I've been watching the first season of the 1980's revival of "The Twilight Zone" and enjoying it very much; I think it was a very underrated programme. I was wondering if anyone had any comments on the two Bradbury segments? Here are a few stray thoughts, which I first posted over on the TZ board. (Watch for spoilers.)

The Burning Man
A boy and his aunt are terrified by a hitchhiker.
Stars Piper Laurie, Roberts Blossom.
Original air date: November 15, 1985.

This one grew on me; I seem to remember not thinking much about it when it first aired, but all these years later I do rather like it. Perhaps it's because I'm a bit of a nostalgia buff, and this is set in 1936 or so. Also, I would have to say that this is one of the better adaptations of Ray Bradbury's work that I've seen. His writing, more often than not, has been translated very poorly to film. (It's not that his rather poetic dialogue can't be adapted for film; it's just that most people don't seem to know how to do it.)

Though I have to wonder---what exactly did that little kid DO to them at the end?!

My only nitpick is that the boy's clothing (striped shirt and jeans) seems, to me, to look more like something a kid would wear in the 1950's than the 1930's. I'm not at all sure that is the case, but it's how the boy's appearance struck me...

The Elevator
Sons search an abandoned factory for their missing father.
Stars Stephen Geoffreys, Robert Prescott.
Original air date: January 31, 1986.

Eh.....I guess I was less impressed with this episode than many others were. Oh, it had a spooky enough atmosphere, but there wasn't much to it. And this is another example of a story that, to me, doesn't seem to fit into the Twilight Zone mold at all---seems much more like a Night Gallery.

I remember really enjoying Stephen Geoffrey's work back when he first started (he played the shorter son in this episode); I particularly liked him in "Fright Night" and an episode of "Amazing Stories." But boy, did his career swerve off the main track---not all that long after this episode was filmed he went into the porn industry, and made quite a few adult films over a period of many years. (I don't know if he's still in that line of work now, or if he's retired.) I daresay this is the ONLY Twilight Zone episode ever to star a hard-core porn actor!

How they made the former into a segment long enough for an episode, I can't fathom, but I'll try to get ahold of it.

And what did the kid do to them? How about what THEY did to the kid?

theoctobercountry:
Adding a little to the reasons why the revival of Twilight Zone wasn't a success. It was a revival!
The original Twilight Zone was a first time experience that hit many as unique and fascinating. And THAT is something you cannot replace by trying to do same thing again...at least not with the same generation.That's the point. That first generation is branded with THAT experience.

When I first saw that giant spaceship and heard the thundering sound of its rocket exhaust blasting at us all in the theatre for the very first showing of STAR WARS... that cannot be repeated. People behind me we're hollaring at the top of their lungs, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!
That moment was beyond incredible!! Never had anyone seen such a thing in the movie theater. You simply cannot repeat that initial experience. Not for the generation that saw it.

A new, a later generation discovers the revivals and thinks...'Hey, that's not bad.' Well, it isn't bad. It's pretty darn good. But it's not like that first experience with the original Twilight Zone...or STAR WARS...or even the first Frankenstein, or King Kong, or seeing the very first automobile, or the first 1959 Buick with fins that looked like it just landed from outer space with its canted headlights. People took out lawn picnics and just stared into the late evening at the lights at the Columbian Exposition of 1890 something in Chicago, where lights were totally unique and new. I expect that night was forever etched in the hearts of and minds of those, likely now gone...

Later generations? Eh...!?!

quote:

Originally posted by Nico:
How they made the former into a segment long enough for an episode, I can't fathom, but I'll try to get ahold of it.

And what did the kid do to them? How about what THEY did to the kid?

It was one of the shorter segments, running about 15 minutes, but really just about perfect for the length. As for that evil kid, well, I think Piper Laurie should have whacked him with her tire iron!

quote:

Originally posted by Nard Kordell:
Adding a little to the reasons why the revival of Twilight Zone wasn't a success. It was a revival!

Hmmm, true enough I suppose, but I still believe the 1980's series was far better than most people remember, and deserves to be better known. Also, I was still rather young when it aired, and so it is more a part of my own youth than the original. I've just ordered the remaining two seasons of this show, and am looking forward to viewing the episodes throughout the summer. Pity there aren't any more segments by Mr Bradbury included, though. I'm still waiting for a first-rate adaptation of "The Man Upstairs," always a favourite of mine. (The Ray Bradbury Theater adaptation was abysmal!)

