Reviews (2)

In the Twilight Zone, it matters how you play the game...
The sporting life is the top of this pair of above average episodes from "The Twilght Zone." "Steel," adapted by Richard Matheson from this short story and directed by Don Weis, is the better of Lee Marvin's two appearances in the series. Once a heavyweight who was never knocked down "Steel" Kelly is now the manager of Battling Maxo (Tip McClure), an outmoded B2 robot who badly needs repairs. The problem is, Kelly has no money in this future where only androids are allowed in the ring since prizefighter was banned in 1968. However, Kelly pretends to be an android to get a fight to raise the cash for his fighter. "A Game of Pool" is one of George Clayton Johnson's best scripted episodes, featuring Jack Klugman as pool shark Jesse Cardiff who gets the game of a lifetime against the legendary--and late--Fats Brown, played by Jonathan Winters. This episode, directed by Buzz Kulik, is one of those moments that reaffirms how good comedians are as dramatic actors. If you are reminded of Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason in "The Hustler" after watching "A Game of Pool," then you are certainly not alone in that regard.

Gamesman ship at several interesting levels
Jack Klugman is brilliant as an unchallenged pool shark who calls to the edge of the "Twilight Zone" for a worthy, if deceased challenger. As Fats Brown, Winters is nibble and smart as a Jackie Gleason styled hustler. The pay off on this show doesn't come until the end, so do not tune out too quickly. Steel is a slightly other matter. Serling was a boxer when younger and, despite his small stature, was rather skilled. This piece is certainly not up to the standard of "Requiem for a Heavyweight," coincidently on the U.S. Steel Hour, but examines the courage inherent in man's quest to control his universe. The premise of "Steel" has boxing for humans outlawed. Robots are sent to do man's work. Unfortunately, what do you do when your metal mealticket is damaged and you need the money to repair him? Lee Marvin plays the aptly nicknamed Steel who was a fighter before is was outlawed. You may guess from the previous sentence how the protagonists deal with the problem. Not unlike "Requiem,"the underdog scores a victory of sorts which will satisfy without being ridiculous. I recommend "Requiem" with Jack Palance for a true examination of Serling at the height of his writing ability dealing with this subject he obviously loved. Despite that, the Twilight Zone at its weakest is still superior to most television and movies of today. This is certainly not at its weakest. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The First Season is Being Released Soon on DVD!!
Gilligan's Island is a very silly sitcom but that I think is one of the reasons we fans of the show like it so much! This tape has some great epiodes from the first season President Gilligan and Wrongway Feldman but the complete First season of Gilligan's Island is coming out on DVD February 3, 2004 and personally that's what I would go for. In the first season DVD set you get Wrongway Feldman, President Gilligan and more, plus the episodes are shown in the original black and white and the two episodes on this tape have been colorised and look awful. They have that strange, distorted look that happens when they take black and white film and colorise it and I have to dock points off for that.

Wrongway Feldman and is is a real classic Gilligan!
We really enjoyed these two episodes of Gilligan. It was really funny to watch everyone try to convince Wrongway to do what they wanted him to do. Tina Louise was great in this one! My kids really enjoyed Mr. Howell!

The first appearance of a guest star on "Gilligan's Island"
This video tape offers up another pair of episodes from Season 1 (1964-1965) of "Gilligan's Island," including the first appearance of a guest star on the classic "idiot" situation comedy. Episode #5 "Wrongway Feldman" finds the infamous pilot (Hans Conreid) stuck on the island. His plane has fuel but Wrongway has lost the nerve to fly. Still, Wrongway wants to help and tries to teach Gilligan (Bob Denver) how to fly his ancient plane. I remember first watching this episode as a kid and thinking how unfair it was that even with an airplane at their disposal the Castaways could not get home (I clearly did not understand the premise of a situation comedy at that early age).

