Circle of Fear (TV Series) The New House (1972) User Reviews

From Peyton Place to the valley of Pleasant Hill.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 25 February 2021]

While forgotten today outside the fans of the cult primetime TV soap and one of the campiest movies ever made, actress Barbara Parkins was once everywhere well regarded and quite busy. She didn't have the camp following of Patty Duke or the tragic ending of Sharon Tate, so outside of cinema and classic TV followers like myself, it's understandable that her career isn't as well regarded even though she's actually quite good. Along with David Birney, she was cast as the lead in the TV pilot for a short-term anthology occult series that I just discovered and am now finding enjoyment in.

Pleasant Valley is a well-regarded section of a small town, but there's a mystery about it that Parkins is determined to solve. Having just moved there with husband Birney, she's disturbed by voices she's hearing after purchasing a rather strange looking statue of a grinning woman (those teeth alone would turn me away from purchasing it), and she goes to see town historian Sam Jaffe. He tells her that the spot where her house is used to be used for execution, containing a gallows for hanging. A young woman was the last person hanged, and now it's obvious that her spirit is possessing the house.

Like Jean Val Jean from "Les Miserables", the woman was condemned for stealing a loaf of bread, and when condemned, she left the court with a laugh which is obvious what Parkins is hearing now. The atmosphere is perfect for a gothic thriller where beautiful old homes and kind townsfolk give the impression that everything is peaceful. Allyn Ann McLearie, Jeanette Nolan and Ivor Francis co-star, with Sebastian Cabot ("Family Affair") as the host.

The sounds of the 1779 court case come out of the transistor radio, and that really is a haunting twist. Quite a lot of fun. I consider classic TV anthology to be little mini-movies, cut to half the length of most theatrical films and half an hour shorter for the most part of TV movies.

A Rare Treat and Great Atmospheric Musical Score

[[e-mail] · 15 February 2008]

I fondly remember this series as I also was a kid in the seventies. The should definitely release this on DVD. Maybe we should start a petition. I'll have to look up and do some research but I believe the studio that filmed these was Universal but I'm not sure. Anyway, Sebastian Cabot was a great host for when it was called "Ghost Story" and then the other 12 or so episodes the host was dropped and they changed the name to "Circle Of Fear". A lot of great actors and familiar faces from the seventies were featured. There was one episode starring Doug McClure as a rancher who suspected that his wife was cursed with becoming a cougar and at midnight would chain her up. It's actually much better than it sounds, LOL. Another episode aptly named "Body Parts" featured Meg Foster (the actress with the incredibly light and spooky blue eyes) being one of three transplant patients who somehow begin to exhibit the behavior of the original donor who I think was some mass murderer or something. It was so long ago so I don't recall the exact details. Some other notables included Janet Leigh, Susan Dey, Martin Sheen etc. What I also really loved and that has really stayed with me all theses years was the great atmospheric musical score of each episode done by Billy Goldenberg a staple of seventies television in those days. It would be really great if Varese Sarabande a company that specializes in putting out movie and TV show soundtracks on CD would put this one out.

First Ghost Story

[AaronCapenBanner · 9/10 · 14 November 2014]

David Birney and Barbara Parkins play John & Eileen Travis, a young married couple who have been staying at the fancy hotel called Mansfield House managed by Winston Essex(played by Sebastian Cabot), but are now ready to move into a new house, and are expecting a baby as well. Unfortunately, the house turns out to be haunted, having been built on an old gallows site where a young woman was hanged, but whose ghost now wants to possess the baby, which is driving poor Eileen to distraction by the climax on a dark and stormy night... Excellent pilot episode is well above average for its type, which deftly deals with any clichés as it tells its well crafted story, leading to a chilling end. Sam Jaffe is memorable as an old man familiar with local history. The subsequent series didn't measure up to this though...

Promising TV Movie Pilot..turned into a disappointing series.

[tbob02 · 9/10 · 24 October 2000]

Ghost Story (the TV Movie--1972) was the pilot for the NBC series. The movie was well-written and well-acted and, I thought, when the 1972-73 tv season started, if the tv series is half as good as the movie, then NBC has a winner. (I wish this film was available on video!!) The series was a colossal disappointment--even with William Castle as exec. producer. If, however,you have a chance to see the original TV movie, Ghost Story, check it out. You won't be disappointed.

GHOST STORY: THE NEW HOUSE {TV} (John Llewellyn Moxey, 1972) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 5/10 · 1 May 2014]

I had not realized that between producing RIOT (1969), an upcoming viewing, and his unprecedented return to direction with SHANKS (1974), William Castle had overseen a 23-episode supernatural TV series called GHOST STORY (later retitled CIRCLE OF FEAR). This was, in fact, the pilot episode (for the record, I managed to track down 4 of these for my current Castle centenary tribute), pleasantly evoking the style of entries in other vintage horror shows I had sampled during recent Halloween marathons (notably DEAD OF NIGHT {1972} and SUPERNATURAL {1977}, down to the latter's framework of the tales being recounted from inside a genial yet vaguely sinister mansion – in this case, presided over by Sebastian Cabot)!

Plot-wise, too, this provided pretty standard thrills: it basically follows the oft-used path of some new occupants of a mysterious house being either terrorized (by mysterious footsteps, maniacal laughter emanating from a statue and, eventually, apparitions – albeit naturally thought to be merely hysterical by others) or possessed (rather amusingly, an infant!) by an evil spirit. Still, with Castle producing (he also has a gag cameo at the very start as a bar patron!), Moxey (best-known for THE CITY OF THE DEAD {1960}) directing, eminent genre novelist/scriptwriter Richard Matheson contributing to the story, and a cast featuring Barbara (THE MEPHISTO WALTZ {1971}) Parkins, David (TRIAL BY COMBAT {1976}) Birney, Sam (THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL {1951}) Jaffe – as the obligatory elderly historian supplying the backstory to the haunting (the location had previously served as a gallows!) – and Jeanette Nolan (from Orson Welles' MACBETH {1948}), the result could hardly fail to be engaging for the duration…which, at just 42 minutes, does not outstay its welcome despite the utter lack of originality within the narrative.

