Especially in terms of mystery building or just plain general "what- the-hell-is-going-on-here?" level, this "Elegy" is one of the most successful TZ-episodes of the entire first season! The story begins like so many other episodes, with a trio of astronauts floating around lost in space – definitely one of Rod Serling hobbyhorse premises – and landing on an asteroid where the atmosphere and conditions are identical to earth even though they find themselves 665 million light years away from home. If it weren't for the two suns in the sky, the astronauts would swear they landed on earth the way it looked more than 200 years ago (since their ship took off in the year 2185) and the inexplicable occurrences continue to pile up. There are plenty of people and animals in a typically American village setting, but they all stand their motionless and seemingly paralyzed. They eventually run into the peculiar Mr. Wickwire who introduces himself as the local caretaker and reveals the fantastically wacky truth about the place they are trapped! In all honesty, this wasn't my personal favorite episode but admittedly it's one of the best examples to illustrate the series' creativity, versatility and crazed imagination! Not coincidentally, the cuckoo but strangely absorbing screenplay got penned down by the genius writer Charles Beaumont. Apart from nearly two dozen of terrific Twilight Zone episodes, Beaumont also wrote the scenarios of Roger Corman's best Gothic horror movies ("The Masque of Red Death", "Premature Burial", "The Haunted Palace"
) before dying at a dreadfully young age from the consequences of two incurable diseases. What entertained and fascinated me most about "Elegy" is wondering what difficult and time-consuming task it must have been to keep all these extra players frozen and completely stationary when the cameras were aimed at them! In case you ever played a game of "1, 2, 3, Red Light" when you were young, you know how impossible it is to remain perfectly still when other people are looking at you. My respect and congratulations to the literally hundreds of extras who pulled this off!
33 Reviews
Interesting Concept
mcc3154 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I thought of Westworld when I watched this episode (which I had never seen before). It doesn't really make sense why someone would want to be put on a planet far away after they die in a fantasy scenario like wanting to be mayor etc. As someone else noted who would even see it? I can almost see how a Westworld concept could be derived from this episode with the robot caretaker and the various scenario worlds on this one asteroid. Actors did a great job staying still. That said interesting episode.
"And where there are men, there can be no peace".
classicsoncall16 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The sad commentary of my summary statement above is one many people come to realize after spending enough time on this planet. This episode aired over fifty years ago, and things aren't any better, OR different in the world today. In fact, probably worse. Rod Serling had a uniquely cerebral approach to setting such things right in his fifth dimensional approach to life and entertainment. Where men of the homo sapiens variety gather, it's only a matter of time before strife and discord follow. Science fiction writers of the era found various ways to handle that enigma; one of my favorites was 1951's "The Day The Earth Stood Still". That film puts the inhabitants of Earth on notice, and leaves it up to the viewer to decide what the outcome would be. No such ambiguity here with 'Elegy', Earthlings must be contained because of the eventual threat they will ultimately present.
It's kind of amusing to watch this story today, as it references the future of 1985 (from the vantage point of 1960) as a time 'before peace on Earth became impossible'. The atomic war envisioned by writer Charles Beaumont of course never took place in reality, but it seems the deterrence of mutually assured destruction is about to go the way of the dinosaur as well. Things do not bode well for planet Earth with each passing day, as maniacal despots around the world threaten arming their countries with nuclear weapons. One hopes that a visionary set of world leaders emerges to prevent the planet from becoming an asteroid cemetery.
It's kind of amusing to watch this story today, as it references the future of 1985 (from the vantage point of 1960) as a time 'before peace on Earth became impossible'. The atomic war envisioned by writer Charles Beaumont of course never took place in reality, but it seems the deterrence of mutually assured destruction is about to go the way of the dinosaur as well. Things do not bode well for planet Earth with each passing day, as maniacal despots around the world threaten arming their countries with nuclear weapons. One hopes that a visionary set of world leaders emerges to prevent the planet from becoming an asteroid cemetery.
Do not disturb.
