Seeing this episode last night/this morning reminded me of the late Mr. Adolph Caesar's menacing presence, a presence that betrayed his small physical stature. The acting in this episode was overall was a bit above average by the actors portraying the couple and Ms. Lenoire, and it was nice to see a small cast -- that is all the story required. However, with the inclusion of Mr. Caesar's intense portrayal in the vein of his incendiary, Oscar-nominated performance in "A Soldier's Story") without going overboard was refreshing to see in this series that had more than it's share of over-actors. His presence definitely lifted this story's stature (no pun intended). Great casting choice, "TOTD" casting director and RIP, Mr. Caesar -- you left us far too soon (A little eerie, now that I realize that he died almost 22 years to the day that I write this).
7 Reviews
There's worse and then there's better.
shellytwade21 January 2022
This one kind of gets the show back on track. Definitely not amazing but it's an improvement over a few of the last ones. At least it tries to be somewhat spooky. It still has a long way to go to reach greatness but we may be close to at least the journey starting.
A more horror orientated Tales from the Darkside story.
poolandrews11 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Tales from the Darkside: Parlour Floor Front starts as married couple Linda (Donna Bullock) & Doug (John Calonius) learn that by law they cannot evict an elderly man named Mars Giles (Adolph Caesar) from the large house they recently brought & intend to do up for themselves where he has rented a room from the previous owners for 40 odd years. Linda makes it clear that Giles is unwelcome but he has nowhere else to go, Linda then uses rather extreme & cruel methods to make him leave. Unfortunately for Linda the old man Giles is a keen practitioner of Voodoo & witchcraft...
Episode 4 from season 2 this Tales from the Darkside story was originally in the US during October 1985, the second of four Tales from the Darkside episodes to be directed by Richard Friedman & is actually pretty good since it focuses on telling a straight horror tale rather than some bizarre Dinsey type fantasy. The script by Carole Lucia Satrina is basically the often told story of some unlikable mean spirited character getting their comeuppance via supernatural means, a lot like the immortal Shakespeare tale Scrooge in fact which was probably the first. In that respect Parlour Floor Front isn't anything particularly original or inventive but since it has a proper eventful horror themed story that you can follow with decent character's & an OK if somewhat predictable twist at the end it's much easier & more entertaining to watch than the Tales from the Darkside episodes which try to be lighthearted fantasies.
This one looks alright, like a lot of episodes from this series it's set entirely within one location & has a very small cast. As usual there's no gore or profanity but the story is effective enough on a basic horror type level. The acting is OK from a small cast of unknowns although Rosette LeNoire appeared in 90 episodes of the sitcom Family Matters (1989 - 1997). As far as I can tell Donna Bullock is no relation to Hollywood A-list actress Sandra.
Parlour Floor Front is an OK way to pass just over 20 minutes, it's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but at least it's got a good horror themed story at it's center which makes it automatically better than a lot of episodes of Tales from the Darkside as far as I'm concerned.
Episode 4 from season 2 this Tales from the Darkside story was originally in the US during October 1985, the second of four Tales from the Darkside episodes to be directed by Richard Friedman & is actually pretty good since it focuses on telling a straight horror tale rather than some bizarre Dinsey type fantasy. The script by Carole Lucia Satrina is basically the often told story of some unlikable mean spirited character getting their comeuppance via supernatural means, a lot like the immortal Shakespeare tale Scrooge in fact which was probably the first. In that respect Parlour Floor Front isn't anything particularly original or inventive but since it has a proper eventful horror themed story that you can follow with decent character's & an OK if somewhat predictable twist at the end it's much easier & more entertaining to watch than the Tales from the Darkside episodes which try to be lighthearted fantasies.
This one looks alright, like a lot of episodes from this series it's set entirely within one location & has a very small cast. As usual there's no gore or profanity but the story is effective enough on a basic horror type level. The acting is OK from a small cast of unknowns although Rosette LeNoire appeared in 90 episodes of the sitcom Family Matters (1989 - 1997). As far as I can tell Donna Bullock is no relation to Hollywood A-list actress Sandra.
