Dorothy and Ben (2 Mar. 1986)

It is shocking enough when old Ben Dumfy emerges like Rip Van Winkle from a 40-year coma, but his special mental communication with Dorothy, a comatose 7-year-old, leads to an even greater ... See full summary »

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writers:

Steven Spielberg (developer), Joshua Brand (developer),

Stars:

Joe Seneca, Lane Smith, Louis Giambalvo

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Joe Seneca	...	Ben Dumfy
Lane Smith	...	Dr. Caruso
Louis Giambalvo	...	Dr. Templeton
Kathleen Lloyd	...	Samantha
Joe Regalbuto	...	Merle
Natalie Gregory	...	Dorothy
Rick Andosca	...	Haller
Alice Sachs	...	Dr. Fredericks (as Alice H. Sachs)
Judi M. Durand	...	Dr. #1 (as Judith Durand)
Lynn Kuratomi	...	Nurse #2
Kay Bess	...	Nurse #1

Storyline

It is shocking enough when old Ben Dumfy emerges like Rip Van Winkle from a 40-year coma, but his special mental communication with Dorothy, a comatose 7-year-old, leads to an even greater miracle.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Release Date:

2 March 1986 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ben asks what day it is; when told it's Sunday, he complains that he's missed "Fibber McGee and Molly" and wants to know if Fibber "got the hearse back." The doctor states that Ben has been unconscious for forty years. On March 5, 1946 an episode of "Fibber McGee" was broadcast in which Fibber's car was stolen. However, in 1946 March 5th fell on a Tuesday, so from Ben's point of view he's been unconscious for five days (believing it to be March 10th.) If the episode took place roughly when broadcast (March 2, 1986, which was a Sunday), then Ben has been comatose for 39 years and 362 days.

User Reviews

A Little Too Predictable

The only thing Ben and Dorothy have in common is a big item: both are in a coma. However, after 40 long years, Ben wakes up from his. Dorothy has only been in one for two weeks.

When "Ben Dumfy" wakes up he asks, "What day is it?" They tell him, "Sunday."

"Damn," I missed Fibber and McGee and Molly!"

(That was an old radio show, very old, even before my time.)

Unfortunately, that was end of the comedy and the rest of the show was ridiculously sappy and typical Spielberg in many regards regarding racial issues. Actually it was the dialog on the part of the mother and one of the doctors that was so unrealistic that it turned me off. The ending also is too predictable. I have been amazed how few unpredictable twists we have seen in these first-season stories. Many times, what you can see coming miles away does occur and it's disappointing. Spielberg is no dummy, so this surprises me.