Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval (29 Nov. 1995)

The life and career of the renowned television writer and creator of the classic science fiction series, "The Twilight Zone."

Director:

Susan Lacy

Writers:

John F. Goff, Thomas Wagner

Stars:

Rod Serling, Charles Aidman, Desi Arnaz

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Rod Serling	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Aidman	...	(archive footage)
Desi Arnaz	...	Himself - Presenting Emmy to Rod Serling (archive footage)
Ed Begley	...	(archive footage)
Lloyd Bridges	...	(archive footage)
Art Carney	...	(archive footage)
Fielder Cook	...	Himself
Mike Dann	...	Himself
Saul David	...	Himself
Micky Dolenz	...	Melvin (archive footage) (as Micky Braddock)
King Donovan	...	(archive footage)
Josip Elic	...	(archive footage)
Helen Foley	...	Herself
John Frankenheimer	...	Himself
Don Gordon	...	Himself

Storyline

The life and career of the renowned television writer and creator of the classic science fiction series, "The Twilight Zone."

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Plot Keywords:

television | writer | television writer | film clip | writing | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 November 1995 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Entertainment Production, WNET Channel 13 New York

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References A Storm in Summer (1970)

User Reviews

"Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval" is another fine episode of "American Masters"

In preparation of watching a couple of Rod Serling's TV films on the internet, I thought I'd rewatch this "American Masters" episode on his life and career, especially of the show he is most famous for. Presented entirely in black-and-white, Lee Grant narrates the first and last segments while other passages taken from Serling quotes and writings are spoken by Mitch Greenberg in an uncanny impersonation of Rod. We also get photos of him at home, in Hollywood, in New York, as a paratrooper during World War II, and near the end of his life when he looks aged and maybe a little tired. Well chosen scenes of the show itself provide astute commentary on Serling's philosophy and attitude and show what a brilliant writer he really was. We also get scenes of his earlier TV successes, "Patterns" and "Requieum for the Heavyweight". Various actors, directors, producers, and other writers who worked on Serling's shows provide their own commentary on Rod and Mike Wallace gives his take on his interview with him just before "The Twilight Zone" premiered. The most poignant ones, however, come from widow Carol and his two daughters as well as surviving brother Robert. So if you're interested in a good documentary on the life and career of this vastly talented man, "Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval" is a fine place to start. P.S. I got a kick out of seeing clips of Serling's teleplay "The Velvet Alley" that featured future Odd Couple stars: original Broadway Felix Unger, Art Carney, talking to TV's Oscar Madison, Jack Klugman.