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"Hocus-Pocus and Frisby"
Cracker-barrel loudmouth and teller of tall tales, Mr. Frisby (Andy Devine) getshis comeuppance and a real-life tall tale to tell when he's abducted by alienswho mistake his bragging for the truth. Raspy-voiced Devine is perfect as thefabricating Frisby. Howard McNear (Floyd the barber from The Andy GriffithShow) is part of his long-suffering audience.

"Of Late I Think of Cliffordville"
An hour-long--and overlong--episode from the fourth season that mixes adeal-with-the-Devil story with a yearning to return to a simpler place and time, twoof the series' favorite themes. The corrupt plutocrat Feathersmith (AlbertSalmi) trades his fortune to Satan (Julie Newmar) to return to the place of hisyouth, Cliffordville in 1910, where his knowledge of the future should make hima bigger fat cat than he was before. But the biter-bit ending is a verypredictable turnabout. Notable for Julie Newmar sporting a pair of cute hornsthat make her look like Catwoman from TV's Batman.

Mr. Garrity and the Graves"
No one could make the Old West weirder than Rod Serling. Mr. Garrity (JohnDehner) saunters into Happiness, Arizona, one day and claims to be able toresurrect the dead in this grim comic gem. Only the townsfolk like their deadwhere they are. Happiness, Arizona: it's just asking for it.

This disc has a twilight zone of its own, holding hidden features such as the original ads and program bumpers, and isolated music tracks for the first two episodes. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Messers. Frisby, Feathersmith & Garrity in the Twilight Zone
Rod Serling adapts a trio of short stories for "The Twilight Zone" on Volume 37 of the DVD collection. "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby," based on an unpublished story by Frederic Louis Fox, features Andy Devine as Frisby, a blowhard whose boasts attract the attention of aliens who want to take them to their zoo as an example of the ultimate human. One of the funniest Zones every. "Of Late I Think of Cliffordville," adapted from Malcolm Jameson's short story "Blind Alley," tells of William Feathersmith (Albert Salmi), who is bored having reached the top of the financial world. When he is given the opportunity to go back in time, remembering everything he knows, and start over. If this sounds too good to be true, it is. This is one of those hour-long episodes from the Zone's fourth season that almost invariably seemed padded too much. Finally, "Mr. Garrity and the Graves," based on an unpublished story by Mike Korologos, the title character (John Dehner) has promised to resurrect all 128 of the dead in Happiness, Arizona. Since all but one of those dearly departed died by violent means, the townspeople end up paying Garrity off to reverse the resurrections. Put you can imagine how con games work in the Twilight Zone. I know none of these three episodes qualify as classics, but I happen to like all three of them. This is one of those 4.5s that gets rounded up.

"Of Late..." is a gem...
..."Of Late I Think of Cliffordville" is the reason for this DVD to be sought after...Julie Newmar of course steals the show, though Albert Salmi is not without interest (but it is his weakest TZ episode...see "A Quality of Mercy" for his best TZ performance [there were three total]). Unfortunately "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby" and fifth season "Mr. Garrity and the Graves" are not as commendable. However, like almost all TZ episodes, they are of great merit in comparison to the vast majority of things being aired on television then or now. The hour long episode DVD's are especially valuable because these fourth season episodes are rarely shown at all in syndication (and of course TZ is always cut in syndication anyway). ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "The Bard" (Episode 120, May 23, 1963, 50 min.) - Jack Weston is an untalented would-be TV writer whose career takes off when the ghost of William Shakespeare writes his script. Shakespeare is appalled by the sponsor's changes, including the casting of a Marlon Brando-type actor (Burt Reynolds) to play the lead. "The Fear" (Episode 155, May 29, 1964) - An unknown creature hidden in the shadows--apparently monstrously large and immensely powerful--terrorizes a hysterical young woman and a state trooper who's arrived to help her. But is this gargantuan invader really what it seems to be? "The Bewitchin' Pool" (Episode 156, June 19, 1964) - For children distraught by feuding parents, a special swimming pool offers admittance to a happier, simpler place. Written by Earl Hamner Jr., the creator of "The Waltons." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Evidence for why the Twilight Zone did not get renewed
There are two episodes from the final season included on Volume 42 of "The Twilight Zone" collection, which pretty much prove why the show was cancelled after its fifth season. In "The Bard," written by Rod Serling, Jack Weston plays Julius Moomer, a hack writer who stumbles upon a magic spell that brings forth William Shakespeare (John Williams) to be his ghost writer. There are a lot of in-jokes about television in this episode, but the most memorable part is that of "method actor" Rocky Rhodes, played by Burt Reynolds, who does a dead on impersonation of Marlon Brando. In another Serling episode, "The Fear," a State Trooper (Mark Richman) investigates strange lights in the sky out by the cabin of Charlotte Scott (Hazel Court). This is an extreme lame episode and provides evidence that Serling was scrapping the bottom of the barrel big time. Finally, we have "The Bewitchin' Pool," the final Zone wirten by Earl Hamner, Jr., in which a pair of children, Sport (Mary Badham) and Jeb (Tim Stafford) follow a strange pool into a swimming hole and emerge in a strange place where an old woman named Aunt T (Georgia Simmons), looks over the children of unworthy parents. Hamner is obviously trying to make some sort of point about preserving the family, but it gets lost in this sugary little tale. Only "The Bard" is worthy watching on this particular volume.

Uneven But Fun
The Bard*** 1/2 First of all I'd never heard of this ep outside of this dvd. I generally do NOT like the comedy Zones for when I watch the Zone I prefer serious Sci-Fi but all has been saved here with a tremendous performance of "Shakespeare". He is quite funny and ironic. The star of this ep is almost as endearing and about the first 5 min. of this ep you will hate it ... but let Serling do his magic and you too will see the magic of the Bard. The ending is silly though and adds little to the script ... I thought a nice touch would have been had he conjured up Serling himself! ... and the producers would have acted as though they'd never heard of him!

The Fear*** : This ep started out smashingly put alas was ruined by a terrible ending. An obvious 5 season ep. The two leads, in fact the only two people seen in this ep are actually very good actors, so good in fact they acount for all of the three stars because the story wasn't much either.

The Bewitchin Pool**** : I bought this dvd for this ep and was a bit let down (I thought this would be a 5 ringer). I marvel at why the beginning of the ep they actually show you the end! Aunt T is great the kids are good too, I watched this one several times in my youth and have since loved it. A surprisingly endearing ep which has a few too many overdubs with the voice work but in the end spins a story that I imagine is a dream of many, the simple life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Despite Carol Burnett, a below-average set of Zones
Volume 40 in "The Twilight Zone" DVD collection certainly offers an assortment of episodes from the classic television series, although none of them comes close to qualifying as a classic Zone. Carol Burnett is klutzy usherette Agnes Grep in "Cavender Is Coming," written by Rod Serling, who loses her job and meets Cavender (Jesse White), a bungling angel. Cavender gives Agnes a fortune and a mansion, but the catch is that none of her old friends remember her and they no longer adore her. Serling wrote this episode specifically for Burnett, although the story is obviously borrowed from "Mr. Bevis," which was a failed attempt at a pilot. However, surprisingly, the script handicaps the comedienne way too much and this is just not as funny as it should be. "Passage on the Lady Anne," written by Charles Beaumont, finds ambitious Allan Ransome (Lee Philips) having to go to Europe on business. In a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, his wife Eileen (Joyce Van Patten), demands to go on the trip and to be allowed to pick the form of transportation. She picks the Lady Anne, the slowest ship afloat. However, the couple soon agree to divorce, which devastates Eileen. But the Lady Anne was one a ship reserved for lovers and all the other passengers are 75 years old taking a final cruise on the ship, and they decide to help the young couple. The supporting cast of elderly actors including Wilfrid Hyde-White, Cecil Kellaway, Gladys Cooper and Alan Napier are joys to see and make this one of the few tolerable hour-long Zone episodes. Finally, Serling's "The Brain Center at Whipple's" finds callous factory owner Wallace V. Whipple (Richard Deacon) has completely automated his factory, putting thousands out of work. Of course, since this is the Zone, irony will come calling on Whipple. A rather predictable outting. Although I like "Passage on the Lady Anne," this is a below average collection of Zone episodes.

