Thriller: Death To Sister Mary (ITV 15 Jun 1974, Robert Powell)

In excellent episode of Thriller Death To Sister Mary Penny is an actress playing a nun, Sister Mary, on a popular soap opera. Strange accidents have been happening to the people around not least the death of her fiance. Are they linked to the arrival on the scene of Sister Mary’s number one fan Mr Rook who seems to have great difficulty separating fact from fiction.

Brilliant casting once again including the usual big name American guest star in the shape of George Maharis who gets top billing despite not being the main character. One of the most overused shots in Thriller is the quick zoom in from a crime to a close up of a woman laughing which once again is used to great effect here.

Again it’s the kind of thing that has been overdone in later years but Clemens was at the forefront of things. One does occasionally wonder with Thriller whether main man Clemens had a a big white board of ideas that he would cross off. The stalker one, check. The slasher one, check. The escaped lunatic, check. Great fun though. Robert Powell would crop up in a couple of episodes over the run of the series.

production details
UK / ITV Network – ATV / 1×75 minute episode / Broadcast 15 June 1974 @ 9.00pm

Writer: Brian Clemens / Production Design: Stanley Mills / Director: Robert D. Cardona

Series: Thriller Season 3 Episode 3

cast
GEORGE MAHARIS as Mark Fields
ROBERT POWELL as Rook
JENNIE LINDEN as Sister Mary
ANTHONY NEWLANDS as Tony Barton
JOAN HAYTHORNE as Mother Superior
DEREK FOWLDS as Dicky
LEIGH LAWSON as Larry Turner
GERRY COWAN as T.V. Director
WINDSOR DAVIES as Detective Moore
NORMAN MITCHELL as Security Man
JILL SHAKESPEARE as Operator
MAGGIE RENNIE as Housekeeper