BA_Harrison23 June 2016
Their ship's instruments irreparably damaged, three astronauts from Earth are forced to land on an asteroid 655 million miles away from home. When they leave their craft, they are not only surprised to learn that the atmosphere is breathable and the gravity similar to Earth, but also that their new surroundings seem remarkably familiar. On searching the area, they discover a town similar to that of Earth from two hundred years ago, before the atomic war of 1985, complete with inhabitants who are seemingly trapped in time.
Elegy is one of my favourite episodes of Season One of The Twilight Zone for several reasons: Firstly, there is the puzzle to be solved: where is this strange place that they have landed? Why does it resemble Earth? How come nobody there can move? And who is the old man watching their every move?
Even more fun than the mystery is watching the extras to see how well they can remain perfectly still. With today's technology, this would be an easy effect to achieve, but back in the '50s it involved holding your breath and trying not to twitch or blink. Some of the extras manage it better than others.
Last but not least, there is the wonderfully ghoulish ending served with a huge helping of black humour and cynicism, all of which would seem more suited to a Tales from the Crypt story if it wasn't for the sci-fi setting. In short, an essential episode for fans of the macabre.
Elegy is one of my favourite episodes of Season One of The Twilight Zone for several reasons: Firstly, there is the puzzle to be solved: where is this strange place that they have landed? Why does it resemble Earth? How come nobody there can move? And who is the old man watching their every move?
Even more fun than the mystery is watching the extras to see how well they can remain perfectly still. With today's technology, this would be an easy effect to achieve, but back in the '50s it involved holding your breath and trying not to twitch or blink. Some of the extras manage it better than others.
Last but not least, there is the wonderfully ghoulish ending served with a huge helping of black humour and cynicism, all of which would seem more suited to a Tales from the Crypt story if it wasn't for the sci-fi setting. In short, an essential episode for fans of the macabre.
While there are men, there can be no peace.
mark.waltz20 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The irresistible Cecil Kellaway adds another memorable portrait to his array of lovable characters. A group of American astronauts lands on what seems to be Earth and encounters a series of life like creatures who aren't quite mannequins yet not really people. Along comes Kellaway at the most inopportune time to explain and the consequences which follow are eerily both surprising and undeniably true.
For most of this episode of "The Twilight Zone", the atmosphere is extremely light-hearted, but that is a foolish ideal to believe how it will unfold and conclude. As the astronauts (among them Jeff Morrow and Kevin Hague of "Little House on the Prairie") walk around, they encounter a farm dog, the farmer, a fisherman, a group of models and contestants in a beauty contest and finally Kellaway. Watching the astronauts deal with a scantily clad beauty contestants who won't even blink is amusing, imagining what would be going through their mind. it's up to Kellaway, as a typical wizened older character that record throughout various Twilight Zone episodes, to explain the moral and it is one that can still be understood nearly 60 years later.
For most of this episode of "The Twilight Zone", the atmosphere is extremely light-hearted, but that is a foolish ideal to believe how it will unfold and conclude. As the astronauts (among them Jeff Morrow and Kevin Hague of "Little House on the Prairie") walk around, they encounter a farm dog, the farmer, a fisherman, a group of models and contestants in a beauty contest and finally Kellaway. Watching the astronauts deal with a scantily clad beauty contestants who won't even blink is amusing, imagining what would be going through their mind. it's up to Kellaway, as a typical wizened older character that record throughout various Twilight Zone episodes, to explain the moral and it is one that can still be understood nearly 60 years later.
Haunting
jc1305us14 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Charles Beaumont's 'Elegy' is a wonderful, quintessential Twilight Zone story. It concerns three astronauts in a spaceship who are looking for home. They are running out of fuel, and realize their only chance of survival is to land on an asteroid many millions of miles from Earth. Once they touch down, they see that this asteroid has an atmosphere identical to earth, so they set off to explore.
Leaving the spaceship, they walk around a farm town circa Earth 200 years before their time. Trying to speak to the inhabitants, they realize that all of the natives are lifeless statues. Unsure of what to do next, they split up and explore. After reuniting, and learning that there is no life on this asteroid, a small man appears to them and explains what is really happening. They have found an outer space cemetery where the wealthy get to live out their fantasies as posed corpses. A man fishing, another elected mayor, and so on. Offering the astronauts a drink, he goes on to explain that Earth has been decimated by a nuclear war, and that he is the caretaker of this mausoleum.
