Customer Reviews

The Twilight Zone: Vol. 5

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC was Ray Bradbury's sole contribution to the "Twilight Zone." One of the more subtle episodes, this story is strong on characterization and reaches out on an emotional level rather than to any notion of scientific curiosity of the introduction of a robot grandmother, beautifully played by Josephine Hutchinson, into a family (including Veronica Cartwright). This is a very good episode and is one of my favorites. THE LONELY is one of Rod Serling's classics from the series. Jack Warden convincingly plays a convict sentenced to forty years alone on a distant asteroid. A periodic supply ship commanded by John Dehner one day leaves him a companion, a robot played flawlessly by Jean Marsh. Bernard Herrmann's poignant score evokes the enigmatic inner feeling of Jack Warden's love for his companion. And subsequently Herrmann's score captures the human quality of this female robot as she reciprocates that love. The combination of scripting, acting and scoring realistically captures our perceptions of loneliness, love, loss and reality. PROBE 7 - OVER AND OUT leisurely written by Rod Serling for the 5th Season examines the relationship of two beings, Richard Basehart and Antoinette Bower, the sole survivors of their respective annihilated planets. Basehart and the much underrated and forgotten Bower give good performances. LONG DISTANCE CALL written by Charles Beaumont and William Idelson is one of the six episodes recorded directly to videotape instead of being photographed on film. The story concerns a little boy played by Billy Mumy who communicates with his dead grandmother over his toy phone. Thematically it rounds out this volume as it examines our attachment to those we love.

From my teens this is one of the series that I more fondly remember. As a sci-fi fan I was attracted by "The Twilight Zone" proposal. At that time I wasn't able to see more than a score of episodes, but they remain in my memory with extraordinary persistence.
Thanks to the technological marvel of DVD I'm able to see these amazing stories again and find them as magical & thought provoking as 45 years ago.
As the structure of the episodes are mostly bounded to a surprise ending or to the argument in a very short span of time of 25 minutes each, I'll focus my review more on outstanding features than on the topic of the episode in order not to spoil the pleasure of the viewer.

Disk 5 contains four good chapters with intermixing themes: Grandmas, robots & loneliness.

1) Long Distance Call - Is love so powerful as to defy death?
This chapter is, in a certain level, more complex than ordinary TTZ episodes as it cast lights & shadows on family relationships, transcending the anecdote.
This episode was written by Charles Beaumont, a major contributor to The Twilight Zone scripts, he totalized 22.
Bill Mumy fleshes Billy Bailey with natural freshness; he is best remembered by his role as Will Robinson in "Lost in Space" series.
Qualification: 8.

2) I Sing the Body Electric - The most noticeable trait of this chapter is: it is the only one written by Ray Bradbury who was a sort of "alma mater" of the main writers of the series.
The story is rather simple a recent mature widower is pressed by a "well meaning" lady to leave his three children at her charge. Father & siblings refuse and request help from a robot grandma.
Once more as in other episodes brilliant cinematography in charge of George Clemens contributes to the excellence of this chapter. Clemens won Emmy Award 1961 and nominations for the same honor 1962 & 1963 all due to several episodes of this series. He filmed 112 episodes of this series.
Veronica Cartwright performing as the conflictive pre-teen girl is outstanding.
Qualification: 10.

3) The Lonely - A solitary, almost crazed, convict receives from his generous guardian a strange gift.
This is an episode written by Rod Sterling in person delivering a forceful story that seeks deeply in human emotions.
Jim Warden & very beautiful Jean Marsh perform greatly.

Qualification: 10.

4) Probe 7, Over and Out - A stranded pilot finds a stranded woman from another planet. It is a classical TWLZ episode.
Richard Basehart as Adam Cook gives a good performance. He is well remembered for his characterization as Adm. Harriman Nelson in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
Qualification: 9.

This DVD series presentation has two great advantages: it has a very good price and allows buyers to choose their favorite chapters without needing to buy the whole series.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This is by far the best volume in the 1-5 set! It deals with themes of Artificial Life and a twist on the origins of man!

"Long Distance Call" -- a chilling episode about a little boy and his dying grandmother. [**]

"I Sing the Body Electric" -- an robotic nanny is built to take care of some children. They grow attached to her... [**1/2]

"The Lonely" -- Perhaps the best TZ episode ever? A prisoner on a lifeless planet is given a robot companion. He is at first reluctant to buy into this illusion, but this illusion becomes his reality... [*****]

"Probe 7, Over and Out" -- Great episode written by Sterling about a man who crashes his spaceship on a (seemingly) uninhabited planet. He later discovers his home planet destroys itself in a nuclear war... Fantastic suprise ending! [****]


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If you're only passively interested in the TZ, this should be one of the first DVD volumes that you buy! It contains some truly exceptional episodes.

Volume 5 of Collection One features four good episodes. "Long Distance Call" is somewhat predictable, but the acting makes it entertaining. "I Sing the Body Electric" was written by Ray Bradbury and is about the newest member of the family: Grandmother/Robot. The story focuses on family as its theme, however, not science fiction. "The Lonely" is the best episode of Volume 5 and involves a convict in years of solitary confinement. "Probe 7" is initially suspenseful, and ends with an interesting twist. Overall this collection is quite good and recommended.

Great stuff. Brings back great childhood memories. Watched these in the late 60s when I was just a kid. Picture quality is great. Sound level very clear but just a little too low for me. My hearing is a little off but all you have to do is turn up the volume slightly and you are good to go!

No matter what anyone says about this volume, watch it for the benefit of seeing the actor Richard Basehart in "Probe 7-Over and Out". He went on to star in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and that was the most sucessful action series on television in the 1960's. David Headson did the series entirely because of him. Another note worthy episode is "I Sing the Body Electric" starring Veronica Cartwright. On her webpage she says it was the most successful episode of her appearance on the series.

Watch it !

More great episodes!

Long Distance Call- This one freaked me out. It was a great episode though. (****)

I Sing the Body Electric- Didn't like it too much. Felt like one of those 50's family sitcom's and not Twilight Zone. (**)

The Lonely- great episode. better that the previous. (****)

Probe 7 Over and Out- Great episode with a great and surprising ending. (****)

This DVD features 3 great episodes! "The Lonley" is the best one on this DVD. It's got Jack Warden and Jean Marsh. And there are some great lines in it too. "Long Distance Call" is one of the best ones ever made. It's got Billy Mumy who can talk to the dead on his toy telephone his grandma left him before she died. "I Sing the Body Electric" is written by the great Ray Bradbury. It's a remarkable episode. The weakest of the 4 is "Probe 7-over and out." But the rest are all great.

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I loved it