A good Mixture of Episodes
CAVENDER IS COMING seems to have some inspiration from Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" as angel Jesse White must earn his wings by aiding a screwball human played by Carol Burnett. This is one of the few episodes that I saw for the first time ever on this DVD. My original expectations were low, but I was pleasantly surprised by some innovative photography, stunts and Burnett's excellent performance. Rod Serling actually wrote a very good comic episode from which the viewer can actually make parallels to real life situations thanks in part to Burnett's energetic approach to her part. Greatly underrated. PASSAGE ON THE LADY ANNE credited to writer Charles Beaumont from the 4th Season is an interesting story of a troubled couple's (Joyce Van Patten and Lee Phillips) attempt to rekindle their marriage aboard an antiquated ocean liner the Lady Anne. However, the antiquated ship's passengers consist solely of the elderly. The cast really makes this an enjoyable episode. It includes Wilfred Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Cecil Kellaway and Alan Napier. THE BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S written by Rod Serling for the 5th Season seems to tread familiar territory which had been previously visited and done much better. It focuses on industry, man and machines. It features Richard Deacon, Paul Newlan, Ted DeCorsia and Burt Conroy. I never met an episode of the "Twilight Zone" that I didn't like. I just like some more than others. I am sure that for some people this episode holds some endearment. And that is the magic of the "Twilight Zone." ... Read more

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Volume 14 of The Twilight Zone on DVD is a wall-to-walltribute to series creator Rod Serling. All four TV episodes represented here are original ideas scripted by Serling himself, with his strengths--and some of his weaknesses--on display. "One for the Angels" was the second episode broadcast in the series and demonstrates Serling's sentimental streak:an aging street peddler (former vaudevillian Ed Wynn) is confronted by Death(Murray Hamilton, bearing a curious resemblance to Serling), butstrikes a clever deal to forestall his demise. Ah, but there's always acatch... "The Man in the Bottle" is a variation on the old genie-in-a-magic-lamp number, except that this time the elegant genie comes out of an ordinary wine bottle. Luther Adler plays a bitter antique store owner who learns his lesson in four short wishes. Not much of an episode, really, but the punch line to the third wish is one of those startling twists that stuck in the collective imagination of Zone fans everywhere. The eerie "Arrival" indulges Serling's fondness for aviation stories, as a DC-3 pulls into a hangar with not a soul aboard--not even the pilot. Like many of Serling's tales, itfollows the theme of regret, which also hangs heavy in "In Praise of Pip,"the opening episode of the series' fifth and final broadcast year, 1963. A two-bit bookie (Jack Klugman) reflects on his wasted life when he learns that his son is near death on a Vietnam battlefield. Although the episode isderivative of Serling's previous efforts on the same topic, this one doesprovide a glimpse of two actors who appeared frequently on the Zone, Klugmanand kid actor Billy Mumy. Klugman's anguished aside about Vietnam ("Thereisn't even supposed to be a war going on there, and my kid is dying") maywell be American popular culture's first, hesitant questioning of a war that would soon bloom into a national nightmare. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (6)

WISHES AND REQUESTS
The theme of this quartet of mostly lackluster episodes is "The Mind's Endless Dimensions". The first, "One For the Angels" is about a salesman (Ed Wynn) who outwits Death but too late realizes that a little girl will have to die in his place. The problem is that the performance by Wynn lacks any credibility in portraying the greatest pitch of all time. It would have put me to sleep, not made me eager to buy.

"The Man in the Bottle" is about a couple who own a curio shop who buy a piece of junk bottle from a woman desperate for money.
Unfortunately for them there's a genie inside whose wishes in the old cliched manner always end up having negative consequences. For example, when the husband wishes to have great power and rulership of a country he is turned into Adolf Hitler.

"The Arrival" concerns a plane landing at an airport and manuevering into docking position very normally. The problem is that when the luggage crew opens up the door there's noone on the plane, no pilots, crew, or passengers. So a veteran FAA investigator is called in to solve the mystery. It was a good premise but the resolution is oh so boring.

The best and only good episode on this DVD is "In Praise of Pip". It opens in a Vietnam War field hospital operating room where a young man named Pip has been severely wounded and is doubtful of surviving the night. Flash to the States where his father, played commandingly by Jack Klugman, is a man who collects debts for the mob. When he learns of his dying son he wants desperately to speak to him, to redeem his own life and seek forgiveness for his bad parenting. It just might come true in the Twilight Zone.

Great stories, wonderful performances!
"One for the Angels" and "In Praise of Pip" alone justify buying this DVD. The former is a charming folktale about an unremarkable street peddlar and the pitch of a lifetime which he makes to "Mr. Death". Enjoy an endearing, "Wynnsical" performance from everybody's favorite "uncle", Ed Wynn! "In Praise of Pip" stars Jack Klugman as a dissolute, boozed bookie who regrets not being a better father to his son, who is dying in Vietnam. Jack Klugman's performance is simply astounding, with a shattering climax! Horror, fear, shame, confusion, self-loathing, regret, despair, pain, fleeting joy - they all register on Klugman's remarkable face. Jack Klugman had to have been one of the greatest character actors of all time. I have only seen a few episodes of this classic TV series, but my appetite has definitely been whetted for more. All TWILIGHT ZONE fans must buy this release!

Four Wonderful Episodes that Demonstrate Serling's Talent
Any one of these episodes could serve to demonstrate the craft as well as the concern for humanity that always permeated Rod Serling's writing. "In Praise of Pip" is a particulary powerful script and is given a deeply moving performance by Jack Klugman. This and "One for the Angels" are my all-time favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone. The latter has a very touching story and a beautifully-written script. Its protagonist, Lew Bookman (Ed Wynn) is an aging, unsuccessful sidewalk salesman whose gentle yet fun-loving nature makes him popular with the neighborhood children, and in particular with Maggie, a little girl whose life he eventually saves by sacrificing himself to "Mr. Death." I love how Wynn (a former vaudeville comedian -- you may also remember him as the laughing Uncle Albert in MARY POPPINS and as the voice of the Mad Hatter in Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND -- and a surprisingly effective dramatic actor) interacts with Maggie; he is like her uncle or grandfather. Some have pointed out that, because Wynn was not a "fast talker," he is unconvincing in his "final sales pitch," in which he distracts Mr. Death and saves Maggie's life. I don't entirely agree with this view. The whole point of the story is that Bookman is NOT a great salesman but is loved by the children, and that this is what matters in the end. So it seems fitting that his delivery of the pitch does not sound smooth and practiced, but desperate, as though he is frantically improvising because he knows he must save Maggie. In other words, Bookman is too soft-spoken to have ever been a good salesman, but for the sake of a child he loves he can muster the energy for an effective pitch. I find Wynn's characterization entirely believable throughout the episode. Watch all four of the epidoes on this DVD. But especially watch "In Praise of Pip" and "One for the Angels" for their stories, their scripts, and their star performances by two remarkable actors, Jack Klugman and Ed Wynn.

