STEVEN SPIELBERG TALKS ABOUT HIS NIGHT GALLERY EXPERIENCE

Veteran Director Steven Spielberg talks about directing Joan Crawford in a Night Gallery episode. 1982

[@65wiseman]

Crawford stayed in touch with Spielberg for the rest of her life. When Joan liked someone she was a very loyal friend.

[@christoph404]

I remember watching this episode starring Joan Crawford on TV, I was a child and I was staying at my grandmothers house for the weekend and she let me stay up late, it somehow left an imprint in my mind because it is an episode I often think about, so it left a lasting impression, Spielberg is a genius director no doubt about it and Joan Crawford an iconic screen presence, that combination makes for powerful story telling. And what a great story about Crawford giving Spielberg full support and making sure the crew did as well!! That is something, she really cared about the work, what a lady!!!

[@fanboy2015]

Seems Miss Crawford took her craft seriously. Not only did she train herself in how to be a person with no sight for this show, but she also trained herself on how to maneuver a wheelchair for Baby Jane. She was indeed a pro.

[@xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx]

She even went permanently blind for the sake of her role.

[@robertdee3207]

I'm not surprised at all by this. Joan Crawford was is and always will be quite simply the best. No one even begins to compare. Love you Joan...

[@cedarabbey]

Only Steven's fibbing here -- she called up Lew Wasserman and screamed that Steven be fired. Wasserman talked her down, said they were grooming Spielberg for features, and if she didn't want to take that risk with them, then they would understand if she wants to pull out... Crickets... Joan was there first thing Monday morning and was a lamb... Wasserman never told Spielberg this until after Crawford died in 1977.

[@stomp919]

The first story in the trilogy, The Graveyard with Roddy McDowall is some of the best horror you will ever see. Night Gallery 1969

[@lar4305]

+stomp919 Portifoy is that you Portifoy

[@tyrantgregcagkaiju71]

The Cemetery. Yeah, according to my father, that segment scared EVERYONE in the '70s. My mother said it and The Caterpillar were the two stories that haunted everyone they knew.

[@stanleynickjedrzejczyk4533]

Tyrant Gregcag Th..th...there's a casket in that painting, Portifoy! 💀😆

[@btinsley1]

i was a kid watching NG like it was a religion man. The Graveyard made my underwear heavy

[@sierria64]

NIGHT GALLERY WAS GOOD REMEBER AS A 9 YEAR OLD WATCHING AND BEING SCARED. I THINK IT WAS IN SOME WAYS BETTER THAN TWILIGHT ZONE

[@Jocular64]

I truly enjoyed Steven's telling us his Joan Crawford experience. Most insightful.

[@mitchsalawine5420]

Steven should be proud of that first Night Gallery episode. He was showing his mettle even then, that final shot of the broken glass cascading upwards in front of the painting of Joan still blows me away to this day!

[@catman3552]

I remember this trilogy episode. I think the one with Roddy McDowall was one of the best ever.

[@j.d.thompson3505]

Joan was amazing in this. I bought the complete Night Gallery DVD Collection and did not know she was in it. What a treat! The whole package is a blast to sit through. I barely remember Night Gallery from my childhood. It's a must have for late 60s early 70s fans

[@slcRN1971]

I also bought the complete DVD set as I had really liked the TV series, when I watched it as an older teen. The episodes about the doctors bag is another episode that stuck in memory. I’ve just begun watching these DVDs and am pleased at how good these episodes have been restored.

[@55hivealive3]

I bought that DVD set too and it's such an underrated show

[@jm7804]

It's a pity that he said he wasn't proud of it. I love it. You cannot take your eyes of Joan Crawford during any scene she was in. She knew how to command the camera. Also, it really was her last great role. A horror classic.

[@roystonmason9125]

he's very proud of it !

[@jm7804]

@@roystonmason9125 He literally says "I'm not really proud of the show" at 4:45

[@roystonmason9125]

@@jm7804 no he doesn't he praises her for backing him and lying that she had worked with him b 4 ,,,,,,, The whole crew went along and she treated him like a pro as well ! THEY also kept in contact years after !

