MovieChat Forums > The Twilight Zone (1959) Discussion > Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?

Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?

posted 4 years ago by [deleted]
9 replies | jump to latest

I wonder why they used jack elam to play an older character when he was only 42. why not get an older actor?

I don't know if he was older as much as just weird. He was a plant to stand out against the more "regular" folks on the bus so we'd think he'd might be the alien.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

he was called grandpa several times.

[–] strntz (10861) 4 years ago

Yeah, but he was still far more weird than old, and you could certainly be a grandfather at 42 (I know several - our letter carrier is a grandmother at 36!). Plus, Elam looked anywhere from 50 to 70 all day long in this episode as dressed and made up.

The nasty pompous businessman Ross was far older than the oddball Avery, but was more dignified and well spoken, so no one called him grandpa. They needed a guy who could play screwball, and Elam was perfect. If anyone from that group was likely to be the alien, it was the oddball, not Ross. That he was old enough to be called grandpa was just a minor point IMO.

[–] Turkday23 (37) 3 years ago

Yes, I think he was a red herring. His wackiness and different looks would help.

[–] Adam60z (3750) 4 years ago

He was the best one in the whole thing! He was funny and was able to play an old man believably. It was a great episode until the end when the Martian had 3 arms and the Venusian had 3 eyes. I mean that's a good ending for a 5 year old, but not most adults.

[–] strntz (10861) 3 years ago

It was a great episode until the end when the Martian had 3 arms and the Venusian had 3 eyes. I mean that's a good ending for a 5 year old, but not most adults.

In a world where the budget for this show barely covered the actor's post shoot buffet, there was only so much a production company could do for SFX on a low budget TV show that was meant to be seen twice at best.

They only needed to establish in the twist that both were aliens, and the stick on eye (with no eyebrow..) and the extra handling the coffee cup was as good as they could get.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Maybe because he played it perfectly. He's, IMHO, the most memorable character in this episode.

[–] strntz (10861) 3 years ago

He's, IMHO, the most memorable character in this episode.

Well, that and the dame the bus driver noticed...

[–] bobbydallas (8085) 3 years ago

he was pretty good as the role?