Another four Rod Serling episodes from "The Twilight Zone"
Volume 14 of "The Twilight Zone" offers four episodes of the celebrated television series written by Rod Serling, most of which deal in some way with approaching death or the last days of your life. Serling scripted "One for the Angels" especially for Ed Wynn, who plays Lew Bookman, a sidewalk pitchman who learns from Mr. Death (Murray Hamilton), that he will die at midnight. Bookman convinces Death to not take him until he completes the Big Pitch, a masterpiece of salesmanship that would be "one of the angels." "The Man in the Bottle" is a rather lackluster story of a curio shop owner, Arthur Castle (Luther Adler) who gives an old woman a dollar for a worthless bottle that turns out to have a genie (Joseph Ruskin), who declares he will grant four wishes. After wasting a wish on having a cracked display case fixed and having his wish for million dollars in cash not work out the way he planned, Arthur comes up with something he thinks is foolproof for his next wish: to be the ruler of a foreign country in the 20th century who cannot be voted out of office.

"The Arrival" features Harold J. Stone as Grant Sheckly, a FAA investigator who tries to solve the mystery of Flight 107, which arrives from Buffalo with no one on board. Sheckly, very proud of his perfect record of having solved every incident he has investigated in 22-years on the job, refuses to let this mystery beat him. Jack Klugman and Billy Mumy return once again to the Zone for "In Praise of Pip." Klugman is Max Phillips, an alcoholic bookie who learns that his son Pip (Bob Diamond) has been seriously wounded in Vietnam. Remorseful, Max returns $300 to a bettor and for his good deed gets a bullet from one of his boss's gunmen. Making his way to a closed amusement park, Max encounters his son Pip (Mumy) as a boy. However, this happy reunion takes a fatal twist at the end. This 1963 episode opened the fifth season of "The Twilight Zone" and may well be the first television episode to deal with American soldiers dying in Vietnam. This is the best episode on this disc, with a very moving climax. Once gain, this volume does not offer any classic Zones, but certainly has three solid episodes.

Another Great twilight zone DVD
I won't waste space by describing the synopsis and content of the DVD and focus on the episodes itself. One for the Angels: 4 stars. The Man in the Bottle: 2 stars The arrival: 4 stars In Praise of Pip: 4 stars ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "Perchance to Dream" (Ep. 9, November 27, 1959) - A man (Richard Conte) is terrified of falling asleep for fear he might die. His pursuer? A mysterious vixen he meets in his dreams! The first non-Rod Serling script of the series. "The Hitch-Hiker" (Ep. 16, January 22, 1960) - Alone on a cross-country trip, Nan Adams (Inger Stevens) has a blowout. Surviving the incident, she gets back on the road--only to see the same hitch-hiker everywhere she looks! "King Nine Will Not Return" (Ep. 37, September 20, 1960) - WWII Captain James Embry (Robert Cummings) finds himself next to a crashed plane in a vast desert. Where is his crew? And why are futuristic jet planes flying overhead? "Shadow Play" (Ep. 62, May 5, 1961) - Trapped in a recurring nightmare, a man (Dennis Weaver) tries to persuade those who are sentencing him to death that the whole scenario is not real. Will they ever listen? ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Three good episodes, one is fair
Perchance to Dream - Man has been awake for 4 days because he fears a dream-induced death. One of my favorite episodes.

The Hitch Hiker - Woman driving cross-country keeps passing the same hitch-hiker. Phones home and gets chilling message. So-so.

King Nine will not Return - Pilot Bob Cummings crash lands in the African desert in 1943 - but where is his crew? Wakes up in hospital 17 years later. Reminiscent of the TV-movie "Sole Survivor" which is not out on DVD :-( Good one.

Shadow Play - Dennis Weaver is trapped in his nightmare of repeatedly being put to death for murder. In each repetition, the supporting actors change roles. Neat.

Great DVD
Perchance to Dream- Good episode, it got a little tedious at some parts though. (***)

Hitch Hiker- Great episode! Very good ending. (****)

King Nine will not Return- I liked it. A lot of people seem to not. (***)

Shadow Play- Good episode. Made you think. (***)

Worth Purchasing For "The Hitch-Hiker" Alone!
This 7th volume of The Twilight Zone series on Digital Versatile (Video) Disc is another goodie.

Two of these four half-hour TZ episodes are a couple of the best in the Rod Serling series (in my view). Those being the fantastic "The Hitch-Hiker", starring the lovely Inger Stevens, and "Shadow Play" with Dennis Weaver.

This seventh disc in the series is a "can't miss" for me, along with volumes 2, 8, and 9 as well.

The illusion of reality that we find in "The Twilight Zone"
The illusion of reality is explored in Volume 7 of "The Twilight Zone." In "Perchance to Dream," written by Charles Beaumont from his own short story, Edward Hall (Richard Conte) tells his psychiatrist (John Larch) about nightmarish dreams in which Maya (Suzanne Lloyd), a carnival dancer, is trying to scare him to death. Because of a heart condition, if the dreams do not kill Hall, trying to stay awake will. Beaumont continues his exploration of dreams in "Shadow Play," which features a memorable performance by Dennis Weaver as Adam Grant, a condemned prisoner who will be executed. Grant insists he is having a recurring nightmare and that when he dies everyone else will cease to exist. In Rod Serling's "King Nine Will Not Return," Captain James Embry (Bob Cummings) wakes up besides the wreckage of his B-25 bomber, "King Nine," and frantically searches for his crew as odd visions persist. Inger Stevens and Leonard Strong turn in strong performances as Nan Adams and the title character in Serling's "The Hitch-Hiker," based on the radio play of that name by Lucille Fletcher. Following a blowout, Nan repeatedly sees the same hitch-hiker as she travels along the highway. Since this is, after all, the Twilight Zone, we all know the true identity of the hitch-hiker. The two Beaumont Zones are superior the pair of Serling efforts, although none of the four really qualify as outright classics. Still, this is an interesting "theme" volume in this DVD set.

Four of the best Twilight Zone episodes
Image is releasing these original Twilight Zone episodes NOT in the order of the original broadcast date (which I would've preferred), but rather in a way so that each volume contains episodes that have roughly similar themes. The result is often that the best episodes, mostly the earlier ones in the series' 5-season run, are scattered among different volumes.

Volume 7, however, is one of the better ones, since 3 of the 4 episodes selected are among the best in the series: "The Hitchhiker", "Perchance to Dream", "Shadow Play". The weakest of the 4 in my opinion is "King Nine will not Return" but many people like it and think it's one of the best also. All 4 episodes are about hallucinations or dreams that doom the protagonist.

Picture and sound qualities are superb throughout. The DVD also include extra material such as episode descriptions, biographical notes, and trivias.

It is hard to find TV stations that show TZ episodes these days, and even when they do, they sometimes don't show all the episodes (especially the 1-hour ones), and episodes are almost always edited for time. The TZ episodes on these volumes are uncut and uninterrupted; and for TZ fans they definitely worth collecting.

