Bewitched: "Trick Or Treat"

Premiered October 28, 1965.
"Mother, when I married Darrin, it was for better or for worse. Halloween is part of the worse."
-Samantha Stephens
On the morning of Halloween, Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) is visited by her mother Endora (Agnes Moorehead).

It's an annual tradition for witches like them to gather at the "sacred volcano" every Halloween.  Endora doesn't want her daughter to have to deal with trick or treaters' "barbaric" customs.

Samantha's husband Darrin (Dick York) is hosting a Halloween dinner for his boss Larry (David White) and an important advertising client and he needs Samantha's help that night.  Endora thinks Darrin is bigoted against witches.  Her argument is bolstered when they receive a  gift package from Darrin filled with brooms and witch hats.

We learn that the witch gear was sent by Larry as party favors (they're sold by one of their ad client's companies).  This angers Darrin, but he can't explain why without revealing that Samantha is a witch.  He tells Larry that witches hats don't fit into Samantha's "decorating scheme."

Endora blames Darrin for Samantha's unavailability and pays him a visit at the office.  She tells Darrin that she wants to take Samantha to the sacred volcano, but Darrin doesn't want his wife to participate in any "weird rites."  So Samantha will stay at home on Halloween night.

Later, when trick or treaters begin arriving at the Stephens' house...

...Endora turns into a little girl in a "gypsy" costume and joins them.

She puts a curse on Darrin...

...which causes him to grow facial hair at a rapid pace. Endora's curse on Darrin will turn him into a werewolf!  Endora is the only one who can remove the curse.  Darrin and Samantha freak out because their dinner guests are about to arrive.  Endora says she's not sure she knows how to reverse the spell.  To make matters worse for Darrin, there's a full moon in the sky!

Can the Stephenses get through an important business dinner without their guests realizing that Darrin is a werewolf?  Or will their Halloween (and Darrin's career) be ruined by Endora's witchcraft?

J.A. Morris says:
This is basically a typical episode of Bewitched (Samantha's witchery collides with Darren's job, Endora meddles in the Stephens' life, something magical happens that isn't easily fixed, someone comes close to discovering that Samantha is a witch, etc, a and hilarity ensues!).  However, in "Trick Or Treat," the witchcraft is dialed up a bit for the Halloween setting.

It's interesting to see how much gender politics have changed since 1965.  Darrin forbids Samantha from partaking in the ceremony at the volcano.  There's no discussion about it, he just says it's not happening.  This would likely (thankfully) not happen in a comedy series today.

Darrin's werewolf makeup looks pretty good, especially when you consider the limits of 1960s TV makeup budgets.  It's very reminiscent of Lon Chaney Jr.'s makeup from The Wolfman, which I'm sure was intentional.

When Endora turns into a little girl, she's played by Maureen McCormick.  Four years later, McCormick would become TV icon when she played Marsha on The Brady Bunch.

"Trick Or Treat" is no classic, but it's an enjoyable Halloween episode.  If you're a fan of Bewitched, you'll like it.  If you've never watched this series, I believe "Trick Or Treat" could serve as a good introduction to the world of Samantha, Darrin and Endora.

J.A. Morris' rating:

3 jack o'lanterns.

Star Trek: "Catspaw"

Premiered October 27, 1967

McCoy: Three witches ... what appears to be a castle, and a black cat.
Kirk:  If we weren't missing two officers and a third one dead, I'd say someone was playing an elaborate trick-or-treat on us. 
Spock:  Trick or treat, captain? 
Kirk:  Yes, Mr. Spock.  You'd be a natural.

The starship Enterprise is orbiting a planet.  A landing party has not checked in, this worries the ship's captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner).  A crewman named Jackson beams up from the planet and dies upon arrival.  An eerie voice emanates from Jackson's mouth, telling the captain that the entire crew of the Enterprise will die if they don't turn back.

Kirk departs for the planet's surface to investigate the matter.  He's accompanied by Science Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelly).

Kirk and the others detect no lifeforms on the planet, but suddenly, three witches appear in front of them, telling the men to turn back and "remember the curse!"  Spock determines that the witches aren't real, so they proceed, eventually discovering a castle.

Upon entering the castle, they encounter a black cat wearing a crystal pendant.  They follow the cat, but the floor collapses underneath them and our heroes are knocked out due to the fall.  When they come to, they find themselves in irons in a spooky dungeon complete with skeleton.

"Bones?  Doc?"

