"The Outer Limits" The Man Who Was Never Born (1963)

Director:

Leonard Horn

Writer:

Anthony Lawrence (written by)

TV Series:

"The Outer Limits" (1963)

Original Air Date:

28 October 1963 (Season 1, Episode 6)

Genre:

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

Plot:

Earth awaits a terrible fate in the far future, so a 20th Century astronaut and a typically hideously...

Plot Keywords:

Future | Time Travel | Changing The Future | Time Warp | Dystopia

Cast

  (Episode Complete credited cast)

Martin Landau	...	Andro
Shirley Knight	...	Noel Anderson
John Considine	...	Bertram Cabot
Maxine Stuart	...	Mrs. McCluskey
Karl Held	...	Capt. Joseph Reardon
Jack Raine	...	Old Man (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

51 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Daystar Productions

Quotes:

[last lines]
Narrator: It is said that if you move a single pebble on the beach, you set up a different pattern, and everything in the world is changed. It can also be said that love can change the future, if it is deep enough, true enough, and selfless enough - it can prevent a war, prohibit a plague, keep the whole world whole.

Dream-like, touching, and sad

"The Man Who Was Never Born" is a sensitive fantasy about a man named Andro who is caught in a limbo of time and space. In this episode, he traverses through several worlds, searching for a sense of connection, solidity, and resolution, which is frustratingly elusive.

I will not provide more plot details, aside from the fact that the ending is absolutely stunning and unforgettable. Overall, this is one of the greatest Outer Limits episodes. Martin Landau delivers an outstanding performance in the title role with great support by Shirley Knight. Conrad Hall's soft-focus black/white photography and Leonard Horn's incisive direction complement Anthony Lawrence's spare, compact screenplay to create a powerful viewing experience.

It is difficult to imagine that you will not be moved after watching this. 10/10.