The Time Tunnel (TV Series) The Ghost of Nero (1967) User Reviews

Funny Silliness

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 2 January 2010]

Doug and Tony are transported to 1915, in Italy, during a German bombardment of the villa of Count Enrico Galba. The time travelers seek shelter in the cellar that caves in and exposes the grave of the Roman Emperor Nero. When a German soldier comes to the cellar, he is stabbed by a mysterious force. Doug and Tony escape from the German soldiers and find a secret passage through the wall that leads them to the manor of Count Galba. They are imprisoned in a room and sooner they discover that the ghost of Nero is seeking revenge against Count Galba, who is the descendant of an enemy of Nero. Meanwhile the Time Tunnel personnel tries to help Tony, who is possessed by the ghost of Nero, and the ghost travels to the presents days, jeopardizing the facility.

"The Ghost of Nero" is a silly but funny episode of The Time Tunnel. Doug and Tony arrive in World War I and face not only a ghost, but German soldiers that do not execute them despite their reaction. Stock footages are used again but I was not able to identify from which feature. Eduardo Ciannelli has a theatrical performance with his rapture. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Túnel do Tempo" ("The Time Tunnel")

What in the world were the writers "smoking" when they thought of this one!!!

[garrard · 5/10 · 22 August 2010]

World War I Germans, Italian villas, a malevolent ghost and a young Benito Mussolini!!! These are the ingredients which combine to make to really stretch the logic in a show that already stretches the limits of scientific reasoning. This is one that has to be seen to be believed or disbelieved, whichever the case may be.

Future "Gunsmoke" director Gunner Helstrom plays the role of a German officer, heading a group of soldier that take residence in the villa owned by an elderly count, played by veteran Eduardo Ciannelli. Helstrom is aided by Richard Jaekel who momentarily becomes one of those "possessed" by Nero's ghost.

Making his second appearance on "The Time Tunnel" is John Hoyt, this time as a professor experienced in the paranormal.

The absurdity of the episode is balanced by the effective use of Bernard Herrmann's music from both "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Garden of Evil," music that producer Irwin Allen often used in his quartet of sci-fi series in the 60's.

Ghost Disaster Sub-Plot In Command Centre Shines

[StuOz · 21 July 2011]

The episode title says it all.

I totally agree with reviewer Garrard who states the episode is helped by stock Bernard Herrmann movie music from The Day The Earth Stood Still, Garden Of Evil, etc. In fact, I would even go as far as saying that Herrmann's music, played over these scenes, is 70% of the hour's appeal!

During this 1966-67 television season Herrmann was also giving a lift to the third season of Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea series as well.

The other 30% of the episode's appeal goes to that totally INSANE disaster-scene where the ghost goes inside the Tunnel complex and the flamethrowers come out (shades of Irwin Allen's The Swarm?). Lee Meriwether does some good visual acting in this scene and Whit Bissell is great as always.

About where they lost it

[Bills3511 · 1/10 · 2 August 2020]

This was a good series until Irvin Allen started going with weird, supernatural crap. When the episodes were based strictly on historical events (Krakatoa, Pearl Harbor, etc.), they were compelling and interesting. When they started with the supernatural stuff (aliens destroying the worlds oxygen, other aliens dressed in plastic attire and ridiculous body forms that only came out during daylight, a "ghost of Nero", etc.), this is where the series lost most of its viewership. Too bad because they could have had a much longer run had they not turned it into total science fiction.

The worst episode!

[jethrotull-18429 · 1/10 · 18 July 2018]

This is the worst episode of the series. The title says it all, Nero's ghost resuscitates and seeks revenge, and who really suffer from it are the viewers. The most ridiculous story of all is here. Our friends punch the air to hit the ghost, believe me! There's another crap, too, on the same level of ridicule, this time based on the idiot stories in the Bible, 'The Walls of Jericho'. It is a great dispute to know what would be the most ridiculous and idiotic episode, but I think this one about Nero is the winner.