“Creatures
of the Canyon” is one of the most bizarre -- and one of the silliest -- Ghost Story (1972) episodes I’ve yet
reviewed. The general wackiness of the
episode, in some way, makes it commendable, I suppose, but I can’t argue in sincere
fashion that it’s a particular strong installment of this anthology.
In
this episode, our host Winston Essex (Sebastian Cabot) stands in front of a
rear projection screen (of the Mansfield House grounds) to deliver his
introduction. He discusses dogs.
Isn’t it
suspicious, he wonders, that dogs are
always called “man’s best friend?”
Why
aren’t dogs a woman’s best friend too?
In
fact, Essex detects an eternal rivalry between dogs and women for male
affection that “knows no bounds.”
And
my goodness, this is all incredibly sexist and ridiculous. Dogs
and women historically don’t get along?
Who knew?
Well,
dogs and women certainly don’t get along in “Creatures of the Canyon,” which
features star Angie Dickinson as Carol Finney, a recent widow. Carol and her best friend, Georgia (Madlyn
Rhue) are concerned that a neighbor, Arthur Munday (John Ireland) seems to let
his dog -- formerly Carol’s dog --
threaten them on Carol’s own property.
We
soon learn that before his untimely death, Carol’s husband and Carol had it out
over their dog, and her husband ended up sending the dog away to the
Mundays. But, then, Carol’s husband died
suddenly. Now, the dog wants revenge upon Carol for sending him away right at
the time when his master needed him.
Carol
now suspects that her former pet hates her.
Even after Georgia poisons and kills the dog, Carol is convinced that
the animal still wishes her dead…from beyond the grave. At work, she watches in horror as a bronze
statue of dogs keeps changing shape as she approaches. And at home, Carol worries that her own,
gentle dog is growing increasingly erratic…
Ghost
Story
already gave us a cat episode “Cry of the Cat,” so perhaps it is only fair we
get this dog episode now, but boy is this one ludicrous. Angie Dickinson is very good in the lead
role, I must acknowledge. In fact, at
times her performance is outright masterful, given the material she’s tasked
with vetting. But finally it’s hard for
even a great actress to maintain her dignity when attacked by a cuddly little
dog, one apparently possessed by the spirit of vengeance.
I
can’t say it enough: the concepts underlining most Ghost Story tales are
extremely thin, and are therefore unable to support an episode of fifty-one
minutes in length. They’d work fine in a half-hour slot, but because that’s not
the case we are here treated to endless shots of Dickinson gazing at the bronze
dog statue in horror, or wandering her property in search of the evil dog. One
particularly ludicrous scene has the actress pursued across a parking lot (and
into her car) by an invisible ghost dog.
And
even as thin as most Ghost Story concepts or premises plainly
are, this one is thinner than most.
Where
did the writer, Del Reisman, get the idea that dogs and women are eternal
foes? It’s just such a ridiculous way to
frame the story, and unnecessarily offensive to women. Beyond that, this episode makes no effort to diagram the rules of the ghost dog. How does it manipulate the statue? How come sometimes it is invisible, and sometimes it isn't? How does it possess another dog? And if it can possess other dogs, why not possess a human? Beyond these matters, the episode never clearly explains Munday's role in the killings. Is he supporting the dog's righteous vengeance? Does he understand what seems to be happening?
I’ve
been trying to avoid writing throughout this review that “Creatures of the
Canyon” is a real dog, but the temptation is too great, so I’m just going to end
the review here, and leave it well enough alone.
Suffice
it to say, “Creatures of the Canyon” descends into high-camp before it ends,
and Ghost
Story once again adds a weak episode to its roster. The program’s batting average is really
dipping now.
Next Week: “Time of Terror.”