This week’s journey into the dark reaches of the psyche as I continue my travels with Paramount Pictures through the Twilight Zone starts with one of the series iconic episodes – The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. Rod Serling penned this episode that had an original airdate of 4 March, 1960. Disaster is about…
Tag: commentary
The Twilight Zone (1960) – The Purple Testament, Elegy and Mirror Image
There’s the signpost up ahead, and make note of where you are, because Paramount Pictures is taking me deeper into The Twilight Zone this week, with another trio of episodes. First up is The Purple Testament. The episode aired on 12 February, 1960 and was written by Rod Serling. It’s World War II, and Lt….
The Twilight Zone (1959) – Judgement Night, And When the Sky Was Opened and What You Need
Paramount Pictures continues my guided tour of the Twilight Zone this week as I explore The Complete Series on Blu-Ray. Rod Serling is back in fine form with the first episode up for review, Judgement Night. With an original airdate of 4 December, 1959, this episode is smart, well-penned, as revelations are made about Carl…
The Searchers (1956) – John Ford
John Ford and John Wayne. When it comes to westerns there are few names better, and they are my next stop in the Action section of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. Confederate soldier, Ethan (Wayne) returns to his family’s homestead in Texas after the end of the Civil War, where he…
The Twilight Zone (1959) – The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine, Walking Distance, and Escape Clause
My exploration of the dark corners of the universe captured in The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series, available from Paramount, continues this week with three spooky episodes. Up first is The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine which aired on 23 October, 1959, and was penned by Rod Serling. The tale follows Barbara Jean Trenton (Ida Lupino) an ageing…
Wings of Desire (1987) – Wim Wenders
Remade for those North American audiences who hate to to read as the less than stellar City of Angels, the beautiful Wings of Desire captured hearts and imaginations when it premiered at Cannes, winning Wenders a Best Director award. It is also the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book….
The Twilight Zone (1959) – Where is Everybody?, One for the Angels, and Mr. Denton on Doomsday
This week, we dive into The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series, available now from Paramount! The Twilight Zone got underway on 2 October, 1959 with Rod Serling plunging Earl Holliman as Mike Ferris into madness with Where is Everybody? Mike Ferris doesn’t know who he is, and he doesn’t know where everyone else in the…
The Night Of
There is so much out there in the way of binge worthy television that it can be hard to catch things the first time around, which is why things like PVRs, Blu-Ray and DVDs seem to be paying off more and more. HBO was kind enough to allow me to correct a mistake I’d made….
Quantum Leap (1990) – Pool Hall Blues and Leaping in Without a Net
Sam (Scott Bakula) ends up shooting some stick in this week’s episode to save a young woman’s bar. Pool Hall Blues was penned by Randy Holland and originally aired on 14 March 1990. It’s 4 September, 1954 and Sam has leaped into Charlie “Black Magic” Walters, who, we learn, taught Al (Dean Stockwell) in…
Quantum Leap (1989) – Catch a Falling Star and A Portrait for Troian
Sam (Scott Bakula) leaps into the body of Ray Hutton, the understudy in a musical production of Man of La Mancha in Catch a Falling Star. This episode was written by Paul Brown, aired on 6 December, 1989 and was directed by Bellisario, himself. This one introduced me to the musical of La Mancha, as…
The Mind Reels 