Missing crew members Scotty (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei) appear.  They're alive, but somewhat zombiefied, apparently under the control of some outside force.    Kirk, Spock and McCoy try to snap their friends out of their catatonic state, but find themselves teleported to another room in the castle where they meet a man in mysterious wizard robes calling himself Korob (Theodore Marcuse) and see the black cat again.

The wizard appears to consult the cat for advice and then admits that he is not native to this world in response to Spock's questions.  Korob then attempts to ply our heroes with food, drink and gems -- all to get them to leave and not ask any questions. 

Kirk informs the wizard that he's done his research badly if he thinks they will leave without getting to the bottom of things.   Korob changes his tune and says that he wanted to test the crew and that they've proven themselves to be loyal, brave and incorruptible.

Sylvia performs some sympathetic magic on the Enterprise

The black cat leaves the room and shortly thereafter an alluring sorceress calling herself Sylvia (Antoinette Bower) appears.  She is wearing a pendant identical to the one worn by the cat. When Kirk demands that his men be released, she dangles a miniature of the Enterprise above a lit candle, and the crew on the ship reports a rapid inexplicable rise in hull temperature!  Kirk reluctantly agrees to cooperate to save his crew.

Sylvia finds that she likes these new (to her) human sensations,  but her tastes seem to trend a bit toward the sadistic and beyond the bounds of the original mission.  She and Korob argue about this.

Sylvia takes an interest in Kirk and tells him that she and Korob are visitors from another galaxy.

They can read and control human minds using something called a transmuter.   She then realizes that Kirk has been using her to get information and transforms herself into a giant cat. 

Hell hath no fury ... 

Will Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise survive this Halloween encounter?

RigbyMel says:

Even though it's not one of the best in the original series, "Catspaw" is a fun episode of Star Trek.  I've heard quite a few people try to fault Star Trek: TOS on its relatively low-tech and definitely low budget special effects, but I think they're part of what makes the series extra fun in general.  The story for "Catspaw" takes some abrupt turns which make it not quite as great as it could have been, but it's still quite enjoyable.

I really quite like the way the aliens of the week tap into the human collective unconscious in an attempt to frighten the Enterprise crew -- that's one of the important elements of Halloween, after all, isn't it?  Additionally, Korob and Sylvia have donned costumes in celebration of the spookiest of human holidays.

Korob and Sylvia in their natural forms ... that of somewhat unconvincing marionettes! 

The title of the episode "Catspaw" refers to a person used unwittingly or unwillingly by another and is a reference to a La Fontaine fairy tale.   Scotty and Sulu are used as catspaws to lure more crew members to the planet.    Moreover the transmuter serves as sort of a pseudo-scientific technological catspaw that allows Korob and Sylvia to attempt to bend the Enterprise crew to their will.

This episode was written by Robert Bloch who also wrote the novel upon which the classic horror film Psycho was based.  In addition to writing a couple of other episodes of Star Trek: TOS,  Bloch was a big fan of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and also contributed to various pulp magazines such as Weird Tales.

Robert Bloch

This episode is also notable because it marks the first filmed appearance of Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) -- they hadn't quite gotten his hair right.  The episode was the first one shot for season 2, but did not air until around Halloween in 1967.

Observe Chekov's rather over-the-top wig on the left! 

I remember watching this episode with fascination when I was eight or nine and it was being shown in re-runs.   Little me found it fun/creepy and older/wiser me still enjoys it.

If you're a fan of Star Trek: TOS and Halloween hi-jinks,  "Catspaw" is definitely a good addition to your spooky seasonal viewing!

RigbyMel's rating:

3 jack o lanterns

J.A. Morris says:

I'll note that Catspaw does NOT take place during Halloween.  However, the fact it was intentionally aired on NBC close to All Hallows' Eve and contains lots of skeletons, witches and black cats (plus multiple mentions of trick-or-treating), it was obviously intended to be a holiday episode.

 

I've been a fan of Star Trek for as long as I can recall.  This is basically a typical "Enterprise encounters alien of the week" episode...with the addition of Halloween trappings.  It's a fun episode and it's become part of my seasonal viewing.

"Catspaw" featured the final appearance of the character DeSalle, the Enterprise's assistant engineer.  It's the third appearance of the character and the only time DeSalle gets to sit in the captain's chair.  Shortly after this episode, Michael Barrier, who played DeSalle quit acting a became a lawyer for the U.S. Coast Guard. 

DeSalle takes command of Enterprise.

"Catspaw" is lots of fun and should be added to the list of Halloween viewing for every Trekker and will likely be enjoyed by everyone who enjoys Halloween episodes.

J.A. Morris' rating:

3 jack o' lanterns.

