The Bellero Shield (10 Feb. 1964)

Richard Bellero, a dedicated scientist, is working on experiments involving sending laser beams into outer space. His father, Richard Bellero Sr., believes the scientist isn't strong enough... See full summary »

Director:

John Brahm

Writers:

Joseph Stefano (teleplay), Lou Morheim (television story),

Stars:

Martin Landau, Sally Kellerman, Chita Rivera

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Martin Landau	...	Richard Bellero
Sally Kellerman	...	Judith Bellero
Chita Rivera	...	Mrs. Dame
John Hoyt	...	'Bifrost' Alien
Neil Hamilton	...	Richard Bellero, Sr.

Storyline

Richard Bellero, a dedicated scientist, is working on experiments involving sending laser beams into outer space. His father, Richard Bellero Sr., believes the scientist isn't strong enough to take over the Bellero business empire. In the meantime, Richard's wife Judith has more than enough ambition for the two of them. Richard, through a freak accident, reels in a being from another dimension with his laser experiment. The being has a small device that can project a shield that no force can penetrate. The alien at first wants to learn all about earth that he can and Richard cooperates. Judith, however, sees the alien and the shield-projecting device, as a means to power. While Richard is away, Judith first tricks the alien to deactivating his shield device then shoots the alien to prevent him from departing Earth. She removes the hand held device while failing to notice it was connected to a vein in the alien -- whose bodily fluid is the key to operating the device. This is the ...

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Genres:

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

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1964 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daystar Productions, Villa Di Stefano, United Artists Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The plot of an easily controlled male and an ambitious wife has parallels with Macbeth. The analogy is made clear in the line 'lust is what becomes of an aspiration when it is allowed to grow and become ambition' (cf Macbeth IV iii).

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Quotes

Richard Bellero, Sr.: Great men are forgiven their murderous wives!

User Reviews

People suck!

Sally Kellerman, Martin Landau, Chita Rivera, Neil Hamilton and John Hoyt (as the alien) star in this episode. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a strong similarity of the theme in "The Bellero Shield" to Shakespeare's "Macbeth", as both stories are about weak men who are dominated by evil and conniving women.

Landau plays a researcher who is desperately trying to win his father's love and attention. After all, the father (Hamilton) is a rich man who is planning on retiring--and Landau would love to be his successor. But Hamilton is a hard man and has other plans. Much of this seems to be because Hamilton hates his son's wife (Kellerman). He sees here as conniving--and he's sure right there. Just how conniving and evil you'll find out if you see this excellent episode about greed and a space alien! I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil the suspense.

All in all, a great episode--mostly because the script is so good. In other words, they took a kernel of another story and built upon it so much that the story is still very original and it's an excellent tale about human nature and the worst aspects of it. And, interestingly, it's not just about Kellerman's weaknesses but that of all the characters. Well worth seeing.