Kind of a disjointed tale with an interesting premise. Geological study is going on on an island. Two men are involved in examining strange minerals that they keep in sample drawers. They seem to be joining to form larger minerals. Also, on a lake nearby, weird lightning is taking place. At one point, the formation of a larger piece of rock allows it to roll off a table and knock a hole in the door of the house. There is danger, of course, but no one seems to understand it. There is a young woman whose job it is to ignore warnings and to act irrationally. Anyway, at some point, the kindly old assistant is trapped by the rocks and killed. The two men set out to find a way to put a stop to the "dune rollers" as they have named them. It's a decent effort but rather random.
6 Reviews
Simple but entertaining sci-fi horror
jamesrupert201429 November 2021
The strange rocks that cover a Lake Michigan island turn out to be fragments of an asteroid that has the power to coalesce in to a motile fiery mass that legend knows as the 'Dune Roller'. The teleplay, based on the eponymous short story by Julian May, is an efficient little sci-fi-spooker that follows a (now) predictable trajectory. Deadly rocks from space were revisited in the excellent B-movie 'The Monolith Monsters' (1957) and the Dune Roller plot was recycled in 1972 in the apparently abysmal 'The Cremators'. Far from brilliant, but definitely watchable (as long as the limitations in early TV productions are accepted). Stars Bruce Cabot of 'King Kong (1933) fame.
"Two and two makes eight, not four!"
classicsoncall14 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This story offers a look at a very primitive example of scientific method as mineralogist Sam (Bruce Cabot) experiences an unusual phenomenon when unidentified rock samples are placed together. Along with the heat that they emit, the samples appear to merge together and wind up weighing twice as much as the sum of their individual parts! Biologist Carl Burgess (nelson Olmstead) arrives to lend his two cents and together they try to make sense of the discovery. Meanwhile, caretaker Cap (Truman Smith) remains fascinated by tales of a legendary 'dune roller' on Lake Michigan's Lightning Island where the story takes place. He imagines it as a giant mythical 'hoop snake' that grabs its tail by the mouth and rolls its destruction across the island. When Cap sees mysterious lightning heading toward his residence he sounds the alarm to Sam and Carl, but too late, as he winds up a victim of the strange force. Taking no chance, Sam sets a dynamite charge to blast the weird 'lightning', and winds up blowing it to pieces, presuming that the tiny fragments have no chance of reforming as observed earlier. Of course, we as viewers know that not to be the case, as the strange glowing pieces left behind immediately start to seek each other out. If this were a movie, the ending would obviously signal a sequel.
This was only the fourth 'Tales of Tomorrow' I've seen but it was the first one to feature an unnamed narrator at the conclusion of the program to speculate about the future and what new knowledge might uncover in generations to come. It was a safe bet, seeing as how far we've come from the 1950's to the present day.
This was only the fourth 'Tales of Tomorrow' I've seen but it was the first one to feature an unnamed narrator at the conclusion of the program to speculate about the future and what new knowledge might uncover in generations to come. It was a safe bet, seeing as how far we've come from the 1950's to the present day.
Wow....talk about being original!
planktonrules19 September 2012
This is one of the better episodes of "Tales of Tomorrow" and fortunately it can be downloaded for free at archive.org--a site very frequently linked to by IMDb. I think it's one of the better ones because it was so incredibly original--something I really admire in a show.
The story is set on an island on Lake Michigan. A group of folks are there and a couple of them are intrigued by some strange rocks they've found around the place. But how strange they are, they have no idea. What they discover at first is that when the stones are placed together, they fuse into one even larger rock! And, some of them emit heat! But, when they begin showing almost sentient behaviors, they realize that a lonely island is NOT the best place to be, as these rocks can actually kill! I'd say more--just do yourself a favor and see it.
This is the second episode starring Bruce Cabot--and it's by far the best. He seemed much more comfortable with the live format here and it's really good. The only negative, and it's a little one, is that the effects are pretty crappy (but they did a good job with what they had). Otherwise, first-rate.
The story is set on an island on Lake Michigan. A group of folks are there and a couple of them are intrigued by some strange rocks they've found around the place. But how strange they are, they have no idea. What they discover at first is that when the stones are placed together, they fuse into one even larger rock! And, some of them emit heat! But, when they begin showing almost sentient behaviors, they realize that a lonely island is NOT the best place to be, as these rocks can actually kill! I'd say more--just do yourself a favor and see it.