As the astronauts ponder their next move, and explain that they just wish to go home, they realize their drinks have been poisoned and they are soon to join the dead townspeople as corpses, soon to be posed in there spaceship waiting to liftoff. 'Elegy' has just the right sense of doom and foreboding. It IS a creepy episode, that is very well done. My only complaint is that at the very end, the music adds a touch of whimsy to the proceedings. If it had stayed with its tragic, and haunting theme, it would have been an all time TZ classic. But, as it stands, it is still an impressive submission.
Leaving the spaceship, they walk around a farm town circa Earth 200 years before their time. Trying to speak to the inhabitants, they realize that all of the natives are lifeless statues. Unsure of what to do next, they split up and explore. After reuniting, and learning that there is no life on this asteroid, a small man appears to them and explains what is really happening. They have found an outer space cemetery where the wealthy get to live out their fantasies as posed corpses. A man fishing, another elected mayor, and so on. Offering the astronauts a drink, he goes on to explain that Earth has been decimated by a nuclear war, and that he is the caretaker of this mausoleum.
As the astronauts ponder their next move, and explain that they just wish to go home, they realize their drinks have been poisoned and they are soon to join the dead townspeople as corpses, soon to be posed in there spaceship waiting to liftoff. 'Elegy' has just the right sense of doom and foreboding. It IS a creepy episode, that is very well done. My only complaint is that at the very end, the music adds a touch of whimsy to the proceedings. If it had stayed with its tragic, and haunting theme, it would have been an all time TZ classic. But, as it stands, it is still an impressive submission.
The Wrong Planet
AaronCapenBanner25 October 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Jeff Morrow, Kevin Hagen, and Don Dubbins play three Earth astronauts who are forced to land on a mysterious planet after their ship runs into trouble, who discover human-looking inhabitants that are strangely motionless. One man does appear to them, a self-proclaimed caretaker named Jeremy Wickwire(played by Cecil Kellaway) who explains that the place is really a cemetery named Happy Glades, where people fulfill their greatest wish after death, and that the three astronauts are in for a most unpleasant surprise... Kellaway's lively performance elevates this otherwise ordinary sci-fi tale, which still has an air of both amusement and melancholy.
Fantastic!
vinayak-dev15 August 2018
This is arguably the one of the finest episodes of The Twilight Zone! It single-handedly seems to have laid the foundation for so many of the prominent pieces of work on television today - from Black Mirror (especially San Junipero) to Westworld! It is unbelievable to consider that this was conceptualised in the early 60s.
Elegy
Scarecrow-885 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Three astronauts (Jeff Morrow, Don Dubbins, and Kevin Hagen) on a "routine geological mission" getting lost in a meteorite storm, find an asteroid to land on as fuel runs out. The atmosphere is surprisingly breathable, but what the astronauts find is a place similar to earth for the exception that the humans and animals don't move! Rightfully, the astronauts are concerned. What they encounter is a rather unusual fellow named Wickwire who serves as "caretaker" on this asteroid—what does he take care of you might ask? The asteroid is in actuality a cemetery! Absurd as the plot might be, it has a comment on how peace cannot exist as long as mankind is present. Through the astronauts, we understand that the Earth was decimated by atomic war; 200 years of reconstruction has took place since. This fear that such trouble awaits the asteroid will leave Wickwire (Cecil Kellaway; Beast from 20000 Fathoms) with no alternative but to keep his cemetery safe from intrusion. I was as much focused on how hard it must've been for the extras to keep totally still (one poor fellow couldn't help but blink since he had to remain in his pose for long periods in the background as the astronauts discussed their calamity on this asteroid that presents events frozen in time) as I was the plight of the astronauts. I give them credit, these actors/actresses hold still as long as they can, some with wide smiles. Except for the fate of the astronauts, this episode plays as a farce, well even with the grim result, there's a bit of black humor involved. "Elegy" I don't figure will ever be featured prominently on the top lists of Twilight Zone fans like myself, but any plot that has astronauts walking around a city with humans caught in frozen expressions should appeal to the base.
