Product Details

• Actors: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, Vaughn Taylor, Jack Klugman
• 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
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000055ZCV
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,211 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #52 in	Movies & TV > Television > Classic TV > Twilight Zone DVDs
  #53 in	Movies & TV > Horror > Series & Sequels > The Twilight Zone

• For more information about "The Twilight Zone, Vol. 40" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 40 in The Twilight Zone Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"Cavender Is Coming"
Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling fashioned this episode as a pilot for a possible series about a guardian angel (jowly veteran Jesse White) who must earn his wings by aiding a hapless human. It is abundantly clear why this premise did not take flight, for this was one of Serling's typically lumpish flings at comedy. The only source of interest is Carol Burnett, cast as a klutz who can't keep a job. This one's a virtual remake of an earlier Zone episode, "Mr. Bevis."

"Passage on the Lady Anne"
An hour-long episode from the fourth season, with Joyce Van Patten and Lee Philips as a couple trying to save their sour marriage via a transatlantic cruise. All the other passengers just happen to be extremely elderly; no points for guessing the Lady Anne might be on her way to an otherworldly port. A familiar but appealing set-up, with gobs of foggy atmosphere and a fun supporting cast (including mischievous Wilfrid Hyde-White). The businessman husband is yet another opportunity for TZ to criticize its era's obsession with material success and the Organization Man.

"The Brain Center at Whipple's"
Produced near the end of the series' run, this episode is out of gas. Richard Deacon, a comic actor with a pronounced resemblance to a large bald penguin (and a cherished mainstay of The Dick Van Dyke Show), plays a company executive who decides to replace his workers with computers. The payoff is entirely predictable, although sci-fi fans will be pleased by the "actor" who appears in the final shot. --Robert Horton

Product Description
Episodes: "Cavender Is Coming" (Episode 101, May 25, 1962) - Carol Burnett stars as Agnes Grep in this tale of a klutzy usherette "rescued" from a poverty by a guardian angel. This charming episode was considered as a pilot for a new TV show. "Passage on the Lady Anne" (Episode 119, May 9, 1963, 50 min.) - In an effort to save their marriage, a young couple book passage on an old ship, which long ago was reserved for lovers. Former passengers, all now over 75, have gathered for her final mysterious voyage. "The Brain Center at Whipple's" (Episode 153, May 15, 1964) - Callous factory owner Wallace Whipple (Richard Deacon) automates his plant, putting thousands of men out of work. Smugly self-satisfied, he has no regrets...at first.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cavender is Coming is one of the best "feel-good" stories in the Twilight Zone series., November 18, 2008

By	Tom Brody (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

TWILIGHT ZONE VOL. 40. Vol. 40 contains three episodes, CAVENDER IS COMING, a comedy featuring Carol Burnett, PASSAGE ON THE LADY ANNE, a mild-mannered drama about a ship voyage, and BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S, an Orwellian drama that takes itself a bit too seriously.

CAVENDER begins with a mediocre angel who is given one more chance by his supervisor to do some good for the mortals. The angel is given one day to bring happiness to a mortal. In this case, the mortal is an unemployed young woman who really has no job skills and is slow at learning technical skills. At any rate, the comedic aspects of this drama feature involve ineptitudes of the angel and ineptitudes of Carol Burnett. For example, the angel tries to make Carol Burnett happy by making the city bus, carrying both of them, change into a limousine. However, the angel flubs up, and instead it turns into a horse and carriage. Carol Burnett tries to learn simple hand signals during her first day on the job as an usher in a movie theater. But she finds herself confused and treats the viewer to an array of amusing expressions found in greater quantities in only one other film, namely, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF. FIVE STARS for CAVENDER. And hurray for Carol Burnett and her great repertoire of charming expressions.