Then in Episode #6, "President Gilligan," both the Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.) and Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) want to be in charge. When the Castaways agree to hold an election for President the pair have alienated the others with the campaign hijinks and it is Gilligan who ends up winning the election. Suddenly, the First Mate of the S.S. "Minnow" is being flattered by everyone else (because they want good jobs in his administration). I keep thinking that there is some sort of social commetary going on in this episode, making it a political satire of some sort. But when I watched this episode again it became clear that "President Gilligan" is incapable of bearing such lofty weight. This is clearly the lesser episode of the two on this particular tape.

Gilligan Is Classic Comedy, But Don't COLORIZE the B & W!
I am a die-hard fan of the Island, and the only reason I don't give this one 5 is because some idiot can't keep their crayons away!DON'T COLORIZE(hear me Ted Turner! ). Wrongway Feldman episode rocks!Character who played Wrongway is perfect, and scene where he teaches Gilligan to fly is priceless.President Gilligan includes one of the famous dream sequences that were so cool in the series. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent episode with all the right elements
"Island In The Sky" is without a doubt my personal favourite of all of the excellent episodes of the first black and white season of "Lost In Space'. It is very sad that a series that started out so wonderfully, full of exciting storylines, superb special effects and great characters should have been allowed to drift off into a semi comic approach that not only spoilt the series but contributed to its ultimate demise. I believe any diehard fan of the series would agree that the first season of "lost In Space', is terrific and no episode is more enjoyable than Episode number three "Island In the Sky".

I agree with an earlier reviewer that this episode is really a benchmark for what the rest of the series should have been measured on. So much that is important in the series occurs in this action packed episode. As an exciting beginning to the episode we see Prof. John Robinson (Guy Williams) parajetting himself down to investigate the strange planet that the Jupiter 2 is circling in the hope of landing for much needed repairs,Dr Smith is at his most devious here and not only does he seek to kill all members of the crew but he tampers with the breaking rockets in both John's parajets and those of the main spaceship. The fantastic crash landing sequence where we see the Jupiter 2 coming in for a rough landing on the planet's rugged surface was without a doubt some of the most stunning photography done on "Lost In Space" or any other series in the 1960's. Even when watching this episode today the sight of the spaceship flying down among the dagged rocks still thrills me , so superbly filmed it is. Once on the planet we are treated to some great location photography of the mysterious planet's terrain which was partly filmed in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. This location shooting really added a strange eerie feeling to these earlier episodes of the series and made you really feel that this was a unknown planet far beyond our solar system. We get to see for the first time in "Island In The Sky" the wonderful Chariot, the Robinson's onland travelling vechicle, a marvel of 1960's technical know how and also in this episode we are introduced to the "bloop", a lovable furry little monkey with strange ears who is christened Debbie and would become Penny's pet for the first part of the series.

What I also like about this episode is the impending sense of danger and of being in the unknown which is felt in every frame of the story. It really builds up the excitement and dramatic appeal. The story also benefits from the contributions of some very fine actors in the cast. I feel far too much attention is always focused on Jonathan Harris in his role of Dr. Smith. Naturally his villian character was essential to building the storyline and creating the tension and indeed in this episode he is wonderful as the deadly sabouter who will do anything to get back to Earth. However I have always felt that the characters of the Robinson family and Major West are potentially just as interesting. With great performers like Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Billy Mumy, Angela Cartwright and Marta Kristen the show was blessed with acting talent in abundance and no episode uses that talent better than "Island In The Sky".

I grew up with "Lost In Space" and still love it now. The first season is the one to really watch with its serious themes, great guest stars and terrific special effects. I cannot recommend "Island In The Sky", highly enough. Combined with the following story, "There Were Giants In the Earth" you have a classic double of first class SciFi entertainment from the golden age of television. Enjoy!

The Episode that Should Have Been the Series' Standard
If any single installment of the popular show stands out as the one that is the best, it would have to be "Island in the Sky." The Robinson Family shows its strength and devotion, Dr. Smith is sinister and self-absorbed with little of the "nervous Nellie" that he would later become, and the crash scene is perfect as the Jupiter II makes its descent to the planet below.

