Early this morning I read that the anthology television series The Twilight Zone premiered 50 years ago this week. For whatever reason (trying to scare up more work, maybe?) I had forgotten about this marker.While I do not regard the series as the finest of its type -- I give that to The Outer Limits (1963-1965), even though one is fantasy while the other, more Science Fiction -- Zone is absolutely one of the best.
As a matter of fact, and this was not part of any celebration (read above) I have been checking out, from the Toronto Public Library, various compilation DVDs of the series. I watched three episodes last week: "Elegy" (good), "A Drink From a Certain Fountain" (okay), and "The 30 Fathom Grave" (excellent, with a dynamite punch-line delivered by actor John Considine, in one of the hour-long installments).
For me, Zone consisted mostly of misfires, more than upper crust successes; to be expected of a series that ran 156 episodes. We tend to remember the outstanding examples -- the fact is most were just okay. But still better than most of the crappola (to borrow a "Bunkerism") run on television over the years.
In summary, the original The Twilight Zone, when it was good, was great.
In my time, I've managed to catch "Twilight Zone" episodes in syndication-- all late at night, appropriately... first on CKCO on Friday night, the Cat's Pajama's on Sunday night at 1 AM, and (I think) City TV on Sundays at 11:30.
ReplyDeleteSince I haven't really seen the show in years, I can't be as speculative, but I do concede that the hour-long episodes were poor. My favourite is one I've only seen once, but it's with a cheap hood that can change his face. Any attempts with me trying to find this haven't met with much luck-- can't even remember any cast.
Although I'm no authority on the man, this is a very good book on Rod Serling. More hardcore fans may disagree- I'm not sure, but it's very interesting.
"The Twilight Zone" is best watched late at night. Of course, Chuck the Security Guard ran these episodes late-late at night during his brief run on Toronto TV station CFMT (Ch47... now OMNI), back in 1980-81.
ReplyDeleteYes, the hour-long episodes, which reared their long heads in the fourth season of Zone, are weak. The series worked best as half-hour bits... which added to their parable feeling.
I think you are referring to the Zone episode "The Four of Us Are Dying"; a superior instalment, with actor Phillip Pine playing one of the hood's incarnations, and a driving and punchy jazz-like score from my fav, Jerry Goldsmith.
(By the way, that is Phillip Pine in the photo representing me.)