[@jm7804]

@@roystonmason9125 Are you missing a few brain cells? He literally says "I'm not really proud of the show" at 4:45, and you try explaining it as something else or you didn't watch it back to hear the words that you obviously missed. Having respect for Crawford has nothing whatsoever to do with being proud of the work. He even says someone else edited the show afterwards. He then gives examples of how it missed the mark. I disagree with his assessment. I love it, but I'm not going to sit there and argue with the man's opinion. It's his creation.

[@11rokerito]

The Queen of Cinema and The King of Film Directors 🧡

[@stevers62]

Very kind of Joan to stand up for Steven. Fascinating story. Thanks for posting!

[@Omnicient.]

She had a destructive, masked passive-aggressive personality; never once would or could she be sincere; everything these kinds of people do and think is ranged around the 'positioning' of themselves. Trump would be a much worse example.

[@marias7599]

Omniscient I’ve heard many stories about her with the same kind of behavior you describe about her. And the sense I get atunes with what you say. It’s the worst kind of personality there is. I rather like people who sing it to your face.

[@gordons-alive4940]

@Dusk Hollow Guess she realized that Spielberg might be headed for a major career and the smart move would be to get on his good side.

[@roystonmason9125]

@@Omnicient. B S ! she wrote thank you letters for getting thank you letters ! Would you do that ?

[@roystonmason9125]

@@marias7599 she would say what she wanted to ppls face especially if she didn't like you ! But she wrote to millions of fans and her friends loved her !

[@williamjackson6705]

Classy move on Joan`s part. Brought a smile to My face.

[@dfa3366]

After I saw this video because I had no idea that Spielberg directed an episode let alone one with Joan Crawford I must say it was enjoyable.

[@marcomanino9172]

Even actors who weren’t fans of her personally like a Bette Davis all said the same thing about her professionally. She was always a pro.

[@chriscanale9535]

love Joan

[@SWSimpson]

Joan was a professional. I love the ending of buildings, trees, grass, airplanes, COLOR!

[@Darrigrande]

She was an 1A actress! A professional actress100%! She never gave a poor Performance in her Career!

[@shihlin1]

I LUVED this episode from Night Gallery! I can't believe Spielberg was only 21 when he made Night Gallery, you can tell he's gonna be a great director. The Night Gallery Graveyard episode still scares the Sh*t outta me, talk about creepy !!

[@gallery7596]

Yes, "The Cemetery" directed by the late Boris Sagal. Very creepy segment.

[@slcRN1971]

@@gallery7596 : it s excellent and I didn’t guess the ending, which is very very creepy!!

[@gustavosantos106]

It's lovely how these outfits and looks are totally acceptable again in 2021.

[@marktharp4462]

Miss Crawford deserves a Oscar for this performance!

[@RobGa66]

It was on tv, so it would have been an Emmy.

[@yorickmoran4823]

It would be interesting to see a younger Spielberg in the last episode of Feud.

[@64dethray]

That little Stevie Spielberg is gonna go places.

[@dancamp1531]

JAON AND STEVE LEGENDS

[@BillyAlabama]

Terrific interview Steven.

[@warrenmaass4669]

I still remember watching it and this was the only episode of Night Gallery that I remember.

[@aileenwagner2576]

This Night Gallery episode scared me when i saw it on TV. I luv JC and anything she was in❤

[@antonnym214]

Illuminating! Bless you. Yes, classic episode. It was cool hearing the story behind the story.

[@chickasawstarrmountain9747]

I've always love night gallery and especially that episode

[@holdfast7182]

"And 'E.T.', which opens this Friday and is sure to be an immense hit." lol... this statement seems a ludicrous understatement 35 years later

[@CaptainSpalding72]

holdfast no it doesn't. He was dead right. Had he said it will likely flop. That would be ludicrous

[@captainh3831]

He did predict it would be "an immense hit" ....how much more grandiose a statement could he make??

[@roystonmason9125]

night gallery is better than E T

[@roystonmason9125]

@Lynsey Willis neither one are worth a damn ! FREAK

[@roystonmason9125]

the extra testicle

[@h.calvert3165]

Remember, folks, that Miss Crawford worked in the old studio system, when the directors were gods. So she took one look at this kid, reminded herself that he was a Director, & gave him no trouble whatsoever. She was a pro! 🏆

[@thompson63]

This was one of my favorite episodes

[@shihanuke3683]

Even Steven needed someone to speak for him.