"So this is a dream come true once you stop dreaming?"
"So this is a dream come true once you stop dreaming?"
Elegy
CherCee4 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
One of the commenters made a comment about how homely the beauty contest winner was. Well, that was the point! This asteroid was where, when rich people died, they were able to have their eternities made into their life's fantasy. The homely woman's dream was to have been able to win a beauty contest, so when she died, she paid for her dream to come true. The men who played the astronauts (Kevin Hagen, Don Dubbins, and Jeff Morrow), all did a good job, but the episode was definitely owned by Cecil Kelloway (as Mr. Wickwire, the robot caretaker of the asteroid). The glint in his eyes made you like him, at least right up to the end (in my view).
The eternifying fluid
bkoganbing27 May 2013
One of the stranger Twilight Zone stories involves three astronauts from the future in the 22nd century running out of fuel and crash landing on an asteroid. But what an asteroid. These guys find an earth like small town from the Eisenhower fifties perfect in every detail except that the people are frozen in place like statues. The astronauts Kevin Hagen, Jeff Morrow, and Don Dubbins are uneasy, but it looks like a kind of paradise, Morrow especially like it there.
That this Twilight Zone episode was done at the end of Ike's presidency is interesting because in some quarters there is a longing for what seems to be the simpler times of the Fifties. The story might resonate better today within certain circles.
The only other being moving about is Cecil Kellaway, a self described 'caretaker'. He does arrange that they do stay permanently and in a place they wish to be.
For what these space travelers have landed in you have to see this strange episode of The Twilight Zone.
That this Twilight Zone episode was done at the end of Ike's presidency is interesting because in some quarters there is a longing for what seems to be the simpler times of the Fifties. The story might resonate better today within certain circles.
The only other being moving about is Cecil Kellaway, a self described 'caretaker'. He does arrange that they do stay permanently and in a place they wish to be.
For what these space travelers have landed in you have to see this strange episode of The Twilight Zone.
Frozen in time
Woodyanders12 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Three astronauts land on an asteroid that's identical to Earth with the exception that everything and everyone are frozen in time. Jolly caretaker Jeremy Wickwire (delightfully played with charm and aplomb to spare by Cecil Kellaway) springs to life to explain the peculiar situation to the confused astronauts.
Director Douglas Hayes relates the compelling atmosphere at a steady pace and adroitly crafts an intriguing enigmatic atmosphere. Charles Beaumont's ingenious script makes a bold and provocative central point about the bitter price that must be paid in order to achieve eternal peace and how mankind's self-destructive nature always finds a way to upset said peace. While Jeff Morrow as the sensible Kurt Meyers, Dan Dubbins as the excitable Peter Kirby, and Kevin Hagen as the stalwart Captain James Webber all do fine work in their roles, nonetheless it's Kellaway's sly twinkle and abundant verve evident in his spirited portrayal of Wickwire that totally steals the show. Moreover, the stiff and immobile figures that populate the asteroid are genuinely eerie. A very clever and haunting episode.
Director Douglas Hayes relates the compelling atmosphere at a steady pace and adroitly crafts an intriguing enigmatic atmosphere. Charles Beaumont's ingenious script makes a bold and provocative central point about the bitter price that must be paid in order to achieve eternal peace and how mankind's self-destructive nature always finds a way to upset said peace. While Jeff Morrow as the sensible Kurt Meyers, Dan Dubbins as the excitable Peter Kirby, and Kevin Hagen as the stalwart Captain James Webber all do fine work in their roles, nonetheless it's Kellaway's sly twinkle and abundant verve evident in his spirited portrayal of Wickwire that totally steals the show. Moreover, the stiff and immobile figures that populate the asteroid are genuinely eerie. A very clever and haunting episode.
'To peace'.
darrenpearce11114 January 2014
Well written and darkly satirical of the destructive nature of humanity. Three astronauts in a rocket run out of fuel find themselves on an asteroid that looks very much like Earth. The Earth, by the way, was largely destroyed by war in 1985, two hundred years before the space men's time. They find people but they are all rather stiff.