It is a shame that very few of year 2 and 3 episodes come close to this level.

Exciting Stuff!
The action comes fast and furious here: the decision that the Jupiter 2 can't continue without extensive repairs; the pre-landing scouting mission; John's rockets misfire; Smith's attempt to take over the mission; the crash; the search for John, etc. The music of John Williams is top notch. One question: wouldn't the Space Pod come in handy here? Oh, well...

good
excellent!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Complete First Season is Coming out on DVD!!
Gilligan's Island may be one of the silliest sitcoms ever to be shown on TV but isn't that one of the reasons us fans of the show like it so much? This tape has some great epiodes, Angel on the Island is good but my favorite is Waiting for Watubi, it is a very funny episode and Alan Hale and Bob Denver are hilarious! Both of these episodes are from the first season and Gilligan's Island's first season is coming out on DVD on February 3, 2004. In the first season DVD set you get Angel on the Island and Waiting for Watubi and a whole lot more and the first season episodes are shown in the original black and white while the two episodes on this tape have been colorised and look like it too! They have that weird distorted look that happens when they colorise black and white so I have to dock several points for that.

A nice pair of episodes where Gilligan saves the day
This videotape has two of the better first season episodes of "Gilligan's Island," mainly because the focus is on characters other than Gilligan (Bob Denver) and it is actually the First Mate of the S.S. "Minnow" who saves the day. In Episode 10, "Waiting for Watubi," the Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.) digs up the sacred Tiki god of the Watubi tribe, which he believes has him under a curse. No matter what he does to try and get rid of the statue, it keeps reappearing. The only thing that will save him is if a Watubi witch dotor removes the curse and in the absence of any other living sole on the island, it is up to his little buddy to do the job himself. Given all the shtick that the two would go through in their three years on the island, episodes where the friendship between the Skipper and Gilligan seems real come across as a breath of fresh air.

Then in Episode 11, "Angel on the Island," Ginger (Tina Louise) is depressed because she has lost a leading role in a Broadway play because she is, well, shipwrecked on the island. Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) promises he will back the play when they are rescued and the Castaways start rehearsing the play. The only problem is that Lovey (Natalie Schaeffer) insists on taking the starring role of Cleopatra, which is not exactly making Ginger happier, which was supposedly the point of the rehearsal. Once again, it is Gilligan who comes to the rescue by having a chat with Mrs. Howell. Like the previous episode, there is a sense of community if not family behind the story, and not just a descent into sitcom shtick. Ironically, this makes "Waiting for Watubi" and "Angel on the Island" atypical episodes of the classic "idiot" situation comedy, but above average episodes as well.

about tina lousieAND ALAN HALE
i ThINK tina lousie did a great job on angel on the island because she really brought out her personiaty as ginger grant,and alan hale as the skipper did a great job on wating for watubi.he thought that he had a curse that ahe need a doctor to crue him.so the proffsser dressed gilligan as watubi to brack the curse.all in al I LOVE THIS TAPE!!!...