[@micheleellis4074]

So much irony in that Night Gallery episode, EYES.

[@gmh471]

It was great! I loved it!

[@rositawest4279]

Fascinating!

[@jerrys1375]

He didn’t mention Tom Bosley, the man who sold his eyes to Joan Crowford.

[@slcRN1971]

Yes, had forgotten that he was even n this episode. Loved him as Mr. ‘C’ in ‘Happy Days’. One thing I didn’t get, is why his character didn’t ask for more money .......... she would have paid a lot more.

[@tadimaggio]

I'm not suggesting that Joan Crawford was Maria von Trapp (actually, the real Maria von Trapp wasn't very much like the screen Maria von Trapp), but there were plenty of people who knew and genuinely liked Joan Crawford. Ann Blyth, who co-starred with Joan in "Mildred Pierce", remained close friends with her until her death, and always said that Joan was invaluable to her as a professional mentor at several key phases of her career. People don't elicit that kind of affection and loyalty from others unless they have SOMETHING good about them, whatever faults they may also have. On a different tack: I was 14 in 1969, when the opening trilogy film of "Night Gallery" was broadcast, and I STILL remember it, more than fifty years later. (The third segment, where Richard Kiley, as a Nazi, encounters Sam Jaffe as a Holocaust survivor, and strangles him, was especially bone-chilling. You could have heard a pin drop in our living room when Jaffe gasped out his last words: "I made my peace with God years ago, something you and your kind will never do! You, and those like you, put too many Christs on crosses for any God to forgive! I am the sixth millionth and first victim!"). As for Joan's segment, it was precisely those directorial touches that Spielberg regretted using in this interview that struck me the most vividly. The shots in mirrors and prisms were astonishing; you simply didn't SEE things like that on television in those days. I'd say that Steve, at 21, hit the ground running.

[@665kk]

People really should research before calling Joan an abuser. Christina has admitted to making things up, and the re release of "Mommie Dearest" has a lot of the bad content from 1978 taken out of it. Her story has change one too many times for her to be credible anymore.

[@misterhot9163]

665kk oh please enough about Christina already!! Most of us are sick to death about differing opinions about Joan Crawford and Mommie Dearest. The book and the movie happened and there will always be two camps. Accept it and move on....

[@RJT80]

Christina is odd because she admits she was a royal pain in the ass as a child but then cannot understand why she had a rough relationship with her disciplinarian mother. The mental and physical abuse is questionable given how many people have differing accounts of actual events, or overall experiences of Joan Crawford. Joan was truly one of a kind. When the beautiful Carole Lombard died in the plane crash she donated the money from taking over the role Lombard died while filming to the Red Cross to find her body (they did) and then fired her agent when he took 10% from the role. I have no doubt that Joan was difficult and would have butted heads with a troubled child. But I dont believe any of the abuse. It just doesn't add up. I think there is motive for Christina after being left out of the will, for reasons we will never know about, and that it is perhaps the epitome of petty to write something like that when a person cannot defend themselves. The movie is even worse. Faye Dunaway should be ashamed of herself for thinking that role was appropriate and it is fitting that everyone on the set hated her own behavior.

[@tiffythekewlchick3457]

665kk listen. Yes in the movie, some of it was exaggerated for money but your forgetting the point....its a movie and movies are dramatic. But the book 'Mommie Dearest' was written and, in my opinion, I believe the book was more realistic. Also why are we even discussing that book. No one in the comment section brought up this, except you.

[@johnathandwayne1461]

Cristina hasnt changed her story. It is full of different emotions, just like life itself.

[@taraniso]

No, Christina did NOT say she lied. You Crawford Queens never stop.

[@austinthomas8464]

pretty good twilight zone spinoff

[@44excalibur]

The fact that Joan Crawford blindfolded herself to get into character is ironic considering that earlier in her career she was critical of “method acting" as a form of actors “imposing their own neuroses on the audience."

[@lindaeasley4336]

People don't realize that before the 1980s , there was a youth prejudice in the entertainment industry . I even noticed it in the characters portrayed in tv shows . The criminals were over 40 . Leading men in movies , too and they cast under 30 actresses to be their leading ladies

[@aliensoup2420]

Hollywood was still a Union town, and anybody with a recognizable name acquired it by working up from the bottom. No surprise that a kid starting at the top would ruffle anyone's feathers in any industry. But that was the beginning of the new Hollywood, led by the likes of Francis Coppola, and New Wave independent filmmakers. Audiences were prepared for it through the cultural changes of the 60's and 70's. George Lucas and James Cameron had to face the same prejudice while making their first big movies in England.