The three men voice interesting theories about what might be happening, making this episode a whimsically thought provoking ride. One character among the stiffs is animated and appearing a little eccentric. This is Mr Wickwire (Cecil Kelloway) who is the astronauts hope of finding out what its all about on this odd asteroid. Kelloway, a distinguished movie character actor brings some darkly toned charm to this story.
Pessimistic stuff about humanity. At least we know the back-story of a war-obliterated Earth in 1985 didn't happen!
The three men voice interesting theories about what might be happening, making this episode a whimsically thought provoking ride. One character among the stiffs is animated and appearing a little eccentric. This is Mr Wickwire (Cecil Kelloway) who is the astronauts hope of finding out what its all about on this odd asteroid. Kelloway, a distinguished movie character actor brings some darkly toned charm to this story.
Pessimistic stuff about humanity. At least we know the back-story of a war-obliterated Earth in 1985 didn't happen!
Weak.
bombersflyup10 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Elegy is mostly cringe-worthy without anything to say, other than man cannot live there because he will destroy it. It's a graveyard sort of showroom of Earth. The dog's obviously not alive and neither the farmer or the fisherman, but that doesn't stop them from running up to them and starting conversation.
Where Are The Tombstones?
dougdoepke9 October 2006
Three astronauts on a mission are forced to land on an outlying asteroid. Instead of finding an alien landscape, a world of small-town America opens before them, except the inhabitants who otherwise appear perfectly ordinary are frozen into motionless poses. The suspense mounts as the astronauts seek to unravel the mystery. Well done from a technical point of view-- the live models do hold their poses very well. In some respects, "Elegy" resembles the series' initial entry "Where is Everybody", without the latter's atmosphere or excitement, however. Still, this one is done with a faintly humorous undercurrent, especially with the genial tongue-in-cheek from Cecil Kellaway as Wickwire. There's also the hint of a cynical subtext concerning humankind's stubborn capacity for self-destruction. The script was, after all, written at the height of the Cold War. On the whole, it's a clever little entry, several of whose scenes may stay with you..
Wickwire, Wirewick
vitoscotti9 June 2022
Loved these outer space TZ episodes as a kid. Sure there's some sameness, and generic acting to them. But, I always loved that there was so much unexplained, so much untold. It would be a launching pad to really think about, and discuss the episode with family you viewed it with.
Plodding script that you knew would lead to a big payoff. Bit like a Brit detective mystery. This didn't disappoint. Thought the beauty queen was very cute. Outstanding performance by Cecil Kellaway the kindly old guy, who turns out to be a rat.
Plodding script that you knew would lead to a big payoff. Bit like a Brit detective mystery. This didn't disappoint. Thought the beauty queen was very cute. Outstanding performance by Cecil Kellaway the kindly old guy, who turns out to be a rat.
You have to really notice it
ericstevenson10 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I personally loved this episode because it took a concept that's not that original and did something unique with it. This show had a lot of episodes with astronauts finding themselves in strange worlds. That's what the first episode was! They go to an asteroid and find a town full of frozen people. It gets better when it's revealed that one guy is actually alive and explains what's going on. They mention that they came from Earth.
They're not going to have the "Earth All Along" twist this time. The basic explanation is that the guy is actually a robot or some kind of machine. It's revealed that this is a cemetery. This is a place where people had their dreams fulfilled. It's just that they're killed and put in a scenario to have it fulfilled. Doesn't end well for our heroes. ****
They're not going to have the "Earth All Along" twist this time. The basic explanation is that the guy is actually a robot or some kind of machine. It's revealed that this is a cemetery. This is a place where people had their dreams fulfilled. It's just that they're killed and put in a scenario to have it fulfilled. Doesn't end well for our heroes. ****
The Wickwire Man.
rmax3048232 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
It's 2185. Three astronauts led by Jeff Morrow are forced out of their trajectory and land on an asteroid. When they open the door they're shocked to see a world that resembles Earth in 1985, the world that was mostly destroyed in an atomic war. It's a small town with tree-lined streets, bands playing, lovers dancing, a beauty contest, a mayoral election. The only problem is that everyone is frozen still, as if time had stopped. The director used still photos when practical because it's hard to get two dozen extras all to hold still at the same time.