What fun these shows are! It's great!
This video is one of my first "Gilligan's Island" videos, and it is absolutely fabulous. I believe you can see what Mr. Denver's personality is like in this show, and particularly in "Waiting for Watubi". I don't think that he is as clumsy as Gilligan, but I believe he has as big a heart as him. Watch this episode and you'll see what I mean. The second episode on this video, "Angel on the Island", is a wonderful one also. All the castaways try so hard to make Ginger not feel so bad about missing her stage debut. They do the play with Mr. Howell directing it. Mrs. Howell gets a big head, and talks him into allowing her to play in the starring role of Cleopatra, the part that Ginger was to have, instead of playing the maid. This breaks Ginger's heart. Gilligan goes to the Howells' hut and pleads with Mrs. Howell to get back the role of Cleopatra for Ginger. Mrs. Howell pretends to have laryngitis so that Mr. Howell will have to let Ginger do it. The play was done with Gilligan doing all of the roles, except the role of the sailor which was played by the Skipper. It was funny seeing poor little Gilligan run backstage and back on stage after he had changed into different clothes fot the multiple roles he had to play. If you're a fan of "Gilligan's Island", you will love this tape. It is shown in color which, I think, is better than black-and-white. You get a better idea of things that way. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A pair of World War II stories in the Zone from Rod Serling
Both of the stories in this "Twilight Zone" volume offer writer Rod Serling's take on World War II and the brutality of war. "The Purple Testament" is set on the Philippine Islands during World War II. William Reynolds plays Lt. Fitzgerald, who sees a strange light on the faces of those men in his platoon who are about to be killed in battle. The better episode of the two is "A Quality of Mercy." Dean Stockwell plays Lt. Katell, who has recently arrived in the Philippines in August of 1945 and wants to prove himself in battle before the war ends. When he orders an attack on a group of starved Japanese soldiers trapped in a cave, Sgt. Causarano (Albert Salmi) tries to talk him out of it. Katell refuses and suddenly finds himself as Japanese Lt. Yamuri, ordered by his captain (Jerry Fujikawa) to attack a cave where wounded American soldiers are holed up. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Neither of these is a classic Zone episode, but they are still worthy of your consideration.

I've seen better
Not the best two episodes. Includes "The Purple testament" which is powerful, but could be better, and the not-too-good episode "A Quality of Mercy" It's probably better not to bother with this one. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Lost in Space at its classic best
"The Hungry Sea", episode No. five of the first season of "Lost in Space" is another of the top class episodes which were created out of material from the original unaired pilot episode and it was a direct follow on storywise to the classic "There Were Giants In The Earth". After this episode the real first season episodes began and while all excellent they did lack with a few exceptions that very exciting quality so evident in these earlier episodes.

"The Hungry Sea", brings to a climax the story of the Robinson's dangerous trek south in the chariot to escape the freezing temperatures currently being experienced as a result of their inhospitable planet's erratic orbit around it's sun. Rarely have so many spectacular special effects come together in one episode as they do here. It is among my personal favourites of this series as the storyline was kept taut, the impending sense of danger was never far from the surface and all the characters were equally given time to develop and contribute to the action at hand. After escaping from the caving in underground city the party resume their travel and cross a huge inland sea which has been completely frozen over. Only after reaching the other side where they see strange examples of vegetation which has been first burnt and then frozen do their suspicions about the rapid changes of the planet's temperature start to form and fear starts to set in. At this stage in the story is introduced an excellent element when Prof. Robinson and Major West (Guy Williams and Mark Goddard, two excellent actors who were consistently terrific through the whole series run), come into direct conflict with each other over their next course of action. This tension and the divided loyalties that arise add a wonderful realistic element to the parties' interactions as the tension and fear over what will happen arises. Warned by a mellowing Dr. Smith back at the spaceship their fears are confirmed and they are just intime to take steps to protect themselves from a rapid increase in temperature beyond anything experienced on Earth. The scenes of the native vegetation around the chariot erupting into flames is still a stunning effect and gives this episode classic status in Sci Fi television. Upon the return journey home the party have to recross the inland sea and find it now a full fledged ocean and here we see another innovation of the chariot which now becomes a vechicle for sea going travel, an device never again used in the series sadly. Here the special effects are second to none as the chariot experiences a wide storm at sea with the whole party almost drowned in a huge whirlpool which looks as frightening today as it did back in the 1960's.

"The Hungry Sea", exhausts the last of the unused footage from the pilot episode and the storylines did become alot tamer after this offering. This episode shows what made "Lost in Space", such sensational viewing as I was growing up. Dr. Smith, now infamous as a comic buffoon is here still a serious and villianous character which suited the series so much better. His
character would have inevitably mellowed as the series progressed living with the Robinsons as he had to but the direction his character took was a terrible mistake and ultimately spoiled the series. There were certainly many excellent episodes later in this first favourite season and even the second and third seasons contained some excellent ones as well but it is these very early episodes of the series that are so fondly remembered by fans. "The Hungry Sea", is definately one of those and I highly recommend it to you as an example of exciting television from the 1960's. Enjoy!

