"The Outer Limits" The Man with the Power (1963)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Laslo Benedek

Writer:

Jerome Ross (written by)

TV Series:

"The Outer Limits" (1963)

Original Air Date:

7 October 1963 (Season 1, Episode 4)

Genre:

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

Plot:

Milquetoast college teacher Harold lacks tenure, and the ability to stand up to anyone, especially his shrewish wife...

Plot Keywords:

Anthology | Cult Favorite | Psychotronic | Alien | Supernatural

Cast

Donald Pleasence	...	Harold J. Finley
Priscilla Morrill	...	Vera Finley
Fred Beir	...	Steve Crandon
Frank Maxwell	...	Keenan
John Marley	...	Dr. Sigmund Hindeman
Paul Lambert	...	Dr. Henschell
Edward Platt	...	Dean Radcliffe (as Edward C. Platt)
James McCallion	...	Dr. Tremaine
Ann Loos	...	Emily Radcliffe (as Anne Loos)
Harry Ellerbe
Paul Kent	...	Detective

Runtime:

51 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Daystar Productions

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Finley levitates the rock, the wires holding up the prop are visible.

The Man with Power Review: B Baker

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Donald Pleasance, college faculty member, has a special power...he can focus his brain waves and manipulate a magnetic field to his will...

His ability, allows him the ability to join a elite team due to the special operation which allows him to move out of "worm" status to one who can "climb the stars" When he asks Ed Platt his school dean ("The Chief" from Get Smart) to work on the project, he is denied...more later on that....

His mind bending capabilities are able to twist steel and power a mid size aircraft carrier...he just wants to be of use and be something important Afterall his name is Harold J. Finley...and he has the ability to blow half the world off the map.

His wife is less than supportive when it comes to his studies and exactly who is washing windows and so he touches her with an "electric kiss" Revenge is a dish best served cold or with a special storm striking in all directions, snapping and tearing and making people gone...just gone.

Say goodbye to the Dean....

His shrink is played by an old favorite actor, remember our movie mogul horse owner from Godfather I? Karthoum lovers, anyone...? The problem is our anti-hero has a deep part of his sub conscious which hates... and has a power...from an operation which is not really explained....

So he shows her. And she believes him and begs him to please not hate her...PLEASE! His fear of fate makes him beg his faculty to stop future operations on his peers And his recognition of absolute power requires absolute control...leads to the end of this episode.