Lost in Space (TV Series) All That Glitters (1966) User Reviews

A take on "The Midas Touch" by the Space Family Robinson

[garrard · 8/10 · 30 September 2009]

When "Lost in Space" entered the second half of its initial season, it begin to show signs of straying from the full adventure of the first fifteen episodes or so to the fantasy-laden ones that would populate much of the show's last two years.

"All That Glitters" is one that combines science fiction with Greek mythology as Dr. Smith and Penny discover a disc/metal ring combination that allows the wearer to turn everything he touches into platinum. Of course, Dr. Smith's overwhelming greed, as usual, proves to be his undoing, resulting in a temporary "reformation" for him.

Jonathan Harris, in the role for which he will be forever remembered by sci-fi fans, is beginning to become quite comfortable in the role of Dr. Smith, adding just the right blend of cunning and cowardliness to the character.

Werner Klemperer, as a visiting galaxy policeman, has a menacing "swagger" about him, appropriate for one dedicated to get his man: a career criminal, played by extra guest star Larry Ward.

Again, recycled music by John William is most effective as it is sprinkled throughout the installment.

Smith...what a character!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 10 October 2017]

I never stay tired to see so amazing and funny character as Professor Zachary Smith, therefore Irwin Allen provides a journey to remainder of Jupiter's crew to open space to developing the characters, cynic, slothful and coward he becomes a main key character together Will and the Robot, by the way the last two was absent in this episode due by the travel, Werner Klemperer and Larry Ward come together to enrich the story, great episode likes the whole season!!

Resume:

First watch: 1971 / How many: 5 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5

FINALLY DR. SMITH IS VINDICATED

[asalerno10 · 8/10 · 30 July 2022]

A fugitive from space justice arrives on the planet, he gives Penny in custody a necklace with extraordinary powers. Smith puts it on and discovers that everything he touches turns into platinum, at first he is fascinated by the novelty, but soon finds that he cannot remove the object and this will prevent him from eating and leading a normal life if everything he touches turns into platinum. Transform into metal. Involuntarily he touches Penny turning her into platinum, devastated he decides to face the space commissioner in defense of the women of the group. A good episode, with an interesting script where we see for the only time a Smith bravely facing the situation and defending the Robinsons like a hero.

Hogan's Heroes Meets LIS

[StuOz · 14 February 2015]

Everything Smith touches turns to platinum.

Years after this episode was made guest star Werner Klemperer was interviewed:

Interviewer: "...and you worked on Lost In Space?"

Klemperer: "Of all the wonderful things I did, you give me LIS??".

Despite Klemperer's feelings about the hour, it is actually rather good, not one of the best, but good enough. However, it took a few viewings before I liked it.

The episode does have a very oddball feeling about it...perhaps because half the regular cast is missing...or maybe because such a well known person as Klemperer spends the hour walking around with two giant ape monsters behind him??

This hour needed to be in colour, all that platinum footage didn't look right in B&W.

'All that Glitters' is not gold... but is OK

[jamesrupert2014 · 7/10 · 29 July 2022]

A space-thief (Larry Ward) on the run from awkwardly-named space-cop Bollix (Col. Klink himself, Werner Klemperer) leads Penny and Dr. Smith to a necklace that gives the Midas' touch (except for platinum). This is essentially the Midas fable enacted in outer-space and isn't a bad episode despite the contrived 'cop and robbers' premise. Harris takes the opportunity to actually act as he steps back slightly from his character's descent into a comically greedy, vein and cowardly caricature and adds a bit of humanity and pathos to his otherwise intolerable Dr. Smith. The story suffers from the usual inconsistencies (notably the timing of the transformation), silly-looking monsters, and the frequently ignored fact that an unlimited supply of any 'precious' substance would render it worthless.

Everything turns to platinum

[gregorycanfield · 10/10 · 28 July 2021]

This episode is one of two in which all the action is between Smith and the Robinson women. The other episode is The Golden Man, from season 2. It was never a good thing to omit Will Robinson from an episode, since the relationship between him and Smith was so essential to the show. However, this episode gives Penny the opportunity to bring out the "good side" of Dr Smith. Werner Klemperer and Larry Ward are good as, respectively, Officer Bolix and escaped criminal Ohan. Angela Cartwright is also good here! In fact, Penny actually got to me, in this one. I've criticized Angela's performance in other episodes. There was a noticeable difference in her acting here. Dr Smith takes possession of a metal ring, and everything he touches turns to platinum. Penny becomes a victim of this situation. Smith becomes completely selfless and dedicated, in his desire to save Penny. This episode gave an early example of how Dr Smith really wasn't what he appeared to be. It was more often Will who managed to reach the good part of Smith. In this case, it was Penny. Angela's performance here was good enough, that I regretted my criticism of her in other reviews. Sorry, Angela!

