| Highcliffe Manor | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Robert Blees |
| Directed by | Nick Havinga |
| Starring | Shelley Fabares Stephen McHattie Eugenie Ross-Leming Gerald Gordon Audrey Landers |
| Narrated by | Peter Lawford |
| Opening theme | "Highcliffe Manor" by Frank De Vol |
| Composer | Bob Alberti |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 (2 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Producers | Eugenie Ross-Leming Brad Buckner |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies | Alan Landsburg Productions T.A.T. Communications Company |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | April 12 – May 3, 1979 |
Highcliffe Manor is an American sitcom with a gothic horror background focused on the events in a mansion with crazy scientists and strange figures. The series starred Shelley Fabares and aired on NBC from April 12 to May 3, 1979.
Summary
The plot concerned the goings on at Highcliffe Manor, a creepy old mansion on a desolate island in New England. Helen Blacke, an attractive but flaky widow, is the owner of the mansion that was home to the Blacke Foundation, a scientific research institute with a houseful of sinister characters which included Frances, a mad scientist; Bram Shelley, a bionic man; Ian Glenville, a womanizing preacher; Cheng, a huge Korean assistant; Wendy Sparkles, a sexy secretary; Rebecca, a creepy housekeeper and evil doctors Lester and Sanchez. Each episode featured voice-over narration by Peter Lawford.
Cast
- Shelley Fabares as Helen Blacke (widow of the foundation's founder)
- Stephen McHattie as Reverend Ian Glenville
- Eugenie Ross-Leming as Dr. Frances Kisgadden
- Gerald Gordon as Dr. Felix Morger (former assistant to the late Berkeley Blacke)
- Audrey Landers as Wendy Sparkles (secretary to the late Mr. Blacke)
- Jenny O'Hara as Rebecca (the housekeeper)
- Christian Marlowe as Bram Shelley (the bionic man)
- David Byrd as Dr. Lester
- Luis Avalos as Dr. Sanchez
- Ernie Hudson as Smythe (valet to the late Mr. Blacke)
- Harold Sakata as Cheng
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Blacke Death" | Nick Havinga | Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner | April 12, 1979 | |
| Helen is oblivious to her tenants' designs toward her. | |||||
| 2 | "Berkeley Cheats the Grave" | Nick Havinga | Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner | April 19, 1979 | |
| Felix persists in his unrequited passion for Helen and the villagers make a ghastly discovery at the crypt. | |||||
| 3 | "The Evil from Within" | Nick Havinga | Earle Doud | April 26, 1979 | |
| A plot by Helen's evil enemies is short-circuited by Rev. Ian Glenville. | |||||
| 4 | "Love Blooms" | Nick Havinga | Rick Orloff | May 3, 1979 | |
| Dr. Kisgadden's abduction jolts her amnesiac bionic man to the realization that he is the presumed-dead. | |||||
| 5 | "Sex & Violence" | Nick Havinga | Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner | Unaired | |
| Rebecca and Smythe find each other during a heart-to-heart chat and Helen's mother (Inga Swenson) visits. | |||||
| 6 | "Stark Terror" | Nick Havinga | Carmen Finestra and John Surgal | Unaired | |
| Helen suspects Smythe is more than a valet and sinister vapors from a coffee maker claims two victims. | |||||
References
- Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present. Eight Edition. New York: Ballantine, 2003.