"The Veil" (1958) is a 10-episode TV series hosted by none other than the great Horror icon Boris Karloff. Karloff narrates a (supposedly fact-based) mysterious story about the 'supernatural, which lies behind the veil' in each of the episodes, which, of course makes it highly interesting to my fellow fans of Classic Horror. (For more detail, see my review on the complete series). As far as I am considered, the episodes differ in quality quite a bit, some of them, such as "Jack The Ripper" or "Summer Heat" were excellent, while others, such as "Genesis" or "The Return Of Madame Vernoy" are rather silly, but they are entirely entertaining. "Vision Of Crime" is the first to the series, and while the story is not exactly highly original or fascinating it is a nice opener to the series. While on a boat-trip to France, a British man has a vision of his brother being killed. He returns to England immediately, but has to find out that he is too late, as the murder has already taken place... This first episode is not one of the best in the series, and yet it is highly entertaining. As in all episodes but one, Karloff himself has a role (aditionally to being the host), and he is great as always. Other than Karloff, he performances are not exactly stunning, but they are good enough, and everybody fits well in their roles. Recommended!
9 Reviews
Following a Vision
Hitchcoc3 November 2016
An anthology series that never quite made it. Boris Karloff narrates and acts in these episodes. In this one he plays a dense police detective who is investigating the murder of an apothecary. The brother of the man is on board a ship and has a vision of the murder. When he returns home, he finds an innocent man has been accused of the murder. His fiancée tells him not to get involved because they will think he is crazy. As things develop we find out more about this young woman and her ambitions. It's a simple tale with little to offer. It is basically a curiosity because of the great Karloff's involvement in it. He does do a good job with his role as the knot-headed police sergeant. Look for the great British actor, Patrick McNee in a supporting role.
Youthful actors
Leofwine_draca25 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
VISION OF THE CRIME is the first of the show-lived TV series THE VEIL, presented by a typically genial Boris Karloff and following on from COLONEL MARCH INVESTIGATES. This show never made it to TV, but the first episode is solid enough, a 30 minute murder mystery with supernatural touches. An incredibly youthful Robert Hardy plays the brother of a murdered man who somehow witnesses the crime from a distant location, but convincing the authorities will take some doing. A lot of the fun in this one comes from the comedy double act of Karloff and Patrick Macnee as the police.
The Veil: Vision of Crime
Scarecrow-8813 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I have to say that I was overcome with excitement when I discovered this little series provided to us thanks to the fine folks at Something Weird Video because of the Boris Karloff fan that I am. To know that he would not only narrate each tale he presents, the backdrop a fireplace located in some sort of manor, but also star in each episode was enough to get me giddy with anticipation. Still, I tried to keep in mind that the show "The Veil" probably couldn't possibly in any way exceed my expectations, so I went in hoping for a rewardingly fun experience, not demanding perfection just entertainment. The first episode, "Vision of Crime" concerns a horrified young man named George Bosworth (Robert Hardy; a legend of British television) who sees a vision of his brother's death (he is shot dead in his apothecary shop by a mysterious woman, with a small pistol fit for a female's hand) and attempts to return home to Britain (he was on his way to Paris, seeing the vision on board a ship in a bowl of face-washing water) before it's too late. Boris Karloff has a wonderful, very humorous part as Sergeant Chester Wilmore (full of pomposity, his "status" as an officer of the law perhaps going to his head), the investigator in charge of finding the killer, but his haphazard police methods (he's quick to jump to conclusions before weighing in all the facts presented before him) would make him a liability to any case if it wasn't for his partner, Constable Hawton (a very young Patrick Macnee; The Avengers) always correcting him or helping to steer away from snap judgments. Albert Ketch (Terence de Marney) is the prime suspect because a witness saw him running from the scene of the crime, but George knows that it was a woman—just getting the police to believe him will not be an easy feat. Karloff and Macnee together as a police team was enough for me to derive pleasure from what was a rather talky, underwhelming mystery story with a pinch of the supernatural involved. Jennifer Raine has a vital role as George's fiancé, Julie, with questionable behavior he learns about from Betty Fairfax's chatty "commoner" Bertha Clink in a pub. Bertha is the one who links Ketch to the crime scene, but there was someone else there as well, which very well could implicate another. Most of this episode has characters talking out the case in detail, the result of "who killed the victim" coming out during an accidental admission as two carry on a discussion that grows heated as greed takes over the murderer who confesses out of anger at the thought of having to live below her means. Karloff seems to be having so much fun as a blowhard with Macnee's expressions, subtle but perfect, equating how difficult it can be to rein in his partner who goes a bit too overboard sometimes.
