Customer Reviews

Outer Limits: I Robot [VHS]

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"I, Robot" is an engrossing, hard-hitting OL drama in the tradition of "Inherit the Wind", but featuring a robot wrongly framed for murdering its inventor, rather than a schoolteacher accused of teaching evolution. The robot itself is effectively portrayed, a bit like C3PO from "Star Wars", but with a less "non-threatening" persona. The opening scene shows him being hunted down by a posse of locals who have concluded his guilt before any facts have been determined. The robot pauses to help a bratty little girl whom he has stumbled upon and accidentally frightened; but alas, she perceives only that he meant to harm her, and points the way he fled to the posse. When he is finally rounded up and jailed, marked for the junkyard, the dead scientist's sweet-tempered daughter (Marianna Hill, of Star Trek's "Dagger of the Mind") tries to save him, with the help of a cynical, opportunistic reporter played by Leonard Nimoy (the H.L. Mencken-like role), and a crotchety but lovable lawyer (a Clarence Darrow type) whom he refers her to. The lawyer has had a life-long, quixotic antagonism toward "philistines" and demands due process for the mechanical man; and the reporter has a sharp nose for a sensational story, so both have their own motives for taking the up the daughter's cause. In a flashback sequence, we learn the robot is innocent and even child-like. But the cards are stacked against him because of the narrow-mindedness of the human community that tries him and can't see past its own fear and craven prejudices. The ending is cathartic, deeply moving, and unflinchingly true to the story. It recalls a scene from an old "Twilight Zone" episode ("I Sing the Body Electric"), but puts it to shame for sheer dramatic impact. This second-season OL episode packs a full punch, and illustrates how the vision and sensibilities of the show's creators continued to inform the better episodes of the second season even after their departure at the end of the first season. This show seems to say that despite our human failings, there is enough to justify hope that we can rise above our flaws, based on the emotion and sympathy we come to feel for the persecuted robot--its a human affair and within our reach, a persistent theme of classic OL. This is a tragic yet uplifting powerhouse episode that builds inexorably to an unflinchingly honest conclusion. Fans of intelligent, humane, and thoughtful science fiction will not be disappointed. This is stirring and unforgettable stuff with a solid moral perspective and a sharp bite.

Assume a robot, created in the approximate image of man, is accused of murdering his creator. What laws apply in this situation? Is he to be treated as a mindless mechanical weapon, or as a sentient being with constitutional rights entitled to a fair trial under the law? These questions and others are addressed in this curious episode where basic morality and computational accuracy are intertwined in the robot/being Adam Link. Leonard Nimoy stars as a newspaper reporter who enlists the help of Thurman Culter, a retired maverick Attorney played by Howard Da Silva, to defend Adam Link. Although lacking illustrious special effects, "I Robot" serves as a true fable of the 20th century striking disturbingly close to home.

I felt I had to say something since the last reveiwer just made a complete ass out of himself. Yes Lenard nimoy did play the lawyer IN THE REMAKE that is not being discussed here. In this one he played the reporter. So looks like someone else needs to straighten their facts before posting.

Often effective murder mystery/courtroom drama centering on Adam Link, a robot accused of killing his creator. What really ends up being on trial is human prejudice and ignorance, and the question of artificial intelligence.

The robot is sympathetic and appealing, and brilliantly designed in such a way as to appear human, yet unsettling. Its pulp tin-can design contributes largely to the success of this piece. Marianna Hill does a nice job of evincing further sympathy as Adam's "mother," being the daughter of the man Adam is suspected of having killed and his early teacher, and his staunch supporter throughout the trial. The show really belongs to Howard DaSilva, though, as the crotchety, cynical humanitarian lawyer, who comes out of retirement to defend the much-maligned bucket-of-bolts.

The problem with this one is a cliched script and heavy-handed handling. But it has many nice moments, especially the memorable finale.

If you were thinking about buying this because Mr. Spock is in this you will find more here than the best first officer in the fleet (dare I say Nimoy may be the weak "link" here). This ep. is very good, in fact this story could have made a series of its own. The Robot is damn likeable and the court hearings here could only be years in our own future. I have been let down many times by Outer Limits (I think Serlings TZ is much better) BUT THIS ISN'T ONE OF THEM. If you love Sci-Fi and great dialogue, this is your lucky day.

The most significant aspect of this episode is that Leonard Nimoy, (Spock of Star Trek), is one of the stars, playing a cynical and energetic journalist. In some ways that is unfortunate because his presence tends to overshadow the important point of the episode. A gifted scientist creates a robot with human-like abilities to reason, understand and even emote. However, when the scientist is found dead and the robot is standing next to him, traditional human prejudice drives the primary reaction. A brilliant, cranky and reclusive defense attorney named Thurman Cutler is persuaded to take the case of the robot and manages to have a trial conducted in front of a judge to determine if the robot is guilty of murder and should be dismantled.
The actions before and during the trial bring up the classic human fears and concerns regarding the development of advanced technologies that are understood by only a few. People are afraid of the robot and when his higher reasoning functions are deliberately disabled by another scientist after being instructed to do so by the court and the reaction is that the robot goes berserk, the verdict is "death by dismemberment." However, at the end, the robot demonstrates that it is in fact human in many ways although the proof is at severe cost.
The best performance in this episode is by Howard Da Silva as Thurman Cutler, his actions as the brilliant, yet simple attorney make some of the best courtroom drama. Nimoy is also very good in his role, it is hard to watch him and mentally strip him of his better-known Spock persona. Overall, this is the best "Outer Limits" episode that I have seen; it is thoughtful in presenting themes that are a constant reality in the modern world.

Great old television science fiction. However, I need to correct Mr. Bernabo on the source of this OUTER LIMITS screenplay. Otto Binder wrote the story used in this DVD in an issue of AMAZING STORIES magazine in 1939. It was entitled "I, Robot" a full eleven years before Isaac Azimov's collection was published. The publisher "appropriated" the title above Azimov's objections. While crediting Isaac Azimov's collection, the recent Will Smith film also used the title and elements of Binder's story without giving any reference or credit. The Binder estate ought to hire a lawyer.

if you watched the show you made a mistake. Leonard Nimoy was the lawyer that represented adam not a reporter.
get your fact straight before posting here stupid

excelent show.
Marianna Hill is so hot
2 thumbs up