Programs like The Twilight Zone are a dead genre. Today's viewers aren't likely to watch a sci-fi show without expecting special effects and action scenes. TZ had no flashy effects and rapid actions, only IDEAS that provoke our thoughts and stimulate our imaginations. ... Read more

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At least one of the episodes collected on volume 15 of The Twilight Zone DVDofferings is an all-time classic--if by classic we mean the kind of showthat still produces a shudder of recognition years after viewing. This is"The Midnight Sun," an apocalyptic tale in which a cosmic event has hurledthe earth toward the sun, sending the thermometer to 120 degrees and thepopulation into despair. Aside from the twist ending and the attractivesweating of Lois Nettleton, what's likely to be remembered from this episode, is the haunting image of an oil painting melting with the heat. Other episodes in this collection, all scripted by series creator RodSerling, emphasize bravura acting. In "Escape Clause," gracefully directed by Hollywood pro Mitchell Leisen, the whimsical David Wayne plays ahypochondriac whose anxious life is changed by the arrival of Death (veteran heavy Thomas Gomez). Soon the indestructible hero is courting exotic ways ofdestroying himself, just to alleviate his boredom: "Let's give the electric chair a little whirl," drawls the blithely curious Wayne. The claustrophobic"Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" takes on technical challenges typical of The Twilight Zone. It never leaves the confines of a tiny, shabby hotel room andleading man Joe Mantell plays much of the dialogue with a mirror image ofhimself. The point of the episode is somewhat monotonous, but Mantell'sperformance, as a loser facing his last chance at decency, is fully juiced. "A Kind of Stopwatch" shows what happens when a loudmouth pest (RichardErdman, the annoying personification of the can-do man with ideas) comes into possession of a watch that can stop the whole world in mid-motion. Justice eventually is meted out, per the usual scales of The Twilight Zone. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pretty Average DVD
Midnight Sun is the best Zone episode on this DVD. The rest are okay but not all that special.

Four stories of desperate people in "The Twilight Zone"
Desperate people in desperate situations abound in Rod Serling's four scripts presented in Volume 15 of "The Twilight Zone" DVD series. In "Escape Clause, " David Wayne stars at hypochondriac Walter Bedecker, who strikes a deal with Mr. Cadwallader (Thomas Gomez), a.k.a. the Devil, to receive immortality and indestructibility in exchange for his soul. Of course, Bedecker soon realizes he has gotten a raw deal. "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" features Joe Mantell as Jackie Rhodes, who has been ordered by a gangster to murder the owner of bar. Knowing he does not have the guts to refuse the order and that he will be caught if he commits the crime, Jackie looks in the mirror and discovers looking back at him a DIFFERENT Jackie Rhodes, who is the better man he could have been and who now wants out into the real world. Lois Nettleton turns in a wonderful performance in "The Midnight Sun" as Norma, who is trying to survive in her New York City apartment as the Earth moves closer and closer to the sun. Of course, there is an ironic twist at the end of this tale as well. Finally, there is Patrick Thomas McNulty (Richard Erdman), a man who does not know when to shut up in "A Kind of a Stopwatch," based on an unpublished story by Michael D. Rosenthal. The whims of fate, in the presence of a strange little man named Potts (Leon Belasco), give McNulty a remarkable stopwatch. Press the button and time stops for everybody in the world except him. Unfortunately, the man is not the equal of the gift. One of the better theme discs in this series, these are all above average episodes of the Zone.

The "Superb Zone" Volume 15
This volume is by far one of the best available today. The episodes "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" and "A Kind of Stopwatch" are worthy episode done in the typical Zonie fashion. While "Escape Clause," starring: David Wayne (well-known for playing the Mad Hatter on the 60's television comedy: "Batman") plays a hypochondriac, who sells his soul for immortality. The episode offers a bit of twisted humor that only "The Twilight Zone" could pull-off tastefully. However; it is episode "The Midnight Sun" that steals the show! Timeless situation about two women who are faced within a hopeless situation. The Earth has changed its orbit, and is drifting closer to the sun. Knowing the inevitable is soon at hand, the two depend on each other for survival. How long can they survive? How long can they remain sane? This episode makes you think: "what if this really happened? " Also: for you fans of Lois Nettleton, the scenes of her sweating in her under-garments is very sexy; it is worth buying the dvd just for that. Out of all the volumes I want to own, I bought this one first! ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "The Last Flight" (Ep. 18, February 5, 1960) - A World War I Flying Ace flies through a mysterious cloud--and lands at a modern U.S. air base in the year 1960! But the strange part is yet to come. "Once Upon a Time" (Ep. 78, December 15, 1961) - Woodrow (Buster Keaton), a janitor living in the year 1890, accidentally activates a time-travelling helmet which transports him to 1962--then promptly breaks down! "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" (Ep. 59, April 7, 1961) - In 1847, a western settler (Cliff Robertson) sets out to find medicine for his dying son--and stumbles into modern-day New Mexico. He returns with much more than just medicine. "The Trouble with Templeton" (Ep. 45, December 9, 1960) - Booth Templeton (Brian Ahern) is an aging actor who longs for the old days when his wife was alive. Miraculously, he is given a sobering glimpse of the past he holds so dear. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Four Tales of Time Travelling in the Twilight Zone
There is an interesting pattern to the episodes collected on Volume 10 of "The Twilight Zone" DVD series since the third episode essentially merges the first two together. But the key element here is obviously Time Travel. "The Last Flight," written by Richard Matheson, was sold to "The Twilight Zone" on the strength of a simple idea: a World War I pilot lands at a modern airbase. The pilot is Flight Lt. Decker (Kenneth Haigh), who fled during a dogfight, leaving his best friend surrounded by enemy fighters, doomed to die. After flying through a strange white cloud, similar to the Matheson employed in "The Incredible Shrinking Man" one would assume, Decker lands at a modern day American air field in France (you have to pretend we had them). There Decker learns that he might have a chance to redeem himself and more importantly, a reason to do so. "Once Upon a Time," also written by Matheson is a rare opportunity for outright slapstick in the Zone. The show features the great silent comedian Buster Keaton as janitor Woodrow Mulligan. Disgusted with the fast paced and high priced society of 1890, Woodrow steals a "time helmet" from the inventor who employs him, and travels to 1962. Of course, he is in for quite a bit of future shock. The 1890 sequences are down in silent fashion, with cards instead of dialogue, but the humor is trite rather than funny. Keaton is fine, but the gags are second-rate at best, which is really a surprise since the episode was directed by Norman Z. McLeod, who directed the Marx Brothers films "Horse Feathers" and "Monkey Business." This is just one of those cases were major talents come together and produce a small pop instead of a big bang.

Cliff Robertson stars as Christian Horn, traveling to a new life in California in 1847 in "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim," written by Rod Serling. Similar to "The Last Flight," this episode hinges on a pivotal image: while searching for water and food for his dying son, Horn walks "over the rim" to discover a paved highway, telephone poles, trucks and a diner. However, the conclusion of this episode ends up paralleling "The Last Flight" way too much to avoid eye brow raising. Still, the performance of Robertson makes this one work on its own terms. Finally, "The Trouble With Templeton," written by E. Jack Neuman, features Brian Aherne as Booth Templeton, an aging actor who longs for the happy days in the Twenties when his wife as still alive. Late for a rehersal of a play he finds himself back in 1927. Finding his wife Laura (Pippa Scott) alive at a local speakeasy he is stunned to find that while she is as beautiful as he remembers her, she is a vulgar little flirt. His perfect memories destroyed, he returns to the present at which point he makes a rather stunning discovery. I have a special fondness for this episode because I did not see the twist coming. Sydney Pollack plays Willis, the young director who is not happy with Templeton's commitment to his craft. This was Neuman's only Zone script, although he did write/produce several notable television series including "Dr. Kildare," "Mr. Novak" and "Police Story." This is an above average collection of "Twilight Zone" episodes helped alone by the thematic unity of the quartet of stories. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ending With a Laugh
This disc completes the 36 episodes from "I Love Lucy's" incredibly funny first season. And there are some wonderful moments on this disc.

It opens with "Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio." Ricky's attempt to impress his wife by showing off some secret knowledge backfires when she thinks he can win the prize on a radio quiz show.

Next up is the hysterical "Lucy's Schedule." When Lucy makes Ricky late to an important business dinner, he decides to help her make better use of her time. But she has a few tricks up her sleeve to get her out of punching a time clock. This isn't usually listed in any lists of best episodes, but I love it.

