Jess-Belle
Encyclopedia
"Jess-Belle" is an episode of the American
television
science fiction & fantasy anthology series The Twilight Zone
.
), who casts a spell that makes Billy-Ben forget Ellwyn and fall back madly in love with Jess-Belle. Jess-Belle learns there's a price for the spell when she transforms into a leopard from midnight until dawn. She goes to the witch and questions her about what is happening, as she is not only transforming, but is also growing cold and heartless. The witch explains that she did not simply curse Jess-Belle: her soul has been extinguished and she has been transformed into a witch herself.
Horrified, Jess-Belle realizes that her humanity is rapidly waning and debates running away from Billy-Ben. Unfortunately his devotion to her remains unwavering, and she finds herself unable to give up on her selfish desire. The two arrange to be married, but a hunting party finds the leopard and shoots it, and it disappears in a cloud of smoke.
A year later, when a recovered Billy-Ben is preparing to marry Ellwyn, Jess-Belle reappears. Billy-Ben learns from the local witch that to kill Jess-Belle, he must make a figure of her using clothing she has worn and stab it through the heart with silver. He avoids being cursed by paying for the information with gold. He returns home to find Ellwyn possessed by Jess-Belle. He puts one of Jess-Belle's dresses on a mannequin and stabs it with one of Jess-Belle's own silver hairpins. Jess-Belle appears in the dress, and then disappears forever. After this, Ellwyn does not remember anything after the wedding, but claims, upon seeing a falling star
that "it means a witch has died."
This story, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, was penned by Earl Hamner, Jr., who later went on to write Spencer's Mountain
, and was the creator and narrator of The Waltons
. The episode also starred Helen Kleeb
, who played the role of Miss Mamie Baldwin in The Waltons.
This is the only episode of the original series with no closing voiceover from Rod Serling
(although he does provide an introduction as usual).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
science fiction & fantasy anthology series The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
.
Synopsis
Jess-Belle, determined that ex-boyfriend Billy-Ben Turner and his fiancee Ellwyn Glover not marry, enlists the aid of a local witch ("Granny Hart," played by Jeanette NolanJeanette Nolan
Jeanette Nolan was an American radio, film and television actress. Nolan was nominated for four Emmy Awards.-Early life:...
), who casts a spell that makes Billy-Ben forget Ellwyn and fall back madly in love with Jess-Belle. Jess-Belle learns there's a price for the spell when she transforms into a leopard from midnight until dawn. She goes to the witch and questions her about what is happening, as she is not only transforming, but is also growing cold and heartless. The witch explains that she did not simply curse Jess-Belle: her soul has been extinguished and she has been transformed into a witch herself.
Horrified, Jess-Belle realizes that her humanity is rapidly waning and debates running away from Billy-Ben. Unfortunately his devotion to her remains unwavering, and she finds herself unable to give up on her selfish desire. The two arrange to be married, but a hunting party finds the leopard and shoots it, and it disappears in a cloud of smoke.
A year later, when a recovered Billy-Ben is preparing to marry Ellwyn, Jess-Belle reappears. Billy-Ben learns from the local witch that to kill Jess-Belle, he must make a figure of her using clothing she has worn and stab it through the heart with silver. He avoids being cursed by paying for the information with gold. He returns home to find Ellwyn possessed by Jess-Belle. He puts one of Jess-Belle's dresses on a mannequin and stabs it with one of Jess-Belle's own silver hairpins. Jess-Belle appears in the dress, and then disappears forever. After this, Ellwyn does not remember anything after the wedding, but claims, upon seeing a falling star
Falling star
Falling star or shooting star is the common name for the visible path of a meteoroid as it enters the atmosphere to become a meteor. If a falling star survives impact with the Earth's surface, then it is called a meteorite.It may also refer to:...
that "it means a witch has died."
This story, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, was penned by Earl Hamner, Jr., who later went on to write Spencer's Mountain
Spencer's Mountain
Spencer's Mountain is a 1963 family film written, directed, and produced by Delmer Daves from a novel by Earl Hamner, Jr. The novel and film became the basis for the popular television series The Waltons, which followed in 1972...
, and was the creator and narrator of The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
. The episode also starred Helen Kleeb
Helen Kleeb
Helen Kleeb was an American film and television actress. In a career covering nearly fifty years, she may be best-known for her role as "Miss Mamie Baldwin" on CBS's The Waltons .In 1956-57, she guest-starred on CBS's Hey, Jeannie!, starring Jeannie Carson...
, who played the role of Miss Mamie Baldwin in The Waltons.
This is the only episode of the original series with no closing voiceover from Rod Serling
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
(although he does provide an introduction as usual).