"... have I ever shown any signs of insanity?"
classicsoncall4 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
As the host of this program, Boris Karloff curiously states that he's bringing 'another' story to the viewer in his opening remarks. Although this was the first episode in the series titled 'The Veil', one designated Season 1, Episode 0 appears in the show's lineup which apparently never aired, so that probably accounts for the unusual narrative by Karloff.
As for the show itself, the opening sequence has a woman entering an apothecary shop after hours and shooting the proprietor, Hart Bosworth. It clearly looks like the woman who's later introduced in the story as Julie Westcott (Jennifer Raine), so the mystery of the murderer is never in doubt to the viewer. At the same time this occurred, Bosworth's brother George (Robert Hardy) is on a ship a hundred fifty miles from London, and he has a strange vision in a basin of water showing him the murder in progress. Determined to get back to England, the ship's captain arranges for George to get off at the next port of call.
Boris Karloff does double duty here as the program's narrator and as Sergeant Chester Wilmore in the drama itself, pretty much as an inept policeman who is constantly put back on track by partner Constable Hawton (Patrick Macnee). Wilmore's off the cuff observations and comments are humorous at best, giving the impression that he would never have solved this case if left up just to him. That's left for George Bosworth himself, who arrives to learn that an innocent man has been arrested for the murder and stands to be executed for the crime. He won't let this happen and goes about determining who the real killer was. Which seemed somewhat unusual since he should have recognized fiancée Westcott from his earlier vision as the person who pulled the trigger. Oddly, Westcott herself admits her guilt when she breaks down explaining why she killed Hart Bosworth. It was to remove him from the picture so that George would inherit the business and marry her, allowing her to enjoy the finer things in life which she envied. Not an unusual motive, and the way it plays out leaves the audience realizing that she'll be arrested for the crime.
As for the show itself, the opening sequence has a woman entering an apothecary shop after hours and shooting the proprietor, Hart Bosworth. It clearly looks like the woman who's later introduced in the story as Julie Westcott (Jennifer Raine), so the mystery of the murderer is never in doubt to the viewer. At the same time this occurred, Bosworth's brother George (Robert Hardy) is on a ship a hundred fifty miles from London, and he has a strange vision in a basin of water showing him the murder in progress. Determined to get back to England, the ship's captain arranges for George to get off at the next port of call.
Boris Karloff does double duty here as the program's narrator and as Sergeant Chester Wilmore in the drama itself, pretty much as an inept policeman who is constantly put back on track by partner Constable Hawton (Patrick Macnee). Wilmore's off the cuff observations and comments are humorous at best, giving the impression that he would never have solved this case if left up just to him. That's left for George Bosworth himself, who arrives to learn that an innocent man has been arrested for the murder and stands to be executed for the crime. He won't let this happen and goes about determining who the real killer was. Which seemed somewhat unusual since he should have recognized fiancée Westcott from his earlier vision as the person who pulled the trigger. Oddly, Westcott herself admits her guilt when she breaks down explaining why she killed Hart Bosworth. It was to remove him from the picture so that George would inherit the business and marry her, allowing her to enjoy the finer things in life which she envied. Not an unusual motive, and the way it plays out leaves the audience realizing that she'll be arrested for the crime.
Probably the weakest of the episodes
planktonrules12 February 2014
"The Veil" was a series that apparently never got shown BUT which, oddly, consisted of quite a few episodes. Usually, you'd think they would just make a pilot episode--and I would love to know more about this.
I have seen most but not all of the episodes. So, I cannot say for sure that "Vision of Crime" is the weakest episode--but it's certainly in the running. It is a strange and unsatisfying combination of drama and comedy--and that is why, for me, it doesn't work.
Mr. Bosworth is on a sea voyage when he has a premonition--someone is murdering his brother. As soon as possible, he disembarks and rushes home to find, unfortunately, that his premonition was true! However, the idiotic police have arrested the wrong man--he's NOT the guy in Bosworth's vision. So who is responsible?
