Happy 60th Anniversary!
Happy anniversary to The Twilight Zone.
shareComing to theaters!!
https://www.vitalthrills.com/2019/09/25/the-twilight-zone-episodes-theaters-60th-anniversary/
Am I the only one who thinks "The Hitchhiker" should've been included, especially over "The Invaders??"
Inger Stevens was a haunting, tormented, wonderful actor, who actually graced the big screen, and this terrific
episode should've been part of the lineup. But I'm deducing it wasn't included because Serling didn't write
the original story.
Still a HUGE mistake. And even more ridiculous to exclude it - and other great non-Serling stories - when he
himself "borrowed" from every great writer before him.
Serling did add a few things to the original story -- like the hitchhiker's haunting final line: "I believe you're going my way."
Fantastic episode. One of my favs.
I would have chosen "The Midnight Sun" and "The After Hours" over "The Invaders" and "To Serve Man." I like the latter … but I like the former more. Plus, the former are original stories by Serling (or at least stories Serling didn't base on anything specifically).
I agree - especially "The After Hours", which is signature TZ, and one of Serling's masterpieces.
But there's another point to be made. TZ is a MASCULINE classic, despite the fact that it appeals to all kinds
of audiences. Episodes written by Serling, a very masculine writer and man, are going to be also selected
with his male casts. That's speculative on my part, but really, both "The Midnight Sun" and "The After Hours"
star powerfully talented women, as opposed to the much more inferior "To Serve Man", which, in truth,
flirts with camp (as does the Agnes Moorehead offering).
One of Serling's accomplishments as a writer was he wrote more substantive roles for women and minorities in a time when nobody bothered.
share Very true. Too bad "The Big Tall Wish" isn't a better episode. In those days, African-Americans were
barely doing TV commercials or one-liners. This was groundbreaking casting.
I really like "Wish." But it's not for everyone. Still, what a bold casting move on Serling's part. That decision alone makes TZ a highlight of the TV medium.
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When my Mom was first married in 1958 (a year before TZ debuted), she worked in an office. A
young woman said to her, "I can't believe how many negros I see in TV commercials now." My
Mom shrugged and replied, "Why not? They buy the products."
Yeah, you can say the same thing for "Nightmare At 20,000 Feet" and "It's a Good Life". Too many classics to choose from.
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Count me as among those who find "It's a Good Life" very, very overrated.
gbennett- I wish you into the cornfield!! Lol!
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I don't hate the episode, I just feel that some (not all) of the acting borders on camp, and the
special effects don't hold up.
That said, I think it's great that a followup was made in the early 2000's with the (very sexy)
adult Mumy and Cloris Leachman reprising their roles. And Mumy's little daughter was very
good. It could've been a disaster, but it's almost as good as its parent ep.
Billy Mumy claims it was his idea, and he asked the writer to come up with a script.