Sandra Dee works with her sister in a dance studio. One day she comes home and hears tap dancing in the upstairs part of the building. She assumes her sister is rehearsing. When she goes up, she finds the young woman hanging there. This leads to a series of paranoid events where Dee hears the tapping and has flashbacks of the event. Meanwhile, as she becomes more and more irrational, a man comes and makes her an offer for the studio. Trying to confront her demons, she refuses to give in and tells him no. It gets worse and worse, until one day she hears the sound of tapping again. When she goes up she sees the rope hanging there and hears a voice telling her to put an end to it. This is a good ghost story because it allows us a rational explanation but leaves us with some unexplained events. The writing is good and the acting reasonable. Dee isn't terribly convincing but manages to pull it off pretty well.
9 Reviews
"Look at she, it's Sandra Dee!"
garrard31 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
50's "Tammy" icon Sandra Dee makes a rare television performance, and a second appearance on "Night Gallery, as twins, one alive and one dead, in this tale from the show's last season. The living sister appears to be experiencing "visits" from her deceased sibling, causing the former to question her sanity. She seeks support from her boyfriend (Christopher Connelly) and also deals with a seemingly compassionate land developer, played by Dane Clark.
The episode is not of the series' best, but it is refreshing to see Dee back on the screen one more time before her untimely death in 2005.
Also, Clark, who was often cast as less-than-admirable characters, gets to momentarily show as "softer" side.
The episode is not of the series' best, but it is refreshing to see Dee back on the screen one more time before her untimely death in 2005.
Also, Clark, who was often cast as less-than-admirable characters, gets to momentarily show as "softer" side.
"Twins are never free of each other."
classicsoncall10 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Millicent Hardy (Sandra Dee) blames herself for not being home when her twin sister committed suicide, feeling that she could have prevented it by offering a compassionate ear to her sister's troubles. Obsessed with this thought, Millicent begins to experience the presence of her sister, most notably in the tapping she hears in the room used as a dance hall on the second story of their home. There are moments when it appears that Millicent is actually 'becoming' her sister Marion, though the idea isn't extended far enough to make that a possibility. For a presumptive ghost story, this one is settled in deadly fashion when an unscrupulous real estate agent is revealed as the instigator of Millicent's paranoia. Though it did appear she may have received some help from the beyond, as both sisters acquired their respective measure of revenge.
A bit boring
stones787 April 2014
I would classify this episode as a tad boring, even though I would still have to say it was well written, with an interesting motive and ending, which I'll try my best not to ruin it for you. A few familiar faces here are Sandra Dee(plays twin sisters), and Christopher Connelly(Sam); also starring is Dane Clark(William Jason), who is probably the reason to watch this, as I thought Dee was average at best. The gist of the story is that Millicent is tormented by her sister's ghost, or so she thinks, after finding her sister hanging to death in an upstairs room. Let me add that I enjoyed the painting that Rod Serling spoke in front of while describing the story to us. There aren't many scary apparitions and/or noises, but we do get to hear a rather annoying piano jingle throughout the episode, although it is effective for the final shot of this story. I'll give props to the solid conclusion, which I didn't expect, and it may or may not make up for the rest of the show, but it ended on a good note, at least.
Decent, but unmemorable.
Hey_Sweden3 January 2022
Sandra Dee stars as Millicent, a young woman whose twin sister Marion, a tap dancer, has committed suicide while alone one night. Then Millicent comes to believe she's being haunted by the sibling, as she is always hearing piano music in the house and hearing the sound of tap-shoes. All of this while she is being pressured by a developer (Dane Clark) who wants to purchase her property.
This whole tale has too much familiarity for it to be completely effective (all the way to the reveal & resolution), but at least director Jeannot Szwarc builds up a respectable atmosphere and mood. It also helps that Dee is so affecting in the main role, and she does make Millicent a sympathetic character. She receives able support from an under-playing Clark, a likeable Christopher Connelly as her well-meaning friend, and a solid Russell Thorson as a very straightforward and forthcoming doctor. The house itself has an ominous presence, and Eddie Sauters' music is good.
This one has good intentions, but isn't one of the more inspired 'Night Gallery' episodes.
Written by Gene R. Kearney, based on a story by series producer Jack Laird.
Six out of 10.
This whole tale has too much familiarity for it to be completely effective (all the way to the reveal & resolution), but at least director Jeannot Szwarc builds up a respectable atmosphere and mood. It also helps that Dee is so affecting in the main role, and she does make Millicent a sympathetic character. She receives able support from an under-playing Clark, a likeable Christopher Connelly as her well-meaning friend, and a solid Russell Thorson as a very straightforward and forthcoming doctor. The house itself has an ominous presence, and Eddie Sauters' music is good.