"Ricky Thinks He's Getting Bald" is the weakest of the episodes presented here, but it's still worth seeing if for no other reason then the treatment Lucy gives Ricky to get his hair to grow again.

When "Ricky Asks for a Raise," Lucy, Fred, and Ethel have to turn into quick change artists to save his job. Look for Fred in drag.

If you've been buying the other discs, you know what to expect here, and you won't be disappointed. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras include the now familiar guest cast info, original opening, and mistakes. This time around we get three episodes of "My Favorite Husband" as well as the original tag announcing that Lucy was going on vacation for the summer but would be back in the fall. In addition, we get some behind the scenes trivia and pictures of the cast on the set.

Rumor has it that future season of this classic show will be more in line with other TV show releases. Still, these first season discs have some classic episodes on them that any Lucy fan will want in their collection.

You Gotta Love Lucy
Depsite all the negative comments aimed at Paramount Home Video recently, I want to give them some credit. Yes, I also would have loved to have been able to get Lucy in complete season box sets (but not for anything over $50) yet I had resigned myself to pick them up in these four-episode-per-disc volumes - similar to how the original Star Trek series was released on dvd. (Star Trek got two shows per disc.)

To Paramount's credit, these Lucy dvd's have lots of extra goodies on them...and that is more than many other TV shows on dvd can say. (Most other TV shows on dvd are just the episodes, with NO extras of any kind.) I love that these Lucy dvd's include any of Lucy's old radio show, "My Favorite Husband" that correspond to or inspired the "I Love Lucy" episodes on the disc. How many of us have had the opportunity to hear these classic shows anywhere else? And it's really fun comparing them to their I Love Lucy counterparts.

Also, there are scenes and music cues which have been restored, most of which haven't been seen since the show's original broadcasts in the '50's - especially any footage referring to the show's then-sponsor, Phillip Morris. No, I don't like all the smoking references, but since this was how the show was oringally made, it's great to see all this footage restored for historical interest and accuracy.

Each dvd has included sections on "Flubs" which are very amusing. Some of them I've noticed over the years watching the show, and others I never would have noticed without these supplements pointing them out.

There are "Guest Cast" sections on each disc too. These are wonderful as they give us some little bit of background on the many regular and one-time-only guest cast members that have appeared on the show. Also, for people who made multiple appearances on the show, this section includes a list of all their I Love Lucy appearances. Very nice.

The inclusion of the original animated opening is also very welcome. Before these dvd's, many of us never had a chance to see this footage either. Some of the discs include interesting Production Notes, and Behind-The-Scenes footage or stills. Again, very welcome and interesting.

The most recent disc, Season One, Volume 9 includes a special End-of-Season tag which was only broadcast one time, when the last episode of season one ran back in 1952. While it's mostly a plug for the show's summer replacement that year, and for Phillip Morris, it's still extra footage of Lucy and Desi as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo that I for one had never seen or even heard of before this dvd. What Lucy fan doesn't want to see more of that kind of "lost" footage?

I hope that Paramount is not dissuaded from continuing on with the other seasons in the I Love Lucy show. As far as I'm concerned, Paramount has been doing a grand job with these Lucy discs. Please keep 'em coming!

The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
The ninth volume of I Love Lucy's first season contains episodes 32-35, which feature some great moments. I Love Lucy is still my favorite TV show of all-time. Lucille Ball's classic and one-of-a-kind sense of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows, like always, on this set. And who doesn't love Lucy?

1. "Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio" (aired 5/19/52)- After Ricky correctly answers all of the questions on a quiz show that's on the radio, Lucy thinks that he's a complete genius and decides to sign him up to be a contestant on the show. But Lucy didn't know that Ricky had already heard the answers to the questions during the taping of that episode.

2. "Lucy's Schedule" (aired 5/26/52)- When Lucy is late for a dinner with Ricky's boss (this is the episode where she gets a fake apple stuck in her mouth after she tries to eat it), he's had enough of her tardiness and puts her on a schedule. After Lucy finds out that Ricky thinks that he has her acting like a trained seal, she decides to get back at him when he invites his boss over for dinner and only allows them a few seconds with each course of their meal and then whisks it away.

3. "Ricky Thinks He Is Getting Bald" (aired 6/2/52)- When Ricky thinks that his hairline is beginning to recede, he becomes so self-conscious that he wears a hat in the house. Just to show him that he has nothing to worry about, Lucy invites a group of bald men (including Fred, who wears a toupee) over to their apartment.

4. "Ricky Asks For a Raise" (aired 6/9/52)- When Ricky no longer has a job at the Tropicana after he asks for a raise, Lucy, Ethel and Fred decide to get him his job back by showing his boss how popular he is. A new performer is appearing at the club, so they call and make dozens and dozens of bogus reservations. They show up at the club (to pretend they're different people, they quickly change into different outfits) and when they discover that Ricky Ricardo is not there anymore, they storm out. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best laid plans go horribly astray in "The Twilight Zone"
The best laid plans of mice and men in invariably go astray in "The Twilight Zone" as evidenced by the trio of episodes collected on Volume 36 of the DVD series. Love potions do not work well in the Zone, as Roger Shackleforth (George Grizzard) learns in "The Chaser," written by Robert Presnell, Jr. and based on the short story by John Collier. Roger is desperately in love with Leila (Patricia Barry), and purchases a love potion from a professor named "A. Daemon." The potion works so well that after six months of marriage Roger is back looking for something a bit more deadly. In "The Rip Van Winkle Caper," written by Rod Serling, four men steal a million dollars worth of gold bars off of a train from Fort Knox. To get away with their crime, Farwell (Oscar Beregi) has created a gas that will put them in suspended animation. They awake 100 years later, but it seems one of them, DeCruz (Simon Oakland), is greedy enough not to want to share any of the stolen gold. "The New Exhibit," written by Jerry Sohl, is set in Ferugson's Wax Museum, where attendance has been poor. Ferguson has sold the place, which will be demolished and replaced by a supermarket. But Martin Lombard Senescu (Martin Balsam), who has worked there for 30 years, can not stand the idea since five of the figures, notorious murderers such as Jack the Ripper and Albert W. Hicks, have become almost like friends to him. Reluctantly, Ferguson agrees to let Martin take the figures to his own basement, in hopes that someday he can start his own museum. Martin's wife Emma does not like the fact that they are starving while the electricity runs all night to preserve the wax figures. But when she goes down there one night to pull the plug, Martin finds here dead the next morning with her blood on Jack the Ripper's knife. This is one of the better hour-long episodes from the Zone's sub-par fourth season. While none of these episodes are classics the last two are certainly well above average, so we will round up to 5 stars for this one. What stands out on this DVD are not so much the stories but the performances by Balsam, Oakland and Beregi. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "The Mighty Casey" (Episode 35, June 17, 1960) - A broken-down baseball team soars when a new player, a human-looking robot, pitches shut-out after shut-out. He must be altered to become more human, but how will this affect his superhuman skills? "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up" (Episode 64, May 26, 1961) - State troopers follow tracks from an unidentified flying object to a diner where they try to determine which of the seven bus passengers stranded inside is really a Martian. "The Changing of the Guard" (Episode 102, June 1, 1962) - Donald Pleasence is Professor Ellis Fowler, forced to retire after 51 years of teaching. Feeling his life was worthless, Fowler is startled by the ghostly appearance of former students. "Come Wander with Me" (Episode 154, May 22, 1964) - A singer (Gary Crosby) journeys to the backwoods to find authentic folk songs. He hears a great ballad...a timeless tune that will have a very personal meaning for him. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A mixed bag of episodes from "The Twilight Zone"
The performance of Donald Pleasance stands out in the four episodes from "The Twilight Zone" collected on Volume 41 of this DVD series. Robert Sorrells plays "The Mighty Casey," a robot that becomes the star pitcher of the last place Hoboken Zephyrs in this episode written by Rod Serling. However, when it is discovered Casey is a robot, it is ruled that he cannot play baseball unless he has a heart and it is up to his inventor, Dr. Stillman (Abraham Sofaer) to give him one. Jack Warden plays Manager Mouth McGarry, after Serling personally paid to have scenes reshot when the original actor died of a heart attack shortly after production. "The Might Casey" is a mildly amusing episode. "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up" by Serling finds State Troopers following tracks from a U.F.O. to a diner. Now all they have to do is figure out which of the seven bus passengers inside is really a Martian. This is an above-average Zone with references to science fiction writers and cliches, as well as nice performances by John Hoyt, Barney Phillips and Jack Elam. Serling even throws in one of his better twists at the end. Donald Pleasance turns in a surprisingly different performance as Professor Ellis Fowler in Serling's "The Changing of the Guard." A saintly English professor, Fowler is being forcibly retired and contemplates suicide, thinking he has accomplished nothing in his teaching career. But in his classroom for the final time the ghosts of his former students try to convince him otherwise. On the written page the dialogue looks looks rather cliched, but not when Pleasance delivers it. Finally, "Come Wander With Me," written by Anthony Wilson, is the story of Floyd Burney (Gary Crosby), "the Rockabilly Boy," who travels the backwoods looking for authentic folk songs. When he hears a haunted ballad being hummed by the lovely Mary Rachel (Bonnie Beecher), he knows he has found what he was looking for, but he fails to notice the tombstone with his name on it. There are so many twists in this one that by the time it is over you will have no idea what was really going on. So the four episodes on Volume 41 would grade out, in order, as D, C, B, F, which grades out as a C overall (can you tell school is back in session?).