Parlour Floor Front is an OK way to pass just over 20 minutes, it's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but at least it's got a good horror themed story at it's center which makes it automatically better than a lot of episodes of Tales from the Darkside as far as I'm concerned.
Deserved a Better Conclusion
claudio_carvalho19 March 2022
The couple Linda and Doug are renovating the apartment of the townhouse they have bought and now are living. However, in the parlour floor lives the former janitor Mars Gillis, who is now their tenant. Linda wants to get rid of Mars, despite her husband does not have any objection to his tenant that is a hard worker and helps him in the renovation, receiving minimum wage. Linda leaves a paint bucket on the floor of her apartment and Mars trips while carrying an antique and she asks Doug to charge him for breaking the statue. Doug is forced to charge and offers to split the cost with his tenant. Then Linda learns that Mars uses voodoo to help his friends, and weird things happen with them. First, she falls off her painting ladder and tells that she has lost her baby. Then Doug harms his arm. Linda accuses Mars of cursing Doug and she and gives her gold ring to Mars undo his voodoo curse. However, Mars commits suicide instead and then Linda confesses to Doug that she lied about all her accusations. Doug decides to leave his wife and Linda decides to retrieve her ring from Mars' parlour floor.
"Parlour Floor Front" is a creepy episode of "Tales from the Darkside" that shows how wicked a person can be. The screenplay is well developed, but deserved a better conclusion that is abrupt, maybe due to the 22 minutes running time restriction. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Parlour Floor Front"
"Parlour Floor Front" is a creepy episode of "Tales from the Darkside" that shows how wicked a person can be. The screenplay is well developed, but deserved a better conclusion that is abrupt, maybe due to the 22 minutes running time restriction. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Parlour Floor Front"
Nifty episode
Woodyanders25 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Snippy Linda (well played to the bitchy hilt by Donna Bullock) doesn't care for kindly voodoo-practicing tenant Mars Gillis (Adolph Caesar, who's terrific as usual), so she plots to have him evicted from her home. However, Mars decides to exact a terrifying revenge after he discovers the truth about Linda's plan to evict him. Director Richard Friedman, working from an absorbing script by Carole Lucia Satrina, relates the compelling story at a steady pace, neatly grounds the premise in a believable mundane reality, and pulls out all the creepy atmospheric stops for the chilling conclusion. Of course, the always strong and welcome presence of the late, great Caesar gives this episode an extra potent lift: He deftly conveys a certain serenely sinister nature lurking inside of a deceptively benign and soft-spoken exterior. Moreover, there are sound supporting turns by John Calonius as Linda's fed-up husband Doug and Rosetta LeNoire as Mars' loyal sister Miss Gillis. A very good show.
Cold and bad people get payback in a mysterious way!
blanbrn15 March 2010
This "TFTD" episode titled "Parlour Floor Front" isn't one that really sticks in memory for one it isn't really scary or shocking you really see where the plot is headed and the outcome is predictable. The tale centers around an apartment building that's ran by a cold and greedy couple who want a home, therefore they will overcharge an African American tenant with the goal being an eventual eviction. For one they have a fear they see he's a little different. Yet when the truth is revealed it will be a terrible and mysterious difference. Overall lame episode that isn't very memorable, still it teaches the old adage that bad people get what they deserve.
Blaxploitation voodoo antics
Leofwine_draca3 June 2015
PARLOR FLOOR FRONT - possibly the worst-titled episode of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE in existence - is a wannabe 'blaxploitation' episode of the show. It concerns a married couple who become increasingly concerned about the strange and offbeat events in their apartment; because the couple's black, it's obviously down to voodoo, so this becomes a kind of voodoo whodunit as the culprit is uncovered.
The episode is notable for featuring a lead role for Adolph Caesar (one-time trailer narrator), an actor who brings gravitas and skill to his performance as a conflicted man. Unfortunately, the rest of the performances don't match his, and the execution is merely ordinary. It's another 'what could have been' episode of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE...
The episode is notable for featuring a lead role for Adolph Caesar (one-time trailer narrator), an actor who brings gravitas and skill to his performance as a conflicted man. Unfortunately, the rest of the performances don't match his, and the execution is merely ordinary. It's another 'what could have been' episode of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE...
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