Tales of the Unexpected (1979)
A British television anthology of stories, often with sinister and wryly comedic undertones, and a twist at the end. With early episodes written and presented by Roald Dahl, the series featured a plethora of big name guest stars.
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Episode 1 - The Dirty Detail
Release Date: 1984-05-12Fred Pearson, a Vietnam veteran, is a broken man after years of punishment from his sergeant. One day, he walks into a bar and sees the sergeant, still very much the arrogant bully he always was.
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Episode 2 - The Best Chess Player in the World
Release Date: 1984-05-19Shaw, the owner of a newspaper, is controlling and very rich. His wife is content with the money he provides, but is having an affair. When he finds out, he decides to act.
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Episode 3 - Proxy
Release Date: 1984-05-26Three men are being blackmailed by a woman for money. One day she is found murdered and the three worry that they will be suspected.
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Episode 4 - Have a Nice Death
Release Date: 1984-06-02A writer is being hounded by the feminist movement over his books. If only he was at home with his wife everything would be all right. Wouldn't it?
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Episode 5 - Number Eight
Release Date: 1984-06-09A driver picks up a hitchhiker. They hear on the radio that a serial killer is on the loose, nicknamed Willow the Wisp, and the description matches that of the passenger.
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Episode 6 - The Last of the Midnight Gardeners
Release Date: 1984-06-16Walter is a vain writer and publisher with a wife and a mistress, based in London, and he likes to show off. He stages a story writing competition, with a £5,000 prize, to find the plot for a perfect murder.
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Episode 7 - The Gift of Beauty
Release Date: 1984-06-30After killing her husband to be with her young lover, an insecure woman is drawn in by a flyer for an anti-ageing process known as the Gift of Beauty.
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Episode 8 - Wet Saturday
Release Date: 1984-07-07George Princey has a high standing in the community, and when his daughter kills a man, he endeavours to cover it up to prevent a scandal.
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Episode 9 - Sauce for the Goose
Release Date: 1984-07-21Olivia starts a relationship with a younger man on the basis that she has killed her husband and gained his fortune. Her lover, however, still sees himself as a free agent and has an affair with another woman.
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Episode 10 - Bird of Prey
Release Date: 1984-08-04Jack and Edna's pet parrot dies after laying an unusually large egg. On hatching, it reveals an aggressive black-feathered bird.
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Episode 11 - I Like it Here in Wilmington
Release Date: 1984-11-08When a clothing manufacturer finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy, he ponders the idea of murdering his wife for the insurance money.
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Episode 12 - Accidental Death
Release Date: 1984-08-19Steve and Jane are con artists who gain access to people's homes claiming to be doing research into polish. But eventually, they meet their match.
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Episode 13 - The Reconciliation
Release Date: 1984-09-16James has walked out on his wife, who still loves him. His lawyer advises him that getting a divorce may be difficult unless he can catch her being unfaithful. With not much hope, he hires a private detective.
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Episode 14 - The Mugger
Release Date: 1984-10-14When a married politician falls in love with a woman at a party, things soon go wrong and his entire career and reputation are put in jeopardy.
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Episode 15 - The Open Window
Release Date: 1984-10-21When a young man climbs through the window of a Connecticut hunting lodge, he emerges on the other side in a strange new world.