Platinum!

[bigfrankie-43464 · 10/10 · 8 December 2022]

All That Glitters is a top-notch episode.

The story centers around Dr. Smith and Penny, along with Mrs. Robinson and Judy. Prof Robinson, Major West, Will and The Robot are away in the Chariot.

A fugitive from space justice arrives on the planet and gives Penny a device that leads to a necklace with extraordinary powers. The fugitive is being pursued by Officer Bolix and his two goons. Officer Bolix is played superbly by Werner Kelmperer (aka Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes).

Dr. Smith puts it on and discovers that everything he touches turns into platinum. Of course Dr. Smith's greed gets out of hand and is no match for the powers of the necklace, which he cannot remove.

We also see a different side of the Season One ruthless Dr. Smith when he shows true remorse for what happens to Penny.

All That Glitters

[Scarecrow-88 · 5/10 · 12 November 2011]

"I have turned over a new leaf. All that glitters is not gold…nor platinum."

Another oath Dr. Zachary Smith would eventually break. "All That Glitters…" is a vehicle for Jonathan Harris (Smith, as greedy and conniving as ever) and Angela Cartwright (Penny Robinson), who get inadvertently involved with an "intergalactic burglar", Ohan (Larry Ward) having escaped (or so he believes) from a planetoid prison, with "intergalactic police officer", Bolix (Werner Klemperer) whose aggressive investigative tactics cause appropriate tension with Maureen and Judy (June Lockhart and Marta Kristen)—who are in charge while the men (along with Will and Robot) are away looking for a possible water source—trying to find the master thief. Something of great value is given to Penny from Ohan to keep while he searches on the planet for a hiding place, a disc device that will lead him to a neck ring that gives the owner who wears it the power to turn anything he touches into platinum! Obviously once Smith learns of the disc he will secure it from Penny (using his usual manipulative tactics to rest away objects from the kids) and go on the hunt for the ring, find it, gaining the "platinum touch", and, in turn, paying a heavy price for his uncontrollable greed. Smith, knowing that the neck ring is of absolute value to him, will set up Ohan by informing Bolix of a secret night meeting where the disc Penny had was to be returned to the thief. Supposedly, with the thief caught by Bolix, Smith will have the ring all to himself, but the policeman will not leave so quietly, returning to place Maureen and Judy under arrest for knowingly allowing the property of a criminal to remain in their possession, no matter if such allegation is true or not. It will be up to Penny to convince Smith to convince Bolix that he does in fact have the ring and the platinum power.

You see Smith discovers that no matter what he touches, including food and drink, turns to platinum so he "goes into the wilderness like a wounded animal" to die, taking the proof of his platinum power with him: he will need to return in order to save Maureen and Judy from imprisonment. In the plot a disembodied voice speaks to Dr. Smith once he has possession of the disc, about talking him out of using the ring without giving some thought to its use...all Smith cares about, not surprising,is the allure of "treasure".

This episode further proves Smith's despicable cowardice when he leaves Penny, high and dry to save his own skin, alone with a weary and tired Ohan. He also refuses Penny's begging and pleading to return to Bolix to prove the ring's ability, eventually touching her, causing her to freeze into position, a platinum statue (anytime I see an actor/actress have to stand frozen in a position for long periods my eyes water and I become uncomfortable knowing they cannot blink or move). "All That Glitters…" is an example of Harris' character once again hogging a prominent part of the spotlight within the plot while others like Lockhart and Kristen have to play second fiddle, only involved when Bolix shows up to question (more like harass) them over his escaped thief or the treasure Ohan had a key to. When Smith becomes a quivering, pathetic, sobbing wretch, after the ring becomes unable to remove, and he has fallen prey once again to the miseries greed entails, I laughed with great glee—I'm sorry, but such a contemptible character, who brings trouble on himself, always only concerned for his own benefits and welfare, has little sympathy with me (as a kid it was different, but as an adult, he gets what's coming to him). I have to say that I look forward to an episode where Smith isn't such a lead figure in the plot… The show has monsters for the kids as two creatures follow Bolix who whips them into obeying his orders as they pursue their fugitive.

What's in a name?

[Boycemaxblues70 · 5/10 · 8 November 2017]

I remember when this episode was first shown in the UK it gained a reputation with me and my schoolboy friends that had nothing to do with the plot or quality of anyone's performance, and seeing it again brings it all back. Simply speaking, whoever named Werner Klemperer's character presumably had no idea that an American pronunciation of it would sound to a British ear exactly like a very olde Middle Ages noun that has many meanings, nearly all of them rude and derogatory! To hear the female Robinsons and Dr Smith regularly say his name in such respectful tones resulted in widespread unintentional belly-laughs. The actual story-line never had a chance.