Barbara Parkins: The New House and A New Terror

[perryvalentino · 10/10 · 4 August 2010]

Barbara Parkins just filmed "A Taste of Evil," around this time and it looks like she was going to become the early seventies scream queen. Barbara Parkins was one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. The first episode of "Ghost Story" is done very well. It is the only episode, which I can recall with the stars filmed inside the Del Coronado in the opening scene. Barbara Parkins and David Birney make a very attractive couple. However, the show definitely belongs to Barbara. Barbara makes an enchanting heroine, who reminds you of Victoria Winters from "Dark Shadows." Barbara hears intruders in the house and the husband finds no one. Oh I forgot to say, Barbara is a pregnant rich heiress. The house is built over a gallow. Is Barbara being haunted or is her husband trying to drive her crazy in order to get her money? The only way you will find out is to watch this episode, which is surprisingly not on DVD. Please try to find this from a collector and be prepared to be entertained and scared.

Ghost Story from the 1972-73 TV season on NBC

[skfb66 · 24 January 2005]

Okay, I doubt this is on DVD anywhere. In fact, I'm shocked (and pleased) that there are those that even remember it because of it's short run. Can anyone who remembers this show remember any plot lines from specific stories. I was only 6 or 7 when it was on, but I was hooked. In fact, it came on the same night as The Sixth Sense with Gary Collins which also scared the crap out of me. I vaguely recall a certain episode with Loretta Swit but the details are fuzzy. There was also one set in a creepy old hospital. Anyway, if anyone remembers any further details about this show or if it is indeed available somewhere on tape or DVD, please share. Nothing like the seventies for good supernatural TV. Night Stalker, Night Gallery. Great stuff.

Ghost story/ Circle of Fear.... a Great series!! May reveal too much.

[diamonddogrising · 10/10 · 20 February 2007]

I grew up watching this series. I was about seven/eight years old when it was on. I still remember the 1st episode which was called "The New House." It scared the h*ll out of me! I can almost still hear that statue, laughing madly. And the ending, oh my God! The hooror spirit comes in the room for the child: Yikes! This was classic TV and it was a one of a kind series. I have found a DVD collection for sale on the internet: 2 actually. My question to any readers: Has anyone purchased this set? Its a bootleg. Both sellers claim to have very good copy. I have a sketchy and poor DVD of "The New House" episode, and a couple of other episodes that are a bit better,however, if anyone knows if these are much clearer it would be worth it to me to buy and share with my kids. A great series, clever, scary and daringly supernatural. Thanks in advance to any fans who have the low down on any of this- In fact, I'd love to discuss it. Chris Walker

Truly One of the Scariest Films Ever.

[fcr-4 · 10/10 · 21 July 2006]

I like Ghost stories. Good ghost stories of bumps in the night, voices that cannot be explained. Now I've see many of them. As special efx have a ever more grip on todays films, some times to find a real gem , you gotta turn the clock back to the time when the writers and directors really had to use their heads to create really good ghost stories. Now this one, very rare , pilot episode for the TV series Ghost Story called " The New House " was one of the most scariest films I ever saw. It was on once in 1972,...I was only 9,..but nothing since then even compared to it. With all the remake going on in Hollywood, some one should do this one " as is " with no more special efx than the original. This episode was down right creepy as hell. I'm lucky to find it finally on DVD today and very rare and hard to find. The only other 2 Ghost Stories to even come close was the ORIGINAL " The Haunting " and George C. Scott in " The Changling " . Wish someone would do more ghost stories like these.

Question about the ghost (could be spoiler)

[hockey-15 · 15 July 2006]

Was this the show that totally scared the crap out of me when I was about 11 years old because the ghost wanted the baby ? If so it is the scariest thing I've ever seen. I am 44 years old now and would love to see this again. I have two boys ages 10 & 7. I think I would like them to see it also. I must watch it again first though. It is amazing how things can scare you without todays over done special effects & all, like someone already said no curse words or blood. As far as a comment goes like I said , if this is the show I think it is then it was chilling right down to your bones and haunted me for nights,weeks months & years on end and to anyone who asks I tell them that this is my #1 scariest movie of all time. So if anyone out there can confirm that this is that show please do so. Thank you , Aloha : )

Favorite childhood show.

[dougmac-3 · 23 August 2004]

This show scared the hell out of me, but yet I was compelled to watch it every week. I was only 9 years old when it first ran, and the theme music is about all that is still in my head today !! I do however remember being very disappointed when it only ran two seasons. After reading other comments, some of it came back to me ... People in Mason Jars, the Doll House, and the Rocking Horse episodes. My wife (a year younger than I) does not remember this show, yet she did like watching Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and others at the time.

We now have three boys (8,10,& 12), and all have always been strangely obsessed with scary movies, Halloween, etc. (go figure). I would love to see this series released on DVD for them to experience, as it is hard to find good scary stuff today that is suitable for young viewers. Most of what is suitable they have already seen ... I.E. Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Twilight Zone, etc. I'm also obviously curious to see this show today from a 40 yr old's perspective !!

What triggered my search for "Ghost Story / Circle of Fear" was seeing an ad in the paper yesterday for "Night Gallery, Season 1" being released on DVD.

I remember watching this show as well, but it did not grab my interest like Ghost Story /Circle of Fear did back then.

Doug