If only we could hand pick our episodes ...
The (not so) Mighty Casey: 1 star This is a first season ep. and is surprisingly lacking in many ways. The sound effects are campy (even for 1960), the humor is off, and Jack Wardens perfomance is plain poor and over blown. He turned in one of the best performances EVER for the Zone in "The Lonely" but here, I suppose, the material he had to work with was sub-par. "Casey" himself is not even likeable, none of the characters are. A Formality Episode.

Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up: 3 stars A decent ep. that seems to be a fan favorite but for me "the old giggling man" is pretty annoying. Most will recognise a Trek doctor here and he turns in a fine performance. The ending is classic, sans for the silly makeup.

The Changing Of The Guard: 3.5 stars Pleasance is great in this episode. Even greater is the meaning behind it all. Whether we know it or WE ALL MATTER. Whether you teach or not your existance at some point WILL influence another in a positive way. Thats the meaning I got from it. A touching episode.

Come Wander With Me: 4.5 stars This ep. is great because the song is haunting and it also has a rather strange ending and meaning. I really love how "Floyd Burney" kept running around this Zone proclaiming for God and Country, "I'M FLOYD BURNEY!" As though it mattered to these people. A Caution for you ego-maniacs: it doesn't matter who you are, but WHO KNOWS YOU!

Again, there is no paperwork (inserts, like every other dvd has!) for the Zones which is unusually cheap (though they are all this way). The navigation is abnormally slow, but the picture is terrific! Also, I found no isolated music tracks.

Come Wander with Me and find Hidden EASTER EGGS
Volume 41 of "The Twilight Zone" contains 'Easter Eggs.' 'Easter Eggs' are hidden extras on the DVD which are not listed on the cover or even mentioned in the main menu. They have their own menu page and you have to navigate around until you find them! 'COME WANDER WITH ME' for instance contains an isolated music track. Many people complained about the reissue of 'THE ENCOUNTER' on DVD in Vol. 33. However, it was reissued because it contains an 'Easter Egg.' 'THE ENCOUNTER' contains an isolated music track! Now, on to the main review!

'COME WANDER WITH ME' has been a long-overlooked episode which first aired on May 22, 1964. It is a very strange and enigmatic tale written by Anthony Wilson and directed by Richard Donner. It stars Gary Crosby as a folk singer who ventures into the backwoods in search of his next hit song. He's a con man who steals authentic folk ballads by using a tape recorder and Gary Crosby is brilliant in this role. Crosby brings a real facade of charisma that the role demanded and he makes this episode work. This is a very atmospheric episode that does not hit you right away. You may not even like it. But its haunting images and singular tune may linger with you and you may just revisit this one again and again (that's a little hint about the story). I have done so many times and this one of my favorite episodes right up there with 'WALKING DISTANCE' and 'NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET.' I highly recommend 'COME WANDER WITH ME.' 'THE MIGHTY CASEY' is an enjoyable little episode written by Rod Serling about a down and out baseball team that gets a little help from a robot named Casey. The very dependable Jack Warden as usual turns in a good performance. 'A PIANO IN THE HOUSE' which first aired on February 16, 1962 shows the cruelty that lies beneath the surface of some people. Barry Morse is at his best as he uses a player piano to make his guests reveal their innermost feelings and desires in a most vicious fashion. The late Joan Hackett is very good as she underplays her role as his abused wife. Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote a brilliant and memorable script for this episode as he chose a different tune to reveal each character as it was played on the piano. As for being memorable, 'WILL THE REAL MARTIAN PLEASE STAND UP' is one of the most remembered and identified episodes. Written by Rod Serling with an original airdate of May 26, 1961 it is the story that takes place in a diner where passengers of a bus trip are stranded. There's only one problem: one of the passengers may be an alien in disguise! You get a good sampling of episodes on this disc showing the diversity of themes and stories which contain that one cohesive element for the viewer: YOU HAVE JUST ENTERED THE TWILIGHT ZONE. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "The Trade-Ins" (Ep. 96, April 20, 1962) - An elderly couple visit the New Life Corporation, hoping to transplant their personalities into youthful artificial bodies. But they can only afford one. "Sixteen Millimeter Shrine" (Ep. 4, October 23, 1959) - An aging former movie star (Ida Lupino) lives and dreams in the past. Despite the efforts of her agent (Martin Balsam), she refuses to leave her screening room--until she disappears! "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" (Ep. 3, October 16, 1959) - A has-been, drunk of a gunslinger (Dan Duryea) finds that his fast-draw abilities can actually be restored by drinking a magic potion! "The Lateness of the Hour" (Ep. 44, December 2, 1960) - Dr. Loren enjoys the faultless robot servants he has invented. His daughter (Inger Stevens), however, feels imprisoned by them--and soon learns how right she is! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Star on Sunset Boulevard
The question of what is real and what is illusion is central to my favorite episode on this DVD, "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine." The story concerns a former movie queen who refuses to believe that she is no longer young and in demand, instead spending her days and nights alone with her old films. In an uncanny bit of wish-fulfillment, she finally leaves the "real world" and enters the world of make-believe for good. Ida Lupino gives a formidable "star performance" as the aging actress, and Martin Balsam brings emotional depth to the role of her sympathetic agent. Mention must also be made of the set - the star's Beverly Hills mansion - which is simply beautiful. In short, the script, the acting, and the production values all combine to make "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" a thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking episode of The Twilight Zone.

SECOND CHANCES OF DROOL
Except for the episode "Mr.Denton on Doomsday", these are some of the weakest Zone episodes I have ever seen. "Denton" concerns an ex-gunslinger (Dan Duryen)who has become the town drunk. Martin Landau portrays a leader of a gang that finds its primary entertainment in humiliating Denton, forcing him to sing "How Dry I Am" a couple of times. Then a travelling quack offers him a potion that will restore his former skills. Duryen gives an emotional performance that truly conveys the emotions of shame and learned helplessness of an alcoholic.

