Customer Reviews

The Twilight Zone - Vol. 34

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4 star:		(2)
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Maybe it's because I AM in the advertising business. Maybe it's because I'm a nostalgic romantic who yearns for the "simpler days" of a hundred years ago (which is why I enjoyed Jack Finney's "Time and Again" novel so much). Maybe it's just because I enjoy Rod Serling's writing so much.

Don't know. All I know is that "A Stop at Willoughby" is one of my all-time three favorite TZ episodes ("Time Enough at Last" and "Walking Distance" being the other two).

Sharing a theme similar to "Walking Distance" (another episode about a burned out advertising executive who gets to step back in time), "A Stop at Willoughby" is the story of a harried, "average" man caught up in a lifestyle that pushes him to ulcers and dreams of days gone by. While on board a train returning home one evening, he dozes off only to be awakened by the conductor calling out the stop -- "Willoughby" -- a place not even found on the map. Of course, it's summer in Willoughby. And the townspeople are happy, slow-paced and friendly...a life the ulcerated ad-man wishes he could step into.

Of course, he does. And there's a typical TZ twist at the end.

I bought this DVD just for "A Stop at Willoughby." And it's a good thing, too. Althought the episode "Twenty-Two" is interesting (especially watching Lost in Space's Jonathan Harris in the role of a doctor), it's not even close to Willoughby's finesse.

The third episode -- "I Dream of Genie" -- is interesting only because Andy Griffth Show's Howard Morris stars. Other than that, it's nothing worth remembering.

If you're a middle-aged advertising executive, you need to see "A Stop at Willoughby." Or, then again, maybe not. That first step is a doozy.

As a longtime fan of the Sci-Fi & especially the Twilight Zone, I was very disappointed that the episode called "Twenty-Two" from the second season had not been released on DVD.

Here it is --- & you wont want to miss it.

A dancer recovering from from a nervous breakdown is plagued by a recurring nightmare. When her plight enters the Twilight Zone, things become very interesting.

One of the eiriest and most memorable episodes of the Twilight Zone, it may have served as source material for the horror movie Final Destination. After watching this episode, I doubt you'll ever forget the words "There's room for one more".

Although I think that the first installment on this dvd is an absolutely fabulous episode, "twenty-two" is without a doubt my all time favorite episode of twilight zone. The line "room for one more, honey" has become a family catch phrase. This episode really achieves that eerie quality and the suspense that you come to enjoy from the better examples of the twilight zone, rivaled only by such episodes as "the after hours" and "to serve man". And the repetitive actions that the stripper goes through still don't prepare you for the final amazing twist at the end. I recommend that everyone see this, or you're not a real TZ fan!

Dreams, nightmares and desires are the underpinning themes in these three choice picks from Rod Serling's TWILIGHT ZONE, including "Twenty-Two", a rare dramatic performance from Barbara Nichols (perhaps best remembered by sitcom fans for her role as Jethro's would-be girlfriend, stripper Chickadee Laverne on "The Beverly Hillbillies"). Fellow "Hillbilly" Donna Douglas would also prove her impressive acting mettle in the ZONE with "Eye of the Beholder", but that's on a different volume. "Twenty-Two", complete with it's oft-quoted tagline, is the main drawcard for this DVD.

The romance of small-town life takes centre stage in "A Stop at Willoughby"; whilst "I Dream of Genie" is a mostly comedic story (nope, Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman aren't in sight), about the problems involved in literally having your heart's desires granted.

Episodes:

"A Stop at Willoughby" (Season One, Episode #30) - Advertising executive Gart Williams (James Daly) cracks under the pressures of his job. He dreams about living in a peaceful town named Willoughby...a dream that seems almost too real.

"Twenty-Two" (Season Two, Episode #17) - Liz Powell (Barbara Nichols) is terrified by a recurring nightmare involving the number 22. Her doctor (Jonathan Harris) reassures her that it's just a bad dream, yet Miss Powell is soon to learn differently.

"I Dream of Genie" (Season Four, Episode #12) - George P. Hanley (Howard Morris) never had much success in life. But when he rubs a magical Arabian lamp and a wisecracking genie (Jack Albertson) emerges, he gets one wish...leading him to imagine all kinds of possibilities.

Extras are the same as on all other TWILIGHT ZONE volumes (brief essays on the featured episodes, a season-by-season breakdown of the show, and Rod Serling's bio).

I have a whole stack of episodes from this series.I wouldn't say every episode is brilliant,but some realy leave you thinking.Here is a good selection from the series.Makes me wonder at times where they got the ideas for these episodes.There is nothing quite like it on Tv these days,they rely too much on special effects rather than a good script and fine acting.The twists and turns to each episode keep you interested.

A Stop At Willoughby is a the reason to own the dvd as other people have said. The description says this was one of Serlings favorite subjects to write about- escaping to a simpler time. We all have times in are life when everything is going wrong and you just want to get away. While this is a classic piece, the end message is if you want to get away from life and problems- commit suicide. Rough way to say it and dont get me wrong, Rod Serling is my favorite tv writer of all time, but thats the basic message.

Twenty Two- I dont remember it

I Dream of Genie: I enjoyed this epsiode. It's a basic genie cautionary tale.

The low price of these DVD's allow me pick up individual episodes that I love.