This is the second episode starring Bruce Cabot--and it's by far the best. He seemed much more comfortable with the live format here and it's really good. The only negative, and it's a little one, is that the effects are pretty crappy (but they did a good job with what they had). Otherwise, first-rate.
Well done early sci-fi
gordonl5627 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
TALES OF TOMORROW- "The Dune Roller" – 1952
An excellent early sci-fi television episode from the 1951 to 1953, series, TALES OF TOMORROW. It ran for a total of 84 episodes. While it might seem corny and rushed to today's viewer, it was shot live and with a minimum of special effects. The stories, are what truly makes this series so good.
This one takes place on a small Lake Michigan island. Bruce Cabot, the local doctor and an amateur rock collector, is going over some strange stones he has found. Long time resident, Truman Smith, tells Cabot about the local legend of a "Dune Roller". It is a something that comes out of the dunes and has lightning bolts shoot from it. There have been several men "fried" on the island. Hence, the island is called, "Lightning Island".
Cabot of course gets a good laugh out of the story. Teenager Lee Graham now enters Cabot's office. She has found some more of those strange rocks Cabot is interested in. She is collecting a dime apiece for turning them in. Also arriving on the scene is, Grahame's father, Nelson Olmsted and his other daughter, Nancy Coleman. Olmsted is a University biologist who spends his summers on the island.
Cabot places the rocks in a jar and sets them aside. Coleman calls everyone in for dinner. Cabot has not noticed that he placed the rocks near a hot sterilizer machine.
After dinner Cabot returns to his desk. He discovers that the two stones have became one and have quadrupled in weight. Strange? How has this happened? It must have been the steam from the sterilizer. He will need to have a further look in the morning.
The next day, all he finds is that all his samples are gone. And there are burn marks on his desk, as well as the floor. They lead to the door where a large hole has been burnt through.
Needless to say this is going nowhere good. The rocks are slowly melding together into a large boulder, and it moves. The thing also emits massive amounts of heat as it searches out more rocks. Cabot and Olmsted decide it is some sort of alien meteorite. It must of shattered when it hit the earth. It is now be trying to reassemble itself.
They soon discover that the thing is dangerous and that they need to defend themselves from it. The boulder rolls after beachcomber, Truman Smith, and leaves him a burnt to a crisp corpse.
Cabot just happens to have a supply of explosives handy. Cabot digs a hole and plants the dynamite at the bottom. He then throws in some more of the strange rocks as bait.
Sure enough, the boulder comes a calling. Once it enters the hole, Cabot blows the beast into a million bits. As the group views the destruction, Cabot says. "No way it could assemble itself now!" As the group returns to the cabin, the camera shows us fragments starting to glow as they move towards each other.
Bruce Cabot is best known as the man who saves Fay Wray from the beast in the first, "King Kong". (B/W)
An excellent early sci-fi television episode from the 1951 to 1953, series, TALES OF TOMORROW. It ran for a total of 84 episodes. While it might seem corny and rushed to today's viewer, it was shot live and with a minimum of special effects. The stories, are what truly makes this series so good.
This one takes place on a small Lake Michigan island. Bruce Cabot, the local doctor and an amateur rock collector, is going over some strange stones he has found. Long time resident, Truman Smith, tells Cabot about the local legend of a "Dune Roller". It is a something that comes out of the dunes and has lightning bolts shoot from it. There have been several men "fried" on the island. Hence, the island is called, "Lightning Island".
Cabot of course gets a good laugh out of the story. Teenager Lee Graham now enters Cabot's office. She has found some more of those strange rocks Cabot is interested in. She is collecting a dime apiece for turning them in. Also arriving on the scene is, Grahame's father, Nelson Olmsted and his other daughter, Nancy Coleman. Olmsted is a University biologist who spends his summers on the island.
Cabot places the rocks in a jar and sets them aside. Coleman calls everyone in for dinner. Cabot has not noticed that he placed the rocks near a hot sterilizer machine.
After dinner Cabot returns to his desk. He discovers that the two stones have became one and have quadrupled in weight. Strange? How has this happened? It must have been the steam from the sterilizer. He will need to have a further look in the morning.
The next day, all he finds is that all his samples are gone. And there are burn marks on his desk, as well as the floor. They lead to the door where a large hole has been burnt through.
