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Directed by: Robert Stevens ("Where is Everybody?"),
Robert Butler ("The Encounter") and Robert Enrico ("An
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge") Special Features: Rod Serling Interview by Mike Wallace (1959)
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Episodes:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Overall
DVD Score: CBS Video bestowed a treasure trove of Twilight Zone episodes to ravenous DVD collectors at a rate of three to four episodes at a time. While the forty-three volume collection may seem daunting to enthusiasts, it is important to remember Volume 43 was not the end of the set. Instead, Panasonic (and later Image Entertainment) distributed two "Treasures" discs, spotlighting episodes that were important because of their rarity, their controversial nature, or their cherished spot in viewers' hearts. Three episodes are included on the disc entitled "Treasures of The Twilight Zone". The first is "Where Is Everybody?", the episode that jumpstarted creator Rod Serling's little fantasy, mystery and horror show on October 2, 1959. In the story, Mike Ferris (Earl Holliman) is a loner - in a town with nobody in it! While he searches for signs of life, he cannot shake the feeling that he is being watched. The premiere episode is structured like a typical "Twilight Zone" episode and pays off with the twist ending that Serling popularized in the show's five season run. However, the ending stays away from inferences of the supernatural or unexplained. In the bonus material, a "pitch" reel from Serling explains his reason for not being too controversial with the first episode. Although he had won three Emmys before he started "The Twilight Zone", Serling badly needed sponsorship for the show to stay on the air. Since the first episode was included with the pitch to sponsors, it was more sensible to play it safe. The second episode on "Treasures" is "The Encounter" (episode 151), written by Martin Goldsmith. It starred a young George Takei, who was just two years away from becoming Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek: The Original Series". Playing a Japanese-American gardener, he agrees to mow his neighbor Fenton's (Neville Brand) yard until he discovers a samurai sword in the man's attic. The two actors exchange outstanding performances as visions of the past come back to haunt each man and an untimely locked door traps them in a claustrophobic attic. Due to its controversial ending, it was one of the few "Twilight Zone" episodes not included in the syndication package, and is therefore quite rare. While "The Encounter" is not as controversial today, it still retains its entire bizarre ambience. Finally, the last episode included is "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", a short film that won an Academy Award and a prize at the Cannes Film Festival. While not conceived as a "Twilight Zone" episode, its twist ending and eerie nature lent it to Rod Serling's world easily. It was acquired by CBS in order to keep "The Twilight Zone" under budget in its final year, and was not included in the syndication package (because of rights issues). In the episode, a spy is to be hanged for his attempt to sabotage the building of a railroad line. The man is spared death when the rope breaks, but then snaps back into his grim fate at his happiest moment of freedom. Video: "Treasures of The Twilight Zone" is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. All three episodes seem to suffer from considerable archival damage in their opening title sequences. However, the episodes themselves have been "digitally re-mastered". While a statement like that usually bodes no prediction for the quality of the transfer, in this case it actually looks well restored. Each episode still suffers from black artifacts and scratch damage in addition to some lack of sharpness, but they have held up well for their age. "The Encounter" probably looks the best of the three and "Where is Everybody?" the worst, but all three episodes are certainly watchable. These discs have not been anamorphically enhanced for widescreen televisions. Audio: "The Twilight Zone" is presented in Dolby Digital Mono. While this requires the volume to exceed normal listening levels, it still is quite listenable without too much distracting signal noise. The titles probably have the biggest audio problems, but there exist no sound dropouts or unnecessary fades for these episodes. Some of the scoring is done by legendary Bernard Hermann, so it is more than a pleasure to listen to. Characters seemed to be aware of microphone pickups, and usually have an extraordinarily crisp delivery of their lines (much like contained shouting). This becomes quite common during "Twilight Zone" episodes and something the viewer probably does not realize unless they are specifically concentrating on it. Extras: The "Treasures" discs contain more supplemental features than the standard volumes of "Twilight Zone" episodes. "Treasures of The Twilight Zone" has animated menus, with a doll's eyeball looking over the selection made. When navigating from one choice to another, there's a noticeable pause of music and image as the eyeball shifts perspective to the choice indicated. On the main menu, there are four options. Selecting "Feature Presentation" will play the episodes in sequential order, starting with a quick "Twilight Zone" opening sequence. All episodes also contain a placard before their beginnings listing original air dates. Other options include "Episodes" (a sub-menu containing each episode's title), "Rod Serling Extras" (which leads to a sub-menu of Serling-centric features), and "Inside the Twilight Zone" (which pours into another sub-menu of production supplements). Choose wisely and quickly; the menu's soundtrack loops after about 20 seconds. In the "Inside the Twilight Zone" section, there are four options: "Rod Serling Bio" (who knows why this is not in the "Rod Serling Extras"), "Season by Season", "History of the Twilight Zone" and "Reviews and Credits". The Rod Serling bio is simply a detailed synopsis of the creator's life, in a scrolling format. The scrolling is just a bit too fast for detailed study, so read quickly or skim through non-essential parts. In "History of The Twilight Zone", a scrolling text presentation outlines the show's impact on the history of television and other science-fiction related programming. It details what famous actors got their starts on the show, as well as noted composers Bernard Hermann and Jerry Goldsmith. This scroll is slow enough to be read, but there is probably about a minute's worth of information here. "Season by Season" details the meteoric rise of "The Twilight Zone", its cancellation in the midst of its run after failing to find a sponsor, the burnout of Rod Serling and the other writers, and the axing of the show after its fifth season by CBS executives who hated it (although you might have to read between the lines to get all this information). Again, the scrolling is slow enough for a comfortable read. You might, however, tire quickly of the feature's soundtrack. "Reviews & Credits" is probably the most helpful feature. The whole section is written by "Twilight Zone" fanatic Marc Scott Zicree. The mini-reviews of the episodes encapsulated on the disc are accommodating in providing background, history, and trivia surrounding each episode. Again, you'll have to be a speed reader to keep up with the fast scrolling text. Traveling back to the previous menu, "Rod Serling Extras" is selected. In the "Extras" sub-menu there are two options: "Interview" and "Pitch". The "Interview" is from a 1959 episode of The Mike Wallace Show. This 21 minute interview has suffered from major video damage and audio problems, but is probably the most fascinating extra on the disc. In the interview, Wallace denounces the upcoming "Twilight Zone" show as not serious work for Serling. A taciturn Serling sets him straight; it may be commercial entertainment, but its still good writing. The Wallace of 1959 seems much more concerned with sensationalism than his contemporary self, and his show seems like a glorified interview for a 1959 version of "Hard Copy". It is interesting to see Serling handle Wallace so easily, and the interview stands as an intriguing historical document. The "pitch" is one that would have been shown to sponsors
such as General Foods, the sponsor for "The Twilight Zone"'s
first season. In it, Rod Serling addresses the sponsors and promises
them a quality show that is sure to bring in hefty product sales.
Since the show had yet to be aired, Serling outlines some of the
biggest episodes from the first season's production and assures
his audience that his spoken explanation does not do the episodes
justice. The feature runs about 10 minutes in length. |