This one has good intentions, but isn't one of the more inspired 'Night Gallery' episodes.
Written by Gene R. Kearney, based on a story by series producer Jack Laird.
Six out of 10.
Pretty solid episode
Woodyanders26 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Millicent (a fine and appealing performance by Sandra Dee) sinks into a deep depression and finds herself being haunted by the ghost of her twin sister Marian in the wake of Marian's shocking suicide by hanging.
Director Jeannot Szwarc relates the engrossing story at a steady pace and ably crafts an appropriately spooky'n'gloomy mood. Dee's touching portrayal of a distraught woman adds a substantial amount of emotional weight; she receives sound support from Christopher Connelly as concerned boyfriend Sam Davis, Dane Clark as sympathetic land developer William Jason, and Russell Thorson as the pragmatic Dr. Coolidge. Gene R. Kearney's clever script pulls off one particularly inspired twist, but alas attempts one surprise too many at the very end.
Director Jeannot Szwarc relates the engrossing story at a steady pace and ably crafts an appropriately spooky'n'gloomy mood. Dee's touching portrayal of a distraught woman adds a substantial amount of emotional weight; she receives sound support from Christopher Connelly as concerned boyfriend Sam Davis, Dane Clark as sympathetic land developer William Jason, and Russell Thorson as the pragmatic Dr. Coolidge. Gene R. Kearney's clever script pulls off one particularly inspired twist, but alas attempts one surprise too many at the very end.
A 70s Thriller
brandonsmith07-95-84816830 May 2023
Where do I begin when it comes to anything Rod Serling has his name attached to. This is the second time the talented Sandra Dee blesses the camera with her outstanding performance. I really enjoyed the fact it was the early 70s and I really enjoyed classic horror/thrillers from that time period. It's great Sandra Dee came off of The Dunwich Horror (which I would also recommend to watch if you enjoy classic horror) to do another thriller piece. I think the story was spot on, the crew had a great grip on the pacing and cinematography and the music was chilling and haunting a few times. I'm glad Rod Serling brought her back.
Ghost Dance
AaronCapenBanner13 November 2014
Sandra Dee stars as Millicent Hardy, who shares a house with her twin sister Marion, but after returning from vacation, finds her hanging by a noose from the rafters dead. An apparent suicide, Millicent is beset by nightmares about Marion's death. Meanwhile, a real estate developer wants to buy her property, but she resists, despite mounting pressure by him, and her own strange behavior which sees her dressing and tap dancing just like her late sister, not to mention she thinks she hears her voice telling her to do so, including committing her own suicide... Ordinary tale has some eerie bits but is just too obvious and derivative to succeed.
Decent episode
BandSAboutMovies7 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
After her twin sister Marian hangs herself, Millicent (Sandra Dee) returns home, only to hear Marian - a dancer - tapping across the floor upstairs, footsteps rapping in the room where she left this world.
"Specter In Tap Shoes" was directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by Gene R. Kearney from a story by Jack Laird. After the death of her twin, Millicent is sure that Marian is still here, as she doesn't just hear her, she smells the smoke from her cigarettes.
Maybe she should just leave. That's what William Jason (Dane Clark), a property developer who is a mutual friend of Millicent's pal Sam (Christopher Connelly, soon to depart for Italy), thinks would be best. She'd get closure and away from all the memories.
Millicent keeps hearing the voice of her sister, urging her to hang herself as well. She stops at the last minute and finds William in her sister's studio. He demands letters that Marion wrote to him, letters that she somehow can find immediately. She also finds a revolver that she uses to shoot him.
The logical explanation is that the entire house was wired so William could gaslight Millicent just like he did Marion. But then how did she know where the letters were?
This is a decent enough episode, but as always, the better Night Gallery stories come from Serling. Szwarc does a good job making the story mean more than it does.
"Specter In Tap Shoes" was directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by Gene R. Kearney from a story by Jack Laird. After the death of her twin, Millicent is sure that Marian is still here, as she doesn't just hear her, she smells the smoke from her cigarettes.
Maybe she should just leave. That's what William Jason (Dane Clark), a property developer who is a mutual friend of Millicent's pal Sam (Christopher Connelly, soon to depart for Italy), thinks would be best. She'd get closure and away from all the memories.
Millicent keeps hearing the voice of her sister, urging her to hang herself as well. She stops at the last minute and finds William in her sister's studio. He demands letters that Marion wrote to him, letters that she somehow can find immediately. She also finds a revolver that she uses to shoot him.
The logical explanation is that the entire house was wired so William could gaslight Millicent just like he did Marion. But then how did she know where the letters were?
This is a decent enough episode, but as always, the better Night Gallery stories come from Serling. Szwarc does a good job making the story mean more than it does.
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