You know I’m having a healthy period of sleep when I need to brew two cafetières of coffee in the morning. I felt like a zombie until my first sip today, but at least it’s better than nightmarish sleep deprivation.
Speaking of alternate states of mind, here’s the second instalment of my run-through of the original Twilight Zone series, which I am enjoying very much indeed. I’m starting to view the show as the first true piece of counterculture, as it presents a world that isn’t quite what the audience is comfortable with. It encourages people to open their minds and think differently. Well done, Rod Serling! How that man found time to write, produce, star, and narrate each episode is beyond me. Was he on speed or something?!
Anyway…
THE SIXTEEN-MILLIMETER SHRINE
Home cinema sure has changed in 65 years! If you don’t chuckle at Ida Lupino having to change the massive reels of celluloid on the motorbike-sized projector next to her armchair, instead of pressing one button on a remote control, then well I don’t know what. This is another emotional story which I identify with quite closely. Lupino’s life is very much like mine now - isolated and trapped in the past. Well, except I don’t live in a mansion and have a maid and Martin Balsam coming to visit me. Chance would be a fine thing. Much like Lupino’s character, I too wish to shut out this awful real world and vanish into a fantasy land. I believe I’m not too far off that though, to be honest. I’m only truly happy these days when I’m lost in the stories going on in my head. I suppose you could say I never truly was happy in this world, even as a child. I’m glad I’ve finally seen Lupino in something, as she has such a memorable name, but I’ll be darned if I’ve actually ever seen one of her movies. Isn’t she the dictionary definition of “diva”, or something? Well, she’s great in this episode, so I’m now keen to seek out more of her work. Let me know if you have any recommendations!
WALKING DISTANCE
Back in the day when you could approach random kids in the street and the cops wouldn’t turn up, Gig Young takes a possibly-psychological trip back in time to witness, and affect, himself as a little boy. A story less about pining to return to the idillic lie of a Western childhood, and more about the loneliness and complexities of adulthood. I suppose you could argue they’re the same thing, but I feel glass-half-empty today. It’s odd how Young’s character is more distressed than enthralled at going back in time, which only serves to make his behaviour rather creepy. Well, very creepy. Having been raised in a forces family, I don’t have a home to go back to, unless I get to pick my favourite out of the nine I had. Don’t have kids if you’re in the military, folks, it’ll just fuck them right up. There’s more great filmmaking here, especially an amazing close-up of Young which spins around with him to settle on a whole new lighting set-up. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that sort of thing in a Quentin Tarantino movie. Oh and a million points for anyone who can spot little “Ronnie” Howard, as yet barely able to string two words together, never mind direct some terrible movies. And the best movie, which is Ransom.
ESCAPE CLAUSE
No, not the title of a cheap “geezer teaser” action movie, but the story of a man who makes a deal with the Judaeo-Christian devil for immortality. Oddly, the man then goes about treating his inability to die like a fairground ride. You’d think he’d just subtly appreciate it with dignity. But no. This is a nice, darkly humorous break to the usual emotional battering, although it’s best to leave logic at the door. For instance, the ironic ending is less effective when you realise a man who cannot be hurt cannot surely be kept incarcerated in prison. Who would be able to stop him just walking out? He could surely bend and contort his painless body to escape any restraints. Bullets couldn’t hurt him. He could easily pound his way through any walls. But, yes, that’s not the point of this episode at all. It’s a simple “be careful what you wish for” morality tale. I found it to be a minor bump in the, erm, quality road, but that’s alright. It still held my interest and the dark humour was much appreciated.
Well, it’s time for me to go off and do… I dunno… something else. Probably change rooms for an hour or so. There aren’t too many places you can wander off to when you’re a depressed shut-in.
Have a good weekend.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
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