After exploring the town and being unable to explain any of what's going on, they stumble across Cecil Kelaway as Mister Wickwire. He moves. He talks. He's friend. And he explains the situation after a toast to world peace.
The astronauts are in a cemetery. The figures in town are dead and wealthy enough to have been transported to this asteroid and posed in circumstances that realized their earthly fantasies. If a guy wanted to be mayor, he's posed in a tableau surrounded by others who smile and cheer motionlessly for his winning the election.
Wickwire is merely the caretaker of this elaborate cemetery. He's not human but a machine that falls asleep until the arrival of newcomers, when he wakes up long enough to see that they're properly disposed. That toast to world peace before? The wine was filled with "eternalization fluid," a painless poison and the astronauts wind up where they wanted to be -- back in their space ship, heading home, although both ship and crew are as motionless as a display in a wax museum.
Why was it necessary for Mr. Wickwire to eternalize the three astronauts, each of whom seemed normal enough? Well, where there are living human beings there can be no peace, and this cemetery is above all else peaceful. Plato is supposed to have said, "Only the dead have seen the end of war," but actually the apothegm can't be traced back beyond Santayana. No matter. It's sure peaceful in this cemetery. There's an anti-war message there, if you look for it.
After exploring the town and being unable to explain any of what's going on, they stumble across Cecil Kelaway as Mister Wickwire. He moves. He talks. He's friend. And he explains the situation after a toast to world peace.
The astronauts are in a cemetery. The figures in town are dead and wealthy enough to have been transported to this asteroid and posed in circumstances that realized their earthly fantasies. If a guy wanted to be mayor, he's posed in a tableau surrounded by others who smile and cheer motionlessly for his winning the election.
Wickwire is merely the caretaker of this elaborate cemetery. He's not human but a machine that falls asleep until the arrival of newcomers, when he wakes up long enough to see that they're properly disposed. That toast to world peace before? The wine was filled with "eternalization fluid," a painless poison and the astronauts wind up where they wanted to be -- back in their space ship, heading home, although both ship and crew are as motionless as a display in a wax museum.
Why was it necessary for Mr. Wickwire to eternalize the three astronauts, each of whom seemed normal enough? Well, where there are living human beings there can be no peace, and this cemetery is above all else peaceful. Plato is supposed to have said, "Only the dead have seen the end of war," but actually the apothegm can't be traced back beyond Santayana. No matter. It's sure peaceful in this cemetery. There's an anti-war message there, if you look for it.
🌟 ANOTHER BRILLIANTLY DISTURBING EPISODE
floridacalisurferboy31 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
🏆 ANOTHER WINNING EPISODE... Filled with that unsettling disturbing Twilight Zone quality some of the best episodes had... It's all very morbid... Very grim... But when old man tells young astronauts after they ask where are they .. He says "Why didn't you know. You're In A Cemetery".... He Was Being 100% Honset 😳
Mannequin challange
Calicodreamin27 May 2021
Another Asteroid
Hitchcoc1 October 2008
Rod Serling liked astronauts and asteroids. This is another one of those "Where am I?" episodes. In this one a group of men find themselves in an odd town, where there are plenty of people, but they are frozen in time. They don't respond. As the astronauts move through space, they find more and more "normal" looking folks not moving. Once again it's about confusion and despair. Eventually they meet what seems like a living man who treats them kindly and asks them questions like how they would like to be remembered. We can't help but think of the first episode "Where Is Everybody?" The strange man is more and less than he seems and we know that we are in for a strange conclusion. I have to say that there is a sameness in some of these first season episodes that show a little lack of imagination. Still, it's a really interesting premise.
Well, if I were about to be murdered, I choose someone like Cecil Kellaway to do it!
planktonrules3 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
It all begins with three astronauts crashing on an asteroid. Oddly, the place looks like Earth and seems really nice. Here's the odd part, though, they do see