[@shihanUKS]

...there are varying stories by steven himself as to what happened on that set. The denominator stills holds that he was mistreated, micromanaged, and second guessed. They were determined to send a message to Sheinberg that his confidence in this young man was "misdirected". Steven was frowned at until after Jaws was released...then they frowned at him for being too good. Hollywood can't afford him now.

[@jukodebu]

+shihanUKS what do u no about hollywuud

[@shihanUKS]

+jukodebu Hmm...enough to believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.

[@kareneastman9695]

I love that episode.:-):-O:-(:-( I never heard of Hamblin.

[@MrQbenDanny]

BRAVO!!! Barry SULLIVAN!!!

[@shihlin1]

Joan has gotten many bad raps over the years mainly due to Faye Dunaway's way over the top portrayal of her on Mommy Dearest. But she gave Spielberg a shot in the arm when he needed it by supporting him in front of the film crew. That really meant a lot to Spielberg starting out as a 21 year-old director. The music in this Night Gallery episode is really creepy !

[@gallery7596]

Yeah, the music's great. Billy Goldenberg was the composer.

[@kennethhamlett10h]

I don't think the harm to Ms. Crawford was done by Ms. Dunaway's performance. It was done by the book "Mommie Dearest," written by her daughter Christina. Her depiction of Ms. Crawford as an abusive parent was widely accepted. Through the intervening years, however, Christina Crawford's relentless retelling of the story for anyone who will pay her to tell it & accede to her requirements has caused many people to question whether she told the story accurately or to gain attention for herself. Perhaps we will never know those answers. I actually thought the film portrayal of Ms. Crawford was more sympathetic & gave some context to the struggles actresses in that generation in Hollywood encountered after 40. I didn't think it was as unkind as you remember it. But reactions to films are subjective, so yours is certainly as valid as mine. We can agree, I think, that Ms. Crawford is one or the enduring stars or Hollywood with a body of work that will guarantee her stardom forever. I also think that in the 1930s films, she was exquisitely beautiful -- the most beautiful actress of thar period.

[@MegaAtomium]

The only thing that has ever bothered me about this episode is that if she was ONLY gonna have 12 hours of sight... what was the logic of having her few precious hours of sight start in the evening? I get it... she was a selfish woman who needed to have her comupens... but it seems like a story flaw. Besides that I love it. Joan Crawford gave it the weight that she would give to a film role. She was a legend.

[@slcRN1971]

I just read your comment, after making a similar query on another’s comment. Did the doctor sort of get back at her, for black mailing him? Also why didn’t the man ask for a lot more money, she would have paid more.

[@georgegallucci9958]

Comeuppance.

[@gilraybaker826]

Billy Goldenberg's score was the best.

[@h.calvert3165]

Yes, he walked out of college in his junior year to start his career. BUT. . .when he was STEVEN SPIELBERG he went back to school & finished his degree, just to show his kids that his fatherly pronouncements on the value of an education were not so much B.S. 👏🏻

[@mockmonkey1]

The Music Box at 3:39 is that a famous piece of music? I know that William Goldenberg did the music for the movie but that music box theme sounds like music from Jaws.

[@AndrewPatrickRalston]

I think it's Mozart's Marriage of Figaro.

[@miggshubbard2]

Glad to hear it; too many people see her onscreen and thin she is a saint; what they fail to recognize is, most people have 2 personas, one public, one private, and while JC was a gifted actress and sweet to her fans, she was a monster to the first 2 adoptees, kind to the second set. Why the discrepancy? We'll never know.

[@myphonyaccount]

back then, millennials were about zabriske point. today they're about apps.

[@benny4700]

I don't think you know what a millennial is...

[@berjaboy]

Tom Bosley was also interviewed about his experience working with Joan on the same set. Sadly felt the need to trash poor Joan saying she was drunk and unprofessional. Yet here's Spielberg singing her praises. I'd put my bet on Steven as the one telling the truth. For whatever reason, after Mommie Dearest came out, some people just love trashing her, regardless of how well she may of treated them.

