Product Details

• Actors: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, Vaughn Taylor, James Turley
• Writers: Rod Serling
• Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630587087X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,347 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Twilight Zone - Vol. 26" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The four episodes included on The Twilight Zone, Vol. 26 focus on characters who inevitably pay a price for their tragic flaws. In "The Big Tall Wish," an aging boxer (Ivan Dixon, later to costar in TV's Hogan's Heroes) can't comprehend the influence of a little boy's magical wish that brought him a surprise victory--a victory that's sacrificed to the fighter's own cynicism. (The twist is nothing new for TZ fans, but the episode's mostly black cast was a noteworthy breakthrough for 1960 television.) "Showdown with Rance McGrew" is an amusing send-up of pampered actors, in this case a milquetoast TV cowboy whose comeuppance arrives in the form of the real Jesse James--in a real Western town--whose attitude toward phony cowboys is anything but tolerant.

Fine performances by Barry Morse and Joan Hackett highlight "A Piano in the House," in which a sadistic critic uses a magical player piano to expose the hidden truths of several party guests, only to be himself revealed as more pathetic than any of his victims. "Night Call" is a classic episode combining terror and human weakness in the story of an elderly woman (Gladys Cooper) who receives phone calls from beyond the grave, realizing too late that the caller might have brought happiness to her final days. When viewed together, these four episodes demonstrate how The Twilight Zone often recycled themes and basic plots with admirable ingenuity, thus defining the series' overall mission as set forth by Rod Serling. Some episodes work better than others, but they all illuminate the complex faults, foibles, and grand ambitions that make Twilight Zone characters so timelessly appealing. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

TWILIGHT ZONE VOL 26 - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One for the fans, June 16, 2000

By 

Paul J. Moade (Jacksonville, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Twilight Zone - Vol. 26 (DVD)

Although I write this under one particular DVD in the series, these comments apply to each and every one of the DVD releases.

Twilight Zone? On DVD? In Black and White? What were they thinking of?

They were thinking of me and others just like me who loved this classic old science fiction program and longed to have the entire collection in a compact, guaranteed to last collection.

Although the entire set is not yet released (they are up to volume 31 at the moment), I'm sure it will be -- not many more episodes are left to do and the sales appear to be good.

This show is the 1950's anthology that started it all. Began as an experiment in the late 50's by Rod Serling, it has become a classic and is still enjoyable 40 years later.

The DVD collection is crisp and clear both for audio and video, and thankfully still in the original black and white. Each DVD features three or four of the original uncut television programs plus a history of the Twilight Zone and a short bio on Rod. Treasures and More Treasures of the TZ also include an interview by Mike Wallace (quality of this is only so-so due to technology of the time) and the orgininal marketing trailer made by Rod to sell his brain child to potential sponsers.

The series itself is being released in what seems to be no particular order (talking about the episodes here), with each DVD containing either four 1/2-hour shows or 2 1/2-hour episodes and one of the fourth season hour-long programs. This collection also includes the installments which were not syndicated and are almost impossible to find on broadcast television.

This is a 'must have' for anyone who enjoyed the program while growing up -- or for anyone of any age who appreciates a good SF show. Naturally some episodes are better than others, but most will agree that the overall quality of the series clearly stands out.

Take one for a test drive -- then order them all. You'll be glad you did.

~P~

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the Twilight Zone dvds., March 24, 2003

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Twilight Zone - Vol. 26 (DVD)

I have most of the TZ dvds and plan on getting them all. This one marks the 30th I've bought and I have to say it's the best so far. All four episodes are strong and good, and there's something for everyone. For the fun-lovers, there's "Rance McGrew" - a light-hearted TZ episode that's really funny in certain parts. For the child in all of us, there's "The Big Tall Wish", which tells us to never stop believing in the magic. For the more serious-minded traditional TZ lovers, there's two excellent episodes in "Piano in the House" and "Night Call" - both excellent in every way! While most TZ dvds suffer from a slow episode or two thrown in with a few strong ones, this dvd has nothing but goodies on here. A great one to start your collection with!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Night Call" Makes it All Worthwhile!, September 22, 2000

By 

talkytina "talkytina" (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twilight Zone - Vol. 26 (DVD)

"Night Call" is one of the top 2 or 3 creepiest Twilight Zone episodes ever!! Superbly written script with excellent plot development (it gets more than the allowable number of "stars")! A great acting performance, and gradually mounting tension throughout! The other episodes are much less effective although "Piano in the House" is actually a very good script-- Unfortunately, superficial character development diminishes some admirable acting performances--It gets "2 1/2 stars" but the remaining two episodes are below average (by Twilight Zone standards). By today's standards, they are above average!