I love anthology shows, particularly the older ones which have the added appeal of nostalgia. Twilight Zone really was a first, when it started airing back in 1959---an anthology with a sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural bent. In the decades since, there have been SO MANY shows with the same theme, that by this point it rather seems to have all been done before (though there are of course many great stories out there, that have never been adapted for television). Plus, nowadays everyone is looking for the surprise twist ending from the very first frame, so it's difficult to do anything unexpected on such a show...

You can see what I thought of The Burning Man over on my site ( direct link to page here). There's also some background info on the episode on that page.

What did the kid do to them? Scare the bejeezus out of them!

The Elevator is, in my opinion, a mess. I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Ray's script for this had been lying around for a number of years, and was just picked up by the TZ producers.

I also think the revived TZ wasn't that bad, although I don't think it had as many highs as the original series. But then neither did it have as many lows...

Nard!
Fins!

1959Buick.jpg (42 Kb, 15 downloads)

quote:

Originally posted by Braling II:
Nard!
Fins!

I know absolutely NOTHING about automobiles, but have to say, that I always did like the tail lights shaped like rockets, with the bulb being the rocket exhaust. Very cool!

Whoops, I'm getting way off topic here....

Back to topic, I thought the '85 Zone was a fine programme, and I have the first year's worth on DVD.

Further, I think that little fifteen-minute gem The Burning Man is perhaps the finest adaptation for television of any piece of Bradbury fiction. That's how they should have been done. With a larger budget, perhaps The Ray Bradbury Theater would have looked better.

By the way, the '59 version is my second favourite TV series ever.

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By the way, the '59 version is my second favourite TV series ever.

And your first favorite would be..... no, don't tell us, let us guess. Hmmmm..... THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER? No, I got it... THE A-TEAM, or Navy, something with the Navy... McHALE'S NAVY!!!

I like THE X-FILES, ALIEN NATION, and BEASTWARS. STAR TREK: TNG was also pretty special, but I think only TZ (original series) can be watched in the 24-hour marathon format. Alright, maybe THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW too. I always thought Mayberry was an awful lot like Greentown.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: grasstains,

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
By the way, the '59 version is my second favourite TV series ever.

Well, now I'm too curious---what is your first-favourite?

Seasons two and three of the 80's revival arrived in the post a couple of days ago, and I'm having a great deal of fun watching them. I had seen all of season one during the original airings, but there are quite a few episodes from the later seasons that I missed, due to the odd scheduling the show was given during its first run.

quote:

I think that little fifteen-minute gem The Burning Man is perhaps the finest adaptation for television of any piece of Bradbury fiction. That's how they should have been done. With a larger budget, perhaps The Ray Bradbury Theater would have looked better.

I'm certain Ray Bradbury Theater would be much, much better if done today, when so many wonderful effects can be accomplished even on a limited budget. But a lot of this show's problems were due to script difficulties, I think, as well as low budget restraints...

quote:

Originally posted by grasstains:

And your first favorite would be..... no, don't tell us, let us guess. Hmmmm..... THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER? No, I got it... THE A-TEAM, or Navy, something with the Navy... McHALE'S NAVY!!!

I like THE X-FILES, ALIEN NATION, and BEASTWARS. STAR TREK: TNG was also pretty special, but I think only TZ (original series) can be watched in the 24-hour marathon format. Alright, maybe THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW too. I always thought Mayberry was an awful lot like Greentown.

Believe me when I say that my favourite programme would have nothing to do with the Navy - I'm one of those folks who leave their work at work!

The A-Team was tripe.

The Andy Griffith Show is the most perfect show ever, and I am the number one fan. I've been to the real Mayberry, North Carolina, and have met Andy Griffith there. I have met and clasped the hand of Don Knotts. I have stalked the home of Ronny Howard...we better leave off there.

quote:

Originally posted by theoctobercountry:
Well, now I'm too curious---what is your first-favourite?

The Andy Griffith Show. This programme would rightfully be on the curriculum in TV 101 of any University - it is flawless television, and can be viewed in marathon format easily. It is the epitome of the American sitcom, and consists of pitch-perfect writing, directing, and acting (you talk about your dream cast and chemistry!).

Anyone hazard a guess at my third favourite? (Clue: it's a lot like my first)