Customer Reviews

Outer Limits: Galaxy Being [VHS]

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4 star:		(2)
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"Galaxy Being" is the superb, seminal episode of the original Outer Limits, and it still packs quite a unique wallop today--indeed all the more so by contrast with the dismal state of contemporary scifi cinema. This is a towering, all-time great portrayal of the human encounter with the alien, who is at once intelligent, wise, noble, confused and stressed-out. His final, stern lecture to the foolish, frightened earthlings who in their ignorance would destroy him, puts this film into the same class as "Day the Earth Stood Still", one of OL's most important thematic forerunners. But then, in a brilliant stroke, there is a strong and daring infusion of emergent parallels between the rational and the non-rational, between recent discoveries of science and ancient, intuitive, mystical teachings--way ahead of its time in 1963. Another profound theme, embodied in both the alien and the Cliff Robertson character, is the courage of the individual who would seek to investigate the unknown, against the pressures of brain-washed society to conform, and all the efforts of authorities to keep humanity subservient and under control. Should these loner, visionary scientist types who break the rules in their quest for knowledge be careful what they're fooling around with? Of course; and yet, its often by mistakes that we learn the most and advance furthest as a species. The special effects are stylish and riveting, especially the design and imaging of the alien itself, which has few comparisons. The human/alien relationship is mirrored as well by the maritally troubled husband/wife couple, who have their own differences to overcome. The lame gender stereotypes of today's pathetic, post-Cameron/Hurd scifi offerings (i.e., the men as wimps or swaggering macho idiots and foils for the obligatorily smarter, stronger, wiser but good looking female lead) are nowhere to be seen, so you might not like this if you require that kind of shallow, formulaic content. The focus here, setting the tone for the whole series, is on the timeless and recurring themes of human existence, the quest for meaning, the finding of the self in the other, transcendence versus domination, the triumph of the human spirit and hope. Outer Limits is the Shakespeare of TV/cinematic scifi, and will admirably withstand the test of time. By the way, there is one unintentionally diverting moment here to watch for which I've got to mention, because I've never seen it commented upon elsewhere. It involves quite a double handful that Cliff Robertson gets hold of in the last act. How did that get by ABC's watchful eye?

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery, which reaches from the inner mind to - The Outer Limits.

In the first episode, Cliff Robertson plays Allan Maxwell, the owner of a radio station, who ignores his wife and friends while he explores the heavens with his microwaves and his 3D TV scanner. After making contact with an alien from another galaxy, his wife forces him to go to a party held on his behalf. He asks the alien to keep the transmission open till he gets back. While Maxwell is gone more power is added to the radio station and the alien is "transmitted" to earth.

An inventor, and a manager of a radio station, creates a 3-D monitor device in order to communicate with alien beings from outer space. He receives a signal from the galaxy of Andromeda. This is the pilot episode and a classic one. The key episode that gives you the premise and the series approach. Cliff Robertson is the perfect example of a cursed and lonely tinkerer ("But the secrets of the universe don't mind. They reveal themselves to nobodies. Who care ?") lost in his radio experimentations and in search of an absolute. The best scene remains the intense dialogues between Cliff Robertson and the Andromedan Being about the fundamental questions : Life, Death, War and God ("Infinity is God. God, Infinity, all the same."). Pre-"Counterweight" Jacqueline Scott plays skeptical and pragmatic Carol Mawxell who threats her husband ("Carol, it's more than interesting, it's important !"). Pre-"Production and decay of strange particles" Allyson Ames (Leslie Stevens' wife) is very gorgeous. The alien's optical effects is strange and magnificient at once and it is the best "bear" of the entire series. There are two beautiful scenes with the negative effects : 1.The Being enters a shop, with suspended instruments, and examines items (binoculars, musical box, bust). 2.The Being cauterized the injury of Allan Maxwell's wife with a blast of radiation. You have a "The day the Earth stood still" reference with the army, the jeeps and the alien's warning ("There is much you have to learn.").----"The planet Earth is a speck of dust, remote and alone in the void. There are powers in the universe inscrutable and profound. Fear cannot save us. Rage cannot help us. We must see the stranger in a new light-the light of understanding. And to achieve this, we must begin to understand ourselves, and each other."

-End of transmission-

I remember seeing this first many, many years ago. Little did I know at the time that the "galaxy being" itself was the son of Supreme Court Justice Willam O. Douglas!

The story is deeply "metaphysical" (and I DON'T) mean that in the contemporary "New Age" fashion). The nitrogen-based creature is broadcasting from Andromeda, and, as another reviewer comments, he (it?) is inadvertently transported to earth by an overzealous DJ.

There's a little stock footage. But one must remember they had one week to put together the show in the early 1960s, and didn't have all the computer graphics and assorted stuff that film-agicians use today.

The questions Cliff Robertson has for the creature--and the creature's answers--are stellar! I'm particularly moved by Robertson's questions as to the being's views towards a Supreme Being. (Lest I jeopardize your watching the tape, I won't give you the being's answer). The creature's authorities have prohibited him from communication with us because of our tendency toward self-destruction. At the end, the being, after having saved the life of Robertson's wife who was wounded by a soldier who attempted killing the being, warns the audience (army, other earthtly authorities) that there are powers far beyond theirs that they cannot even comprehend. When asked what will happen to him, he answers, "Unknown"--and disappears.