If you take out the annoyingly stupid policeman played by the host, Boris Karloff (he appeared in all but one of the episodes in addition to hosting), this could have actually been one of the better shows. But, annoying he is--and the impact is reduced considerably.
I have seen most but not all of the episodes. So, I cannot say for sure that "Vision of Crime" is the weakest episode--but it's certainly in the running. It is a strange and unsatisfying combination of drama and comedy--and that is why, for me, it doesn't work.
Mr. Bosworth is on a sea voyage when he has a premonition--someone is murdering his brother. As soon as possible, he disembarks and rushes home to find, unfortunately, that his premonition was true! However, the idiotic police have arrested the wrong man--he's NOT the guy in Bosworth's vision. So who is responsible?
If you take out the annoyingly stupid policeman played by the host, Boris Karloff (he appeared in all but one of the episodes in addition to hosting), this could have actually been one of the better shows. But, annoying he is--and the impact is reduced considerably.
Neat episode
Woodyanders27 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
George Bosworth (a fine performance by Robert Hardy) has a vision of his brother's murder while on a boat trip to France. George returns to Britian and finds out that the wrong man has been charged with the murder; it's up to him to entrap the real killer. Director Herbert L. Strock, working from an absorbing script by Fred Schiller, relates the story at a steady pace, handles the slight supernatural element in a tasteful, intelligent, and restrained manner, and maintains interest throughout. Boris Karloff acquits himself with his usual dignified aplomb as the pompous Sergeant Chester Wilmore. Moreover, it's fun to see a very young and then unknown pre-"Avengers" Patrick MacNee in a sizable supporting part as the eager Constable Hawton. Jennifer Raine is likewise solid as George's sweet fiancée Julie Westcott, plus there are sturdy contributions by Betty Fairfax as doddery windbag witness Bertha Clink and Terence de Marney as the irascible Albert Ketch. Howard Schwartz's stark black and white cinematography boasts several artful fades and dissolves. Leon Klatzkin's shivery score does the shuddery trick. The killer's true identity is a genuine surprise while the motive for the murder proves to be quite chilling. A good show.
Solidly good episode
bmulkey-8159721 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It starts off with a murder being committed. Like later day Columbo eps we see clearly who the murderer is. Then we cut to a man at sea who while looking in some water sees a reenactment of the murder of the man ( the man at sea's brother actually) minus any sound. He does get a from-the-back only mental look at the apparently female killer and thus does not see that it is his own very, very beautiful fiancee doing the killing. She has her hair up so her unique hair style is not visible either.
Now I am going to instantly stress the image the man got in the water at sea is the only supernatural element in this whole ep. Outside of this there is no type of element fitting that description. It is not a ripoff but the ep is barely supernatural with a plot that starts off while it incidentally seems vaguely like the later film 'Eyes of Laura Mars' (the latter film started beautiful Faye Dunaway) and then has nothing supernatural again. So if you have not seen this yet decide if it is worth viewing for so small a supernatural element.
Also, was this really a true story?
Now I am going to instantly stress the image the man got in the water at sea is the only supernatural element in this whole ep. Outside of this there is no type of element fitting that description. It is not a ripoff but the ep is barely supernatural with a plot that starts off while it incidentally seems vaguely like the later film 'Eyes of Laura Mars' (the latter film started beautiful Faye Dunaway) and then has nothing supernatural again. So if you have not seen this yet decide if it is worth viewing for so small a supernatural element.
Also, was this really a true story?
beautiful beginning
Kirpianuscus1 October 2022
A seductive beginning for a series having as admirable host ( and not only ) Boris Karloff. A vision of a man on a ship to France about the asassination of his brother in England. The return and his effort for reveal the truth. A presumed murderer exists and the struggle for justice , based only on the vision communicated only to his fiancee is almost impressive.
But the truth is defined by a confession after his little trick. A not comfortable one, defining a radical difference, proposing a sort of loneliness but his need for justice is prioritary.
Boris Karloff as a not very good policeman is one of basic virtues of the episode.
But the truth is defined by a confession after his little trick. A not comfortable one, defining a radical difference, proposing a sort of loneliness but his need for justice is prioritary.
Boris Karloff as a not very good policeman is one of basic virtues of the episode.
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