https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLeXGFWQx0Y
**Miss Belle** (1968), an episode of **Journey to the Unknown**(1968-69); directed by Robert Stevens, from a script by Sarett Rudley, based on a story by Charles Beaumont.
**Journey to the Unkown** was a brief, glorious, one-hour anthology show that was a collaboration between Fox Television and the UK’s leading horror studio, Hammer (which should need no introduction to my readers.)
It aired in the US for one season in late 1968 on ABC, and then later in the UK in 1969. Only 17 episodes were made, each featuring a familiar American face like Robert Reed or Chad Everett, supported by well-known British actors like Jane Asher and Hermione Baddley.
Later on, several of the best episodes, such as **Matakitis is Coming** and **The Last Visitor,** where combined into TV movies, hosted Serling-style by a famous TV or movie personality. My first introduction to the series was seeing one of these TV movies on a weekend afternoon movie, hosted by Joan Crawford (who looked utterly wasted while talking to the camera), some time in the 70s.
Aside from the Hammer connection, this series has an excellent horror pedigree. It was executive-produced by Hitchcock’s frequent collaborator, Joan Harrison, and features scripts/stories by Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Bloch. The most terrifying episode, **Matakitas is Coming,** stars Vera Miles, one of Hitch’s favorite blondes. Finally, this series has possibly the creepiest theme song/intro of any television show ever, including the original **Twilight Zone** or **Outer Limits.**
The **Miss Belle** episode was based on a story by the uber-talented Beaumont, who penned many of the best episodes of TZ. (Tragically Beaumont died at only 38, cheating horror/sci-fi fans of years of great entertainment.)
This episode features 60s TV icon George Maharis of **Route 66**, bumming his way around England as a grifter and a drifter named Drake. He ends up working as a handyman for Miss Belle (Barbara Jefford), a wealthy woman who lives in a grand manor house with her orphaned seven-year-old niece, Roberta.
Miss Belle has all kinds of bats in her belfry, not the least being an extreme hatred of all men. She teaches little Roberta that men and boys are “animals” and punishes her severely for not living up to her ideal of what a perfect little girl should be like (i.e. curls, frilly dresses, and dolls.) The psychological terror that Miss Belle inflicts on little Roberta is difficult to watch, even fifty years later.
Drake feels sorry for Roberta and becomes a friend and protector. However, one day Drake inadvertently discovers a shocking secret about Roberta that Miss Belle has been hiding for years. She kicks him out, and Roberta is left alone with Miss Belle’s insane cruelty. This sets up a homocidal ending, but also a touching reunion between man and child that’s hard to forget.
To my knowledge there has never been an official DVD release of this series, but you can find it on bootleg sites; many episodes are on YouTube, including **Miss Belle** (see link above.)