The theme of an angel coming down to earth to help mortals is frequent in TWILIGHT ZONE. This theme occurs in SHOWDOWN WITH RANCE MCGREW (vol. 26), where the angel of a real gunslinger teaches an actor playing the same gunslinger a lesson. This theme also occurs in A PASSAGE FOR TRUMPET (vol. 4), where an angel convinces Jack Klugman that he has things to live for. The theme occurs in A GAME OF POOL (vol. 3), where an angel (Jonathan Winters) returns to earth to play a game of pool with Jack Klugman, only to lose the game. Also, the theme occurs in A NICE PLACE TO VISIT (vol. 29), where a petty thief is escorted to heaven by an angel (Sebastian Cabot). The thief finds the heaven to be quite heavenly, but instead it is hell. This story takes the same twist as Jean Paul Sartre's NO EXIT. Most charming of all is ONE FOR THE ANGELS (Vol. 14) where Ed Wynn plays a salesman who sacrifices himself to save the life of a little girl by playing a clever trick on an angel who's original job was to escort Ed Wynn to the promised land. The Twilight Zone episode closest to CAVENDER is MISTER BEVIS (vol. 39). MISTER BEVIS features a Pee-Wee Herman character who is unable to keep a job, not because he is unskilled, but because he goofs off too much. The Pee-Wee Herman character is visited by an angel. The angel proudly educates Mr.Bevis about Mr.Bevis' successful and accomplished ancestors but, is unable to convince Mr.Bevis to get serious about any career.

PASSAGE ON THE LADY ANNE is a typical Twilight Zone episode. The hour passes by pleasantly enough. There is a surprise ending. Much better shipboard stories in the Twilight Zone series are JUDGEMENT NIGHT (vol. 13) and THIRTY FATHOM GRAVE (vol. 20). FOUR STARS for PASSAGE.

BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S, which stars Richard Deacon, is an Orwellian story much like THE OBSOLETE MAN (vol. 13), starring Burgess Meredith. In BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S, Richard Deacon is busy automating his manufacturing plant, installing computers. We are all familiar with electronic card readers for unlocking doors at work. In this Twilight Zone episode from 1964, we are treated to a light-activated card reader for opening a door. The story focuses on arguments and complaints between Richard Deacon and a former elderly supervisor of the plant, regarding the ethics of firing workers and replacing them with computers. In case you were expecting a bunch of humorous twists to this story, forget it. The plot is not a comedy, but a tirade against automation. BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S does have a humorous surprise endin. The story might be fun to watch more than once. But BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S will not attract as many repeat watchings as other T.Z. episodes, such as, CAVENDER IS COMING, TIME ENOUGH AT LAST, NICK OF TIME, KICK THE CAN, STEEL, A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, or MISTER BEVIS. THREE STARS for BRAIN CENTER.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good Mixture of Episodes, February 23, 2001

By	gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

CAVENDER IS COMING seems to have some inspiration from Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" as angel Jesse White must earn his wings by aiding a screwball human played by Carol Burnett. This is one of the few episodes that I saw for the first time ever on this DVD. My original expectations were low, but I was pleasantly surprised by some innovative photography, stunts and Burnett's excellent performance. Rod Serling actually wrote a very good comic episode from which the viewer can actually make parallels to real life situations thanks in part to Burnett's energetic approach to her part. Greatly underrated. PASSAGE ON THE LADY ANNE credited to writer Charles Beaumont from the 4th Season is an interesting story of a troubled couple's (Joyce Van Patten and Lee Phillips) attempt to rekindle their marriage aboard an antiquated ocean liner the Lady Anne. However, the antiquated ship's passengers consist solely of the elderly. The cast really makes this an enjoyable episode. It includes Wilfred Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Cecil Kellaway and Alan Napier. THE BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S written by Rod Serling for the 5th Season seems to tread familiar territory which had been previously visited and done much better. It focuses on industry, man and machines. It features Richard Deacon, Paul Newlan, Ted DeCorsia and Burt Conroy. I never met an episode of the "Twilight Zone" that I didn't like. I just like some more than others. I am sure that for some people this episode holds some endearment. And that is the magic of the "Twilight Zone."

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool Series, January 10, 2009

By	Y2bjs Reviews (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews

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.