"The Trade-Ins" is a overly sentimental tale of an elderly couple who want to continue to live in the froo-froo of their love. So they visit a showroom where you can pick from an assortment of young bodies you can transfer yourself into. The problem is that they only have enough money for one! Joseph Schildkraut plays the old man and his real life wife died during filming of this episode. It didn't help the performance. This episode was weighted down by mush.

"16 Millimeter Shrine" is a blatant rip-off of Sunset Boulevard in which an aging movie star (Ida Lupino) just sets in her room drinking and showing her old films, unable to accept that all things must pass. Martin Balsam, just years away from his greatest performance in "Mitchell", plays her agent boyfriend who is trying to make her live in reality and trying to revive her career. Lupino gives an ugly overacted performance with sweeps of her arms and superficial breakdowns of emotion. It's all too much.

Lastly, we come to the only other half decent episode on the DVD, "The Lateness of the Hour". It's about parents and their suddenly no longer childlike daughter. It seems her father has perfected the safest and most isolated environment to live in. The family stays confined in their lavish mansion and are waited on by robots who look like humans. Except they never make mistakes. The problem is that the daughter, Inger Stevens, wants to see what the rest of the world looks like. She wants to meet a man, have some adventures. This episode felt like a play because it was filmed on videotape, and thereby all of it was shot on the same set. The actors do a decent job.

Overall, a subpar volume in this series

Four great journeys into the Twilight Zone
I'm a little partial to this dvd because it has "Mister Denton on Doomsday", which is one of the first TZ episodes I ever saw as a little boy and one I actually sat on the floor in front of the tv taping on a tape recorder with my own narration (well before the days of VCR's). Of the four stories on here, three have the telegraphed endings (if you don't see it coming by about ten minutes into the show, you're not watching hard enough). The other one (Mister Denton) is good about keeping you guessing until the end. Still, the fact that you can see the ending coming doesn't stop them from being exciting and worth watching. "The Lateness of the Hour" was filmed on video tape (one of only 6 episodes done that way) and like those others it was limited in the locations it could shoot from. Still, they manage to tell a gripping story in the expanse of two rooms and it's worth watching. "The Trade-ins" is a good sentimental story that has its moments. "The 16mm Shrine" is a creepy tale, but pays off well in the end. And finally, "Mister Denton..." is a good western tale that has an interesting premise and a cool twist at the end. Don't forget to go to the extras on the dvd and read the "Reviews and Credits" section for each episode after you watch it. "The Trade-ins" has an especially tragic side-note that will make you want to go back and watch the episode again to catch the emotion you didn't notice as well before. I give this dvd 4 stars because while the episodes were mostly strong, there were a couple of weak spots during the stories that kept them from being perfect. Still, it's a great one to add to your collection!

Four Serling Tales of Second Chances in the Twilight Zone
All four episodes of "The Twilight Zone" included on Volume 12 of the DVD series were written by Rod Serling and the common theme is one of Serling's favorites: people being given a second chance. "The Trade-Ins" features Joseph Schildkraut and Alma Platt as John and Marie Holt, who visit the New Life Corporation hoping to translate their personalities into young, artificial bodies. However, they only have enough money for ONE operation. This episode is my favorite Twilight Zone love story, made all the more effective by the performances of the two lead characters. Ida Lupino stars as aging movie star Barbara Jean Trenton in "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine," who secludes herself in her screening room watching her old films. Her agent (Martin Balsam) tries to coax her back to the real world, even getting her former leading man to visit her. However, this Twilight Zone version of "Sunset Blvd." finds that sometimes wishes come true. "Mr. Denton on Doomsday," also by Serling, stars Dan Duryea as the title character, a drunken gunslinger who is forced to fight the town bully (Martin Landau). However, Henry J. Fate (Malcolm Atterbury) rides into town and just by looking at Denton momentarily restores his shooting skills. But after winning the gunfight, Denton finds he has become the target for a young gunslinger (Doug McClure) wanting to make his reputation. Denton buys a magic potion from Fate that will give him ten seconds of deadly accuracy, which Denton must use to change his life forever. This episode provides one of the better Twilight Zone scripts, which I do not think you will find predictable. Finally, in "The Lateness of the Hour," we find Dr. Loren (John Hoyt) enjoying being served by his perfect robot. However, his daughter Jana (Inger Stevens), cannot stand this idyllic life. Unfortunately, the twist for this one is pretty predictable even though Serling does put a nice flip on the twist at the end. This was the first Zone episode to be taped rather than filmed, and Serling made the limitations of this format part of the story in terms of Jana's feelings of confinement. None of these are classic Zones, but except for the last one they are all certainly above average, which is pretty good for one of the volumes in this series.

mediocore
it isn't a scary movie at all. i saw it in class and i thought it was realy funny, because its kind of reflecting all the wrong things that happen today. i wouldnt really recomend watching it but seeing alot of them really gave me the creeps nate ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lucy's never-ending quest to be an entertainer is spotlighted in these four episodes from December 1951 and January 1952. In "The Adagio," when Fred fails to teach Lucy to dance, a French partner leads to passes and dueling pistols. In "The Benefit," Lucy muscles in on Ricky's act for Ethel's club benefit, turning the tables on her husband during their vaudeville routine. Lucy gets tied up while babysitting bratty twins in "The Amateur Hour," but her nightmare turns into a coveted stage opportunity. In "Lucy Plays Cupid," her attempt to set up an elderly neighbor backfires when the intended falls for her instead. Her solution? A romantic dinner of sticky soup and steak requiring a chisel. Bonus footage includes the radio play of an episode of Lucille Ball's "My Favorite Husband," which inspired the "Cupid" script, as well as flubs and a behind-the-scenes featurette. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Lucy is still pretty much going solo in these early episodes
The notion of who loves Lucy gets expanded by the first and last episodes collected on Volume 4 of the first season of the classic television situation comedy:

Episode 12, "The Adagio" (December 31, 1951) has Lucy all excited about doing an Apache routine at the Club. But then her French dance coach (Shepard Menken) takes a romantic interest in her and suddenly this does not seem like such a good idea.

Episode 13, "The Benefit" (January 7, 1952) finds Lucy blackmailing Ethel into letting her perform at a benefit at a woman's club. It seems Lucy has promised Ricky will perform but has somehow neglected to mention this fact to her busy husband.

Episode 14, "The Amateur Hour" (January 14, 1952) has Lucy making the big mistake of baby-sitting twins at an amateur talent contest. It is a wonder Lucy ever wanted to have a baby after this escapade.

Episode 15, "Lucy Plays Cupid" (January 21, 1952) features a couple of great character actors in supporting roles as Lucy plays matchmaker between the grocery man (Edward Everett Horton) and the neighborhood spinster (Bea Benaderet). But the grocery decides that what he really likes...are redheads.

It is rather interesting to watch these episodes within the context of four episodes to a disc. In a lot of these early scripts Lucy is close to going solo as writers Jess Oppenheimer, Maedelyn Pugh, and Bob Caroll, Jr. have not yet gotten comfortable with the fact that Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley are pretty good comic actors playing pretty good comic characters. Overall these episodes would grade out as slightly above average, but the classics are still waiting for us down the road. See you there.

Funny, but Definitely Not the Best of the Show.
This DVD is a mixed bag with two good and too ok episodes of a wonderful series.

"The Adagio" finds Lucy once again trying to get into Ricky's act, this time as an adagio dancer. But she gets more then she bargained for when Ethel finds her a real French teacher to teach her the dance.