[@tracylf5409]

Tom Bosley was also interviewed about his experience working with Joan on the same set. Sadly felt the need to trash poor Joan saying she was drunk and unprofessional. It doesn't mean Bosley was lying. The two could have had entirely different interactions. One as a peer, one as the director to whom you must present a perfect face. Which is what Spielberg got.

[@JuanLopez-zw7my]

Para el que venga de Todopoderosos , el plano que describe Rodrigo Cortés está en 4:27

[@vinniedayhikerb4977]

And the rest they say is history.

[@thomasbinninger1355]

HEATHERTON!

[@tomripsin730]

4:51 I guess he named his production company after the film he did in college.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Does anyone watching this really believe that s the back of Steven Spielberg's head during the interview when GS is shown facing him? 🤔

[@665kk]

@Cometfirefly @Vidas It's quite sad that you've fallen into Christina's trap, even thought openly she has confessed that some things she said were exaggerated or flat out false. For the re release of the novel she had a lot of the bad content taken out, making it a completely different book than the 1978 version. Her story has changed one tooo many times for her to even be a credible source anymore. And so what the twins may have had a different childhood (from what I read according to friends and co workers, Joan treated them all the same; with love and warmth, but was strict like most parents. Not abusive.) Why, if there really was abuse with C&C ,did Betty Barker (for example) Joan's secretary ,who was with Joan 24/7 from 1930s-1977, say before her death in 2012, "Joan had her faults, but she absolutely did not abuse her children." A woman on her death bed..had no more reason to lie, so I believe what Betty says to be the truth. I also believe people like Myrna Loy who was close with Joan from the flappers days in the 1920s to 1977, thats the closest anyone could get to Joan. From the beginning to the end. She didn't witness anything, in fact she thought Christina was the horrible monster (many other friends would agree) and even said that "If ever there was a girl who needed a good smack it was that horrible Christina. Believe me, there were many times I wanted to smack her." I mean really, if you research there is SOO much agaisnt Christina it's unbelievable. Unlike Bing, who has many sources who go with the abuse. If Christina was really advocating for child abuse she wouldn't be hanging out with drag queens, or handing out wire hangers at xmas parties (according to my aunt who went to one of her xmas parties in idaho, oh boy). Why would a victim poke fun at the abuse? hmm.

[@plasticweapon]

uh huh. how did she turn out that way, and why did so many non christina related people in hollywood have so many horrible anecdotes about her mother's behavior? it's sad you've fallen into joan's trap.

[@georgegallucci9958]

We're so sick of hearing about Christina. This clip is about Spielberg and Crawford, so let's leave it at that and save discussions about that ungrateful brat for another thread. Thank you,

[@ciadella1971]

That was a great episode. It could of been a Twilight Zone episode.

[@vikingsong2068]

How do you get to be a director at 21?!

[@painin2teeth]

He certainly is no George Cukor...

[@abbagil]

Nice.

[@thomasbarrientos2516]

He never said he was

[@sharksport01]

Touche'

[@captainh3831]

It was a good segment, but I've always had a problem with the premise. She finds someone willing to part with their eyes for $9000.00... (nine thousand dollars. A ludicrously low amount even for that time. Also it's difficult to believe that the debtors would place so little value on a man's life that they would kill him for the amount owed.

[@Lepidopray]

What about the 12 hours of sight thing, then her vision fails after 12 hours like clockwork.

[@slcRN1971]

I also wondered why he didn’t ask for more money, I believe that she would have paid a lot more than she did.

[@thespiritmessage]

Its so funny if only she knew how Steven Spielberg would be viewed almost 50 years later....I think Tom Bosley played the gambler that needed the money so he sold his eyes

[@johnrunion5357]

duel. something evil.

[@bijibadness]

0:00 WHOA HOLY HELL WHAT IS THAT TALKING?!

[@SamBuddwing]

Never heard of Gene Shalit? (Yep, I'm gettin' old... )

[@jukodebu]

+Bijinius Cross how old you is ?

[@sharksport01]

Mustache is great.

[@mckinniesmovies3598]

0:52/1:11/2:18

[@johndalton3180]

Why did she have the procedure done at night?

[@sharksport01]

To see the lights of the city. Why else live in a cramped high-rise.