Donald Duck: "Trick Or Treat"

 Premiered October 10, 1952

"When ghosts and goblins by the score ring the bell on your front door,  you'd better not be stingy or your nightmares will come true ..." -  The Mellomen singing the "Trick or Treat" song featured in the cartoon

Special  Halloween Donald opening

Soaped window title card

This Halloween short opens with Witch Hazel (June Foray) going for a Halloween joyride around a small American town.    She flies around on her broomstick  "Beelzeebub" ringing church bells and frightening bats and a black cat.

Anywhere (Duckburg?) U.S.A. 

Hazel is startled herself when a jack o'lantern appears over a fence.   She is delighted to see Huey, Dewy & Louie (Clarence "Ducky" Nash)  in full Halloween regalia dressed as a Witch, Ghost and Devil.   They are out trick-or-treating and Hazel watches them go up to their Uncle Donald's house in search of treats.

Huey, Dewy & Louie out trick or treating

Donald Duck (also voiced by Clarence "Ducky" Nash) is relaxing inside when he hears the doorbell ring.   He realizes that it must be his nephews and decides to play a trick  on them.

Donald Duck at home with Halloween treats

Rather than give them candy and goodies,  he puts firecrackers in the boys' trick-or-treat bags and douses them with water!

Donald is enjoying the "trick" aspect of Halloween rather too much

Witch Hazel feels sorry for Huey, Dewy & Louie and introduces herself to the boys, who are excited to meet a real witch.   "Oh joy! Thou do believeth in witches!"  says Hazel,  "Just for that, I'll help thee get thy candy!"   She tries to get Donald to get into the Halloween treat giving spirit.   Donald is unmoved and repeats his water dousing trick on Hazel.  

Hazel asks nicely 

Witch Hazel is mad now and she enlists the boys' aid in brewing a potion that will make Donald cough up the  goodies.

Witch Hazel brewing up trouble for Donald Duck

She recites an incantation that begins in a familiar vein "Double double toil and trouble ..."  but takes a turn for the unexpected, "eye of needle, tongue of shoe, hand of clock that points at two ..."

"This is the real thing, you know.  Right out of Shakespeare!" 

The result is a potion that is LOADED with Halloween magic.  The boys' jack o'lantern becomes animate and the fence posts become ghosts and march towards Donald's house.

"Every post is a ghost, if you've got a witch's brew ..."

Donald realizes it may have been unwise to annoy Witch Hazel

Donald realizes he may have made a miscalculation about things and rushes over to his goodie cupboard to make good with the Halloween treats. Witch Hazel brags to the boys that Donald has turned out to be "a pushover."

"A pushover?!?"

Donald is annoyed at Hazel's assessment of him.  He shuts the cupboard, locks the door and swallows the key to keep anyone from getting treats.

Halloween hijinks and hilarity ensue as Witch Hazel uses additional potion to try to make Donald give up the Halloween treats.   If you cannot remember what happens,  you should see if you can find a copy of this short to watch.  It is available on several DVD compilations.

RigbyMel says:

Full disclosure:  It's probably impossible for me to be objective about this short.  It's one of my all-time favorites.  I am a big Donald Duck fan - even if he is kind of mean in this short.

I have many fond memories of watching this on various Disney Halloween programs when I was growing up,  but I think my first acquaintance with it was via an LP record that had the soundtrack of the cartoon (with a little bit of narration) on one side and the story of The Haunted Mansion on the other side.   I'd listen to the Donald Duck side and giggle and then flip it over and scare myself silly with the Haunted Mansion side.    Here's a photo of the album jacket I found via the magic of the internet:

The front of the "Trick or Treat" LP 

And yes, it did come with cardboard Halloween masks!

In addition to the great voice acting by Clarence Nash and June Foray,  there is a vocal appearance by the inimitable Thurl Ravenscroft who sings the fun "Trick or Treat" song that pops up throughout the cartoon as part of the Mellomen.   Mr. Ravenscroft is perhaps best known as the voice of Tony The Tiger, spokescharacter for Frosted Flakes, but he was kind of omnipresent in the voice-over world in general because of his awesome bass voice.

"Boo!" 

This short is a delight and I don't feel like it is Halloween until I've seen this at least once.   I highly recommend checking this out (or revisiting it) if you get the chance.    It is available as a bonus feature of the DVD of The Black Cauldron and on The Chronological Donald Volume 4.  Hopefully, Disney will put this and other shorts out on Blu-Ray in the not too distant future.

My rating:
4 Jack O'Lanterns