Final Curtain. Ed Wood (1957)

With "The Twilight Zone" still two years away, Ed Wood's "Portrait of Terror" series ended almost as quickly as it had begun, though the sole surviving episode
is recommended for fans of Rod Serling's series.

Theatres all over the world have long been associated with supernatural manifestations, with the spirits of deceased performers and patrons reputed to
revisit the places that gave them great pleasure during their time on earth.
The setting here is the Dome Theatre, based in an unnamed American town or city. Here, the actor (played by James "Duke" Moore") finds himself onstage in
the after hours, when cast and audience have departed to the safety of their homes.
The actors imagination soon begins to move into overdrive. Was the burning out of an arc lamp due to intervention from another world?
Is there someone/something out there amongst the supposedly empty seats?
As the actor surveys the darkened auditorium, the urge to visit every room in the building takes hold, and he ascends the spiral staircase in the witching hour.

Of course, Dudley Manlove's narration some 'wonderful' Woodsian dialogue: " A night I had looked forward to with fear" is one such gem, and the familiar reliance
of stock footage; the camera lingering for too long on shots of no great import and Moore's short bursts of overacting remind us that this is an Ed Wood production we're watching.
Still, this 22 minute short really got under my skin at times, as Moore - who overall delivers an acceptable performance, wanders through the theatre en route
to the final room that may contain a true portrait of terror.
Credit must go to director of photography William C. Thompson for creating a truly unsettling point of view, and to Jenny Steven's whose involvement gels on
repeated viewings.

It's a real shame that the intended series never happened, but full marks to one Jonathan Harris who purchased "Final Curtain" from a collector,
thus ensuring it received its 15 minutes of fame.
"Final Curtain" is currently available to view on youtube, and well worth a view for Woodites and for those who enjoy a journey into fear, uneven as it is.