Needless to say this is going nowhere good. The rocks are slowly melding together into a large boulder, and it moves. The thing also emits massive amounts of heat as it searches out more rocks. Cabot and Olmsted decide it is some sort of alien meteorite. It must of shattered when it hit the earth. It is now be trying to reassemble itself.
They soon discover that the thing is dangerous and that they need to defend themselves from it. The boulder rolls after beachcomber, Truman Smith, and leaves him a burnt to a crisp corpse.
Cabot just happens to have a supply of explosives handy. Cabot digs a hole and plants the dynamite at the bottom. He then throws in some more of the strange rocks as bait.
Sure enough, the boulder comes a calling. Once it enters the hole, Cabot blows the beast into a million bits. As the group views the destruction, Cabot says. "No way it could assemble itself now!" As the group returns to the cabin, the camera shows us fragments starting to glow as they move towards each other.
Bruce Cabot is best known as the man who saves Fay Wray from the beast in the first, "King Kong". (B/W)
From the "Tales of Tomorrow" TV Series (1951-1953)
Bernie444421 February 2024
The Dune Roller
Season 1 Episode 15 Episode aired Jan 04, 1952 Director Don Medford
Story by Julian C. May (1931-2017) The first story sold by Julian C. May was called "Dune Roller," in 1950 to John W. Campbell's Astounding Science Fiction along with her own illustrations. "Dune Roller" was made into a movie that was called The Cremators (1972) and was released in 1972. She was credited as Judy Ditky.
Adapted by Charles O'Neil (1909-1997)
Starring: Bruce Cabot, Nancy Coleman, Nelson Olmsted
It is a copy of an old recording so do not expect remastered clarity.
This does have that twilight zone feel with a strange twist.
"Is there life in the universe? Nobody really knows. But it is possible that in the space beyond us, there is life, that there are other suns giving warmth and life to worlds like ours. In the years, in the ages, in the eons ahead, we may find the answer to our questions. We may find that in the space beyond us, the stars, there are world with life far richer than our own. 'Tales of Tomorrow' speculates about such a future."
On an isolated Lake Michigan Island an old recluse, Cap Zanser (Truman Smith) tells a little girl Sally (Lee Graham) many tales including one of a fiery Dune Roller.
Mean while on the other end of the cabin two scientists are fiddling around with an unknow element. Looks like it is part of a meteorite that is trying to Come together. In the process it may give credence to the stories of the Dune Roller.
As we watch the story unfold Jennie gets the part of super dumb and not afraid of anything as she is too dense to be afraid. Occasionally she screams like she is supposed to; however, when everyone else runs she look and says, "What is that over there?"
Do you feel like burning Jennie yourself?
Will the solution work?
What is that light outside your house?
Season 1 Episode 15 Episode aired Jan 04, 1952 Director Don Medford
Story by Julian C. May (1931-2017) The first story sold by Julian C. May was called "Dune Roller," in 1950 to John W. Campbell's Astounding Science Fiction along with her own illustrations. "Dune Roller" was made into a movie that was called The Cremators (1972) and was released in 1972. She was credited as Judy Ditky.
Adapted by Charles O'Neil (1909-1997)
Starring: Bruce Cabot, Nancy Coleman, Nelson Olmsted
It is a copy of an old recording so do not expect remastered clarity.
This does have that twilight zone feel with a strange twist.
"Is there life in the universe? Nobody really knows. But it is possible that in the space beyond us, there is life, that there are other suns giving warmth and life to worlds like ours. In the years, in the ages, in the eons ahead, we may find the answer to our questions. We may find that in the space beyond us, the stars, there are world with life far richer than our own. 'Tales of Tomorrow' speculates about such a future."
On an isolated Lake Michigan Island an old recluse, Cap Zanser (Truman Smith) tells a little girl Sally (Lee Graham) many tales including one of a fiery Dune Roller.
Mean while on the other end of the cabin two scientists are fiddling around with an unknow element. Looks like it is part of a meteorite that is trying to Come together. In the process it may give credence to the stories of the Dune Roller.
As we watch the story unfold Jennie gets the part of super dumb and not afraid of anything as she is too dense to be afraid. Occasionally she screams like she is supposed to; however, when everyone else runs she look and says, "What is that over there?"
Do you feel like burning Jennie yourself?
Will the solution work?
What is that light outside your house?
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