The Messiah on Mott Street/The Painted Mirror

Just recently watched this classic episode of "Night Gallery" named "The Painted Mirror" it features the legendary Zsa Zsa Gabor back in the day when she was still a sexy lady. This tale takes a twist as it teaches us bad things can happen to bad people you will like the ending.

Anyway Ms. Gabor plays Mrs. Moore a cold and arrogant not caring owner of a local city thrift store shop she's rude to her owner partner and even her customers. Yet all of that is about to change one day when a woman brings in a special painting which is a little out of the norm. This painting can come to life and be scrapped over and literally jumped into! Wait till you see the clever move that's put on Mrs. Moore by the shop partner and lady paint owner. Mrs. Moore's rude nature is brushed away forever. Good episode with a good twist.

The story is fantastic, true horror-mystical-scifi. Stop animation was decent for the day. My only problem is they obviously spent the whole budget on the animation. There are two or three shots of the actors that are recycled MANY TIMES. These shots are usually reused as filler with big gaps in the dialog. It leaves you feeling as if you are dreaming a nightmare!. I was 12 when It first aired, it has stayed with me these 48 years.

'The Messiah on Mott Street'. A Rod Serling original, this is a Yuletide heart warmer about ghetto dweller Abraham Goldman (the great gangster actor Edward G. Robinson), an aged and sickly Jewish man who dotes on his grandson Mikey (adorable Ricky Powell). Determined to help the old man, Mikey ventures outside in search of The Messiah, and encounters a helpful man named Buckner (Yaphet Kotto) who just might be Him. With Tony Roberts offering strong support as kindly, devoted physician Morris Levine, this has atmosphere to spare, and an excellent Serling script. The characters are appealing and the performances are simply superb, giving lots of weight to this poignant tale about life & death, and the possibility of miracles. The ending may very well bring tears of joy to the viewers' face. Directed by former actor Don Taylor ("Escape from the Planet of the Apes", "Damien: Omen II").

'The Painted Mirror'. Written and directed by series veteran Gene R. Kearney, based on a story by Donald Wandrei. Frank Standish (Arthur O'Connell), a kindly antiques dealer, now has to put up with his crass business partner, an annoying type played to the hilt by Zsa Zsa Gabor. When customer Ellen Chase (Rosemary DeCamp) brings in a mirror that's been painted over, Frank decides to chip away at the paint, revealing something quite unexpected underneath: the perfect means of permanently getting rid of Gabor. While this segment is really nothing special, it's certainly adequately amusing when we see what is contained in the "mirror". Plus, key scenes with O'Connell and DeCamp have a likably wistful quality, and the acting is all on point. O'Connell and DeCamp are appealing, and the viewer does get tired of Gabor in record fashion. Good fun, overall.

Eight out of 10.

Edward G. Robinson, the great gangster actor, finds his way to this show in the twilight of his career. He plays a very sick man who is taken care of by his little grandson. A family doctor comes to see him and would like to put him in the hospital, but if this is done, the little boy, who is really fine child actor, would find himself turned over to family services. Robinson frequently speaks to the little boy of a Messiah that will come and counteract death for time. The boy goes into the streets and come back with Yaphet Koto, a huge man whom he things is the Messiah. It's a Christmas story and some magic occurs. The acting is excellent. Tony Roberts is very good as the young doctor who is willing to give his time to the old man and the boy.

"The Painted Mirror" features Zsa Zsa Gabor as a cruel woman who is driving out the former proprietor of a junk shop. She has control of the place and throws her weight around. One day, a woman shows up with a mirror that is painted over. When the old owner scrapes the paint off, it reveals a threshold into a jungle scene. One can actually walk into the mirror. If only it had been this easy to get rid of Zsa Zsa Gabor. For the life of me, I can't imagine how she became so famous and so much in the public eye.

'The Messiah On Mott Street' - Edward G. Robinson plays an elderly and ailing bedridden Jewish grandfather whose grandson tries to save his life at the Holiday season by finding the messiah, who comes in the form of a postman(played by Yaphet Kotto), assuming the angel of death doesn't get there first... Moving holiday story can be enjoyed equally by all faiths.

'The Painted Mirror' - Arthur O'Connell plays an antique shop owner who hates his callous new business partner(played by Zsa Zsa Gabor) and plots with a loyal female customer to get rid of her in a strange mirror that leads to another prehistoric world... Amusing tale with grim overtones is at least fun to watch, with a good premise.