The Hungry Sea
Have seen many times one of the best from the whole series. Good Special effects

There back!
Here we go! There making 5 star episodes again! Not as good as episode 3, but pretty damn good!

One of the Best of the Series
"Lost in Space" is one of those shows from the past that is either praised or loathed. I am one individual who has fond memories of the 60's "classic." This episode is, by far, a cut above many of the later episodes which began to place too much focus on the Will/Dr. Smith/Robot formula. Although this first season show features a "softening" of the Smith character, as played by Jonathan Harris, this installment shows the bond between the family members and their efforts to survive a blistering sun, earthquakes, a whirlpool, and an unknown future. Harris has a field day when forced to spend time alone with the Robot who at the time had not developed any "human" qualities. An amusing banter is showcased between the two which adds immensely to the story. The special effects featuring a storm-tossed Chariot are somewhat spectacular for the period. John Williams' score, with "borrowed" cues from Bernard Herrmann, is highly effective. Even the rarely used "Judy" gets to have a juicy line or two. It is too bad that the series lost the quality of this episode in exchange for outlandish and garish plots in the second and third seasons. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The series' finest hour, PART I
Featuring a great guest star turn from Michael Rennie (memorable as "Klaatu" in the classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still"), "The Keeper" is the best episode of the entire three-year-run of the show. All the characters get great attention in this two-parter that features great camerawork, special effects, and use the music composed by John Williams for the pilot episode. After such a stellar episode, it is a shame that the "powers-that-be" decided to devote the second and third seasons on camp that would ultimately result in the show's demise.

Probably the best of the Black and Whites!
This is a can't-miss episode! There are millions of aliens and plenty of action! This one is sure to make a bad day go GREAT!

One of the best in the series
Great action and entertainment for the whole family- some good lessons illustrated as well.. The array of creatures that are collected aboard the keeper's space ship is very tame as compared to the 90s shows, but it is effective. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cliff Robertson and Inger Stevens visit The Twilight Zone
Sometimes regular people find it hard to put up with things that should not be alive but are, which is pretty much the common denominator to the two episodes of "The Twilight Zone" submitted her for your approval. "The Dummy" features Cliff Robertson as ventriloquist Jerry Etherson, who is convinced his knotty-pine partner "Willie" is not only alive but pretty much evil incarnate. Rod Serling wrote this script, based on an unpublished story by Lee Polk, which features one of the most memorable and chilling final shots in the history of the Zone. The other episode on this tape is "The Lateness of the Hour," where we find Dr. Loren (John Hoyt) enjoying being served by his perfect robots. However, his daughter Jana (Inger Stevens), cannot stand this idyllic life. Unfortunately, the twist for this one is pretty predictable even though Serling does put a nice flip on the twist at the end. This was the first Zone episode to be taped rather than filmed, and Serling made the limitations of this format part of the story in terms of Jana's feelings of confinement. However, the taped episodes of the Zone just never looked right to me.

Scary, twisty gems from Rod Serling.
"The Dummy" is about a ventriloquist who honestly believes that his dummy is alive (though he drinks a lot) and soon gets taken over in way reminiscent of DEAD OF NIGHT (1945). "The Lateness of the Hour" is a bizarre yet original tale of robots as an elderly gentlemen's personal assistants. The first episode is chilling, the second is strange, both are memorable (especially "The Lateness of the Hour," though, since it has the surrealistic visual style also found in "Long Distance Call").