"The Benefit" is the best of the bunch. Lucy agrees to get Ricky to do a performance at a benefit for Ethel's club, but only if she can be part of the act.

"The Amateur Hour" finds Lucy over her head babysitting to earn money for a dress she bought and can't return.

"Lucy Plays Cupid" provides a mix-up in the romance department when Lucy tries to help a shy neighbor win the heart of the grocer. This episode was inspired by an episode of "My Favorite Husband," included on the disc, and I found the radio show much funnier.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system at all, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras feature the original opening plugging the show's sponsor (the episodes themselves use the heart we're used to from reruns), info on the guest cast, some mistakes that made it into the episode, and the previously mentioned "My Favorite Husband" episode.

Part of my love for this show is the great friendship portrayed on screen between the four leads. Since the Mertzes are hardly in full time at this point (Fred doesn't appear in the third episode, and both are missing from the fourth), I think that partially contributes to my lack of enthusiasm for these episodes.

While the middle two provide some great laughs, the disc opener and closer leave much to be desired. Still, a Lucy fan will want this disc to complete their set of season 1.

The Adagio, The Benefit, The Amateur Hour, Lucy Plays Cupid
All the episodes here are in correct order as filmed. "The Adagio", episode 12, Filmed on November 23, 1951. Broadcast on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1951. "The Benefit". episode 13, Filmed on November 30, 1951. Broadcast January 7, 1952. "The Amateur Hour", episode 14, Filmed on December 7, 1951. Broadcast January 14, 1952. William Frawley is not in this episode. "Lucy Plays Cupid", episode 15, Filmed on December 13, 1951. Broadcast January 21, 1952. Vivian Vance and William Frawley are not in this episode. Bea Benaderet is in old woman make-up. Bea Benaderet worked with Lucy on the radio show "My Favorite Husband". She was Lucy's first choice to play the Ethel Mertz character, but thank goodness the role went to Vivian vance. Bea Benaderet was already playing "Blanche Morton" on the "George Burns and Gracie Allen" show also on CBS.

The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
The fourth volume of I Love Lucy's first season features episodes 12-15. Although, like many other people, I wish they would release season-by-season DVDs, this is still a must have collection. Lucy's brand of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows on this set. And who doesn't love Lucy?

1. "The Adagio" (aired 12/31/51)- Lucy, bitten by the showbiz bug once again, is determined to be in the French Apache dance number in Ricky's Paris revue. Ethel finds a real Frenchman to help Lucy out. His name is Jean Valjean Raymand and when he comes to her apartment for lessons and he sees her trying to hide him from Ricky, Jean assumes that Lucy wants to runaway with him. That night, he climbs up a ladder to Lucy's window to take the woman he loves, but it's not that easy.

2. "The Benefit" (aired 1/7/52)- Lucy convinces Ethel that she and Ricky are the perfect husband and wife act for a benefit performance at Ethel's club. Now all Lucy has to do is convince Ricky. When he agrees and comes up with a comedy act for them to do, Lucy is mad when she finds out that Ricky gave himself all of the jokes and left her with nothing. She then decides to tell the punch-line of the jokes before he has a chance to finish them.

3. "The Amateur Hour" (aired 1/14/52)- To pay for a new dress she just bought, Lucy decides to get a job baby-sitting. She's supposed to be watching a little boy, but is her mind playing tricks on her or does Lucy see two little boys?

4. "Lucy Plays Cupid" (aired 1/21/52)- Miss Lewis (Bea Benaderet, who was the original choice for Ethel Mertz), a sweet, elderly neighbor, asks for Lucy's help in asking out Mr. Ritter, the grocer, who she has had her eye on for awhile. Ricky forbids Lucy to be a matchmaker, but, of course, that has never stopped her before. When Lucy tells Mr. Ritter about Miss Lewis, he thinks that Lucy is lying and that she is the one who is interested in him.

bottom line is the dollar
It costs less to make a dvd then to make a vhs, and at four episodes a dvd, you are getting jipped. I agree with the one who said "being nickel and dimed to death." It is true!

179 episodes breaks down into 45 dvds, averaged at $12 a dvd that is $540. I don't have the space to store 45 dvds on Lucy alone; I do have other movies I would like to own. The price is also a little steep. I would rather have it season by season, and at $50 a season, that is still only $300. That is a better deal for storage and value.

As long as people continue to spend the money, we will never see a decent amount of Lucy episodes on a decent priced dvd.

We need to stand up as consumers and stop giving in to the studios by buying these overpriced dvds.

It appears that the diehards are going to kill it for everyone. I think that is sad. Lucy would have wanted more people to enjoy her show on dvd. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first episodes of I Love Lucy, in comedy terms, look today like a promising map of great things to come from the hugely influential sitcom.This set of episodes, the first volume in a definitive collection of the classic television series, includes the original three broadcast episodes from October 1951, plus the so-called "Lost Pilot" that finds the earliest I Love Lucy production quite rough but genuinely promising. The actual episodes that American audiences first saw--"The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub," "Be aPal," and "The Diet"--find familiar elements of the classic series already in place. Housewife Lucy (Lucille Ball), restless for excitement, is married to Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz). Ricky's crazy nightclub career, however, leaves him yearning for a quiet home life and a wife content with her simple chores. Alas, it's not to be. With best friends Ethel (Vivian Vance) and Fred (William Frawley) usually aboard for the Ricardos' misadventures, I Love Lucy introduced an engaging blend of sophistication and slapstick, all wrapped in the intimacy of a three-camera TV approach. Bonus material is very satisfying, including a radio broadcast from 1951 later adapted into a TV script, a couple of gaffes, guest cast listings, and a new beginning for the second-season rebroadcast of "The Diet." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Where it All Began
I Love Lucy is a television classic. 50 years old, and it still plays daily on TV and is loved by millions. This DVD features the first four episodes of the classic show starting with the pilot that was found in the early 90's. In addition, it presents the first 3 episodes to air in the fall of 1951 on CBS.

Fans of the show will love this disc. The sound and picture are great. Every episode is broken down into several chapters, including a separate chapter for the musical sequence. There are plenty of extras as well, including an episode of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband" and an excerpt from Jess Oppenheimer's book on the creation of the show.

Like many TV shows, the first episodes aren't the strongest. Lucy is the only character fully developed at this point with the other three delivering straight lines. Still, there are several good laugh an episode.

It would be nice if the show were being released in season, or even half season sets. But this certainly isn't settling for second best since it's a great DVD.

I Love Lucy,Digitally Remastered, Lots of Extras now on DVD!
Paramount Pictures & CBS Broadcasting bring us "I Love Lucy" to DVD digitally remastered with lots of Extra Features.

This DVD series was done perfectly with detailed background information about the show. Each DVD includes 4 episodes in chronological order with picture & sound flawlessly reproduced! So clear, you feel your watching it live through Black & White glasses.

Each DVD will include; 4 episodes in B/W Standard Full Screen, with Dolby Digital sound. Lots of extras; episode flubs, Original series opener, Radio Show Broadcasts, Guest Cast information & Behind the Scenes audio featurettes.

This Original "I Love Lucy" DVD series is a must have for the home library. The genius of Lucy, Desi, Ethel & Fred can now be seen again & again at your leisure. Enjoy.

Against the Flow
Warning: this review contains heretical opinions! I will say up front that I was a HUGE Lucy fan as a kid. I remember laughing and laughing to the original episodes and then again to reruns years later. Truly, her comic timing was genius and the Desilu group assembled an original and historical entertainment. No doubt about that. I purchased several of the first DVDs to come out and savored the fun of introducing the hilarity of Lucy to my 7-year-old daughter. However, my hopes and memories