the New England American State of Connecticut.

The story was a variation of a short story written by H. H. Munro - better known as "Saki", and in answer to a previous reviewer, the story was about a girl playing a rather garish joke on her male companion, but Saki's story - as read on the radio - had a more amusing ending than this episode had.

It was nice the see Dina Merrill looking just as lovely as she did in the films' she made in the 1950s and 1960s.

A story that a child could have wrote

[michaelcarey75 · 2/10 · 25 November 2018]

Tales of the unexpected takes you into areas of life, that are mostly unpredictable, and make you look for an explanation. This episode borders on bizarre. It feels almost dream like in its presentation. However it lacks any real plot and reason for why the main characters are present. When you finally get to the outcome of the mystery the explanation is weak at best. The acting is poor and possibly just a story threw together for the sake of filling time. The male actors story has no real relevance or purpose in the scheme of things. A fine series the inevitably runs out of ideas.

Not bad at all

[palhud · 7/10 · 14 August 2022]

Like some of the other reviewers I found the story confusing to follow until the last couple of minutes when it all made sense. I liked the twist at the end. These are short stories, 30 minutes long and given the short duration I think people can have unrealistic expectations about how complex the stories and characters should be.

Contrary to other reviewers comments I thought the acting was good here. Yes there are better episodes of Tales Of The Unexpected than this but it still deserves to be a lot higher up the rankings than it is.

Truly terrible acting

[merseysidemalawicichlids · 1/10 · 17 April 2020]

It's as though they have never wrote a script before and the acting is absolutely bubonic.

Atmospheric episode

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 6 August 2023]

A gentleman goes to the country for a rest cure for his nerves. On a visit to an acquaintance of his sister's, he learns from the hostess' young niece that there has been a terrible family tragedy. What follows is neither restful nor helpful to his already frayed nerves.

An atmospheric and odd episode with good acting from Richard Dow as the nervous character. He's quite suitably over the top. His face expression and eyes express fear - the dialogue between him and the young niece is engaging, the buildup of the suspense is fine, though the ending is a bit confusing at first. The joke is on the poor nervous fellow.

Odd story

[bmesser · 1/10 · 22 January 2022]

A rather odd story that I'm still trying to get my head round. Is it me or have I tired of the short 25 minute stories. Usually decent actors but generally poor stories that turn out to be a long winded joke.

Can someone please tell me what the point is?

[octaviolet · 8/10 · 30 June 2020]

I love TotU but this episode, I just don't get. Why is dude there in the first place? Are they really alive? What did we learn? In opposition to the earlier comments, I think the acting was excellent. But what was the reason? Watched it twice and still have no clue.

Leave it aht!

[mickcsavage · 3/10 · 24 July 2022]

Silly, unconvincing stuff, but that's not why I'm pulling on your coat.

Being unfamiliar with Valerie Mahaffey, I googled her, and was somewhat taken aback by her (apparently) appearing in the film version of that most British of sitcoms, 'Till Death Us Do Part' Really? Kind of difficult to believe - what was she? American tourist? Long-lost cousin?

I've seen the film (which is better than most TV series' transferred to the big screen, by the way) and have no recollection of her, and she doesn't seem to appear in the credits.

Anyone know?