In that sense, I hope all fundamentalists watch this one several times!

Don't miss it! "The Outer Limits" is the greatest set of sci-fi fables in television history, despite the rudimentary film and video technology of the time. But the story itself makes up for that lack! Enjoy it!

When I saw the pilot episode of the classic sci-fi anthology, I was frightened beyond belief. The mouthless, glowing alien that the unwitting radio announcer "yanks" from outer space was enough to make a kid sleep with a nightlight on.

As an adult, I can now better appreciate the social commentary built into this particular installment. Also, the acting of a young Cliff Robertson, fresh from his popular role in "PT-109" can be also be credited for the success of this entry.

While the later "The Bellero Shield" explored a similar theme of reversed "alien abduction" with better results, "The Galaxy Being" was a great start to a show that should've lasted beyond its two years.

This initial episode, filmed in 1963, features Cliff Robertson and William O. Douglas (yes, the Supreme Court Justice's son) in one of the most fascinating science fiction episodes ever broadcast. Its theme--fear of the unknown, and the unfortunate human tendancy to destroy what we don't understand--has lost none of its relevance over the last 37 or so years. While the special effects are tame by today's standards, they are far from lame, and the rather simple technique of wetting down a black wet suit with oil and incorporating the negative film image to depict the creature's appearance is both effective and innovative--the creature is at once suitably alien in appearance and yet strongly credible. This is an intelligent, moving story that deserves its rightful place in the annals of truly fine television, the kind of stuff that epitomizes the television industry's best effort. "The Galaxy Being" is the definitive Outer Limits episode, and represents all that its founders (Producer Leslie Stevens and writer Joseph Stefano) hoped it to be. That they succeeded so frequently is a testament to their vision and respective talents.

Executive Producer Leslie Stevens' splendid pilot episode holds up well. All the series trademarks are in evidence: stark and moody lighting and camera angles, stellar performances, eerie music, atmosphere in abundance, and a mature, thought-provoking script about alien first contact. And, most importantly, the overall "awe and mystery" created by the combined whole.

Outer Limits sometimes trotted out overused sci-fi stories, but very rarely did it not make them seem as fresh as if those stories originated from the series itself, and not from often less-memorable predecessors. Cliff Robertson's science-nerd Everyman hero is a standout, a simple, average guy who realizes that "the secrets of the universe reveal themselves to nobodies - who care." He finds, in the course of his mocked experiments with communication, someone very much like himself - only not human. And, unfortunately, not safe, though through no fault of his own.

The Galaxy Being could best be called a "hopeful tragedy," if such a thing can be said to exist. Man's first meeting with an outside civilization is more terrifying than inspiring, and does not end well for either side, but Stevens in typical fashion puts it in its best light, and uses it as an object lesson for better luck...next time.

this series shows what can be done with severely limited means, when good ideas are convincingly represented. people should also try the rest of this series.

This VHS video contains the premiere episode of the 1960s science-fiction TV series, "The Outer Limits". Cliff Robertson stars in "The Galaxy Being", a story of energy gone haywire.

I recall watching this thrilling episode as a little kid years ago, and even today it's still a terrific sci-fi outing.

That's Jacqueline Scott as Robertson's wife. Jacqueline was a veteran guest star in many, many TV shows of that era, including a 2nd guest spot on "The Outer Limits" (the episode "Counterweight" in December 1964). Scott also very ably appeared in shows such as "The Fugitive" (as Richard Kimble's sister), "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza", "Lassie", "Ben Casey", "Route 66", "Perry Mason", "The Twilight Zone", and "Marcus Welby".

Somewhat ironically, "The Galaxy Being" episode of "The Outer Limits" premiered on network television on Monday, September 16, 1963, exactly one day before "The Fugitive", another series which featured Miss Scott frequently as a guest star, made its network debut.

If you're looking for one of the best episodes of "The Outer Limits" TV series, look no further than this particular entry.

This initial episode, filmed in 1963, features Cliff Robertson and William O. Douglas (yes, the Supreme Court Justice's son) in one of the most fascinating science fiction episodes ever broadcast. Its theme--fear of the unknown, and the unfortunate human tendancy to destroy what we don't understand--has lost none of its relevance over the last 37 or so years. While the special effects are tame by today's standards, they are far from lame, and the rather simple technique of wetting down a black wet suit with oil and incorporating the negative film image to depict the creature's appearance is both effective and innovative--the creature is at once suitably alien, and yet strongly credible. This is an intelligent, moving story that deserves its rightful place in the annals of truly fine television, the kind of stuff that epitomizes the industry's best effort. "The Galaxy Being" is the definitive Outer Limits episode, and represents all that its founders (Producer Leslie Stevens and writer Joseph Stefano) hoped it to be. That they succeeded so frequently is a testament to their vision and respective talents.