[@thEannoyingE]

Hey Gene, Spielberg didn’t direct Poltergeist, he produced it, Tobe Hooper directed it.

[@miggshubbard2]

Doubtful, but honestly, I cannot blame their cruelty solely ion their alcoholism, they had something missing inside and took pleasure in their abuse of the children. Both were extremely cruel, but if I had to pick one over the other I'd pick Bing, he not only physically abused his sons, he told them they were worthless and would never be successful, etc. When he spanked them, bare bottom, he would make horrible comments re their fat asses, etc., his viciousness knew no bounds. Horrible man.

[@nunyabizness6595]

New Wave doesn't go with NBC. I give you Gerd Oswald and the Outer Limits a decade before. Of course that was ABC. Lol.😂

[@user-du5cc8ri2l]

42 years old she would've ne too old as Stevens mom

[@miggshubbard2]

There would not have been any allusions to Joan's children in this SS interview. Would have been out of place here. Christina did not write half of the horrors she and Christopher were subjected to.

[@lincolnpaul1814]

Vidas baloney

[@TheAlwards]

Man, this is so fast-paced: both these men dropped a ton of information quickly. Maybe TV is getting more stupid.

[@miggshubbard2]

Nothing helped her calm down, she just ran out of gas by the time the second set arrived. She had spent mot of her vitriol at C&C and so was better able to go on with minimal rage left. Bing Crosby did the same; he abused those boys horribly, causing most of them to kill themselves, but with his second family he was a loving normal father. IMO they're all crazy.

[@roystonmason9125]

you call wire hangers abuse . you should have met my parents !

[@sharksport01]

@@roystonmason9125 She hanged her kids??

[@maryshaffer8474]

Odd the adopted daughter of Spielberg is off like Joan Crawford adopted kids.

[@roystonmason9125]

KID! plural hit me wiff a wire hanger ! ER

[@giavannira]

This is awesome!! & personality i know us Crawford fans r overjoyed that yet again Christina( joans lying kid) has yet again been caught in a lie when she said Joan said all those nasty things bout him but she didn't surprise surprise another lie to add to the list of christinas!!

[@jeffeastwood15]

Based on what in this video has Christina been caught in a lie?

[@myphonyaccount]

oh shut up you stupid old DRUNK!

[@roystonmason9125]

@@jeffeastwood15 hurt me with a wire hanger ! I'm sure

[@jeffeastwood15]

@@roystonmason9125 sorry, I only use Joan Crawford brand wooden hangers =^)

[@miggshubbard2]

According to her family history, her childhood was somewhat appalling and that was the basis for her neat and clean phobias; the cruelty may be her resentment of C&C because they did not grow up impoverished, at least materially.

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

Oh my god, that shot of the superimposed eyes with the weird sound at 3:30. I still remember it; it was like something out of the worst schlock 1950s monster movies. Shame on you, Steven Spielberg! lol!

[@laetitialogan2017]

Theres moustache for you...lol

[@chipnormandy4537]

I believe Christina

[@cedarabbey]

Joan's great in this, but Steven's fibbing here -- she called up Lew Wasserman and screamed that Steven be fired due to his youth. Wasserman talked her down, saying to Joan that "you don't need TV" and that she "has a great job with Pepsi," and also said that they were grooming Spielberg for features, and if she didn't want to take that risk with them, then they would understand if she wants to pull out... Crickets... Joan was there first thing Monday morning and was a lamb... Wasserman never told Spielberg this until after Crawford died in 1977.

[@Shubael1809]

Spielberg is unnecessarily unkind about Crawford. I don't get it. She TRULY WAS HOLLYWOOD royalty.

[@filmidioten]

"unnecessarily unkind"!? Are you blind/deaf? Spielberg is saying nothing but kind words here about his experience with Crawford. He is even kind enough to sugarcoat the story of how she wanted to replace him with someone older.

[@MarkJLewis-nl4bn]

+Shubael1809 You don't speak or understand English, or you're just an idiot??

[@fool4singing]

He was praising her for convincing the crew what a credible director he was,..how was that unkind???

[@roystonmason9125]

he loved her !

[@zubileegluckgluck]

shows how easily she would lie to manipulate people.

[@msqundhari]

I wish Joan could have treated her children with respect 😒