Fair and Worthwile
Two good episodes on this one. One about a talented man who claims his Dummy he performs with is alive, and one about a girl who is afraid that the robot servants in her family's house are being loved more than she is. Pretty good. Definitely will be enjoyed by TZ fans and collectors. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Oh god, say it aint so!
This is one of the worst episodes ever! Not as bad as the Great Vegitable Rebelion or the Promised Planet, but preaty damn bad! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

".....HE WAS A BOLD ADVENTURIN'MAN!"
FOR SHEER NOSTALGIA AND TO SEE A CHILDHOOD HERO, THIS TAPE WAS WELL WORTH THE PRICE. JIM BOWIE AND THE BOWIE KNIFE, THE MYTHICAL "IRON MISTRESS".... WHAT MORE COULD A 53-YEAR-OLD KID WISH FOR? THE ONLY THING THAT COULD HAVE MADE IT BETTER WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE FIRST EPISODE TO HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Looking Into the Soul
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 fifth 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.

Love is certainly something strange in the Twilight Zone
Love between the only man and only woman around is the common denominator in this pair of episodes from "The Twilight Zone." In "The Lonely" Jack Warden plays Corry, a convicted murderer sentenced to fifty years on an asteroid in this story by Rod Serling. Captain Allenby (John Dehner) of the supply ship that stops by leaves him a present: an android named Alicia (Jean Marsh). But when Corry is pardoned, he is told he must leave the "woman" he loves behind. The idea of being in love while stranded out in space is also found in Serling's "Probe 7, Over & Out." Colonel Cook (Richard Basehart) learns that a nuclear war has destroyed his planet. Exploring the new world on which he is stranded, he discovers a footprint that leads him to Norda (Antoinette Bower), the sole survivor of her own planet, which went out of orbit. Together they will start over. And you will never guess what their first names happen to be. These are pretty much average Zone episodes, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at, boys and girls. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Gambling is not a good thing in The Twilight Zone
The dangers of gambling provides the common theme to the two episodes of "The Twilight Zone" on this videotape. First, Buddy Ebsen plays Jimbo Cobb the title characters of "The Prime Mover," written by Charles Beaumont but based on an unpublished story by George Clayton Johnson. Jimbo, who runs a cafe, has psychokinetic power and when his partner Ace Larsen (Dane Clark) discovers Jimbo's power would allow him to manipulate dice, they head for Las Vegas. The pair win big, but Ace cannot stop gambling, despite the pleas of his girlfriend Kitty (Christine White) and Jimbo, who cares more about his friend than all the money in the world. Ebsen and Larsen play well off each other and the story takes the notion of compulsive gambling seriously. "The Fever," written by Rod Serling, stars Everett Sloane as Franklin Gibbs, a tight-fisted man whose wife Flora (Vivi Janiss) wins a trip for two to Las Vegas. Franklin hates the whole idea, but when a drunk gives him a silver dollar and gets him to play a slot machine, everything changes. Not only does the machine pay off, but Franklin can hear the one-armed bandit calling his name and simply cannot stop playing. Sloane, who had starred in Serling's classic "Playhouse 90" drama "Patterns," makes this one work with his performance as his character does a 90-degree turn and ends up losing absolutely everything. Neither of these are classic Zones, but they make a nice matched-pair.

KICK THE GAMBLING HABIT
These two episodes are about gambling and all that implies as you enter "The Twilight Zone." THE FEVER written by Rod Serling demonstrates what can happen to just one of the most unlikely addictive people in the person of veteran actor Everett Sloane. Charles Beaumont's fable of gambling shows that you can kick the habit in a most unlikely way in THE PRIME MOVER with Dane Clark and Buddy Ebsen.

The classic "Franklin"
The classic "Franklin" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

War of the robots
Will finds robot {robby} fixs him,- helps robinsons with' chores -- /

robot programed to have a will of its own- robot plots evil task, of scraping the b9 - - - - oh the pain ,the pain

Doctor Smith gets into trouble again
This is a typical lost in space epic in which Dr. Smith eats fuit which is unsafe.As a result,he turns into a giant. Not a bad episode but certainly not one of the best. The camera work is pretty well done that shows a 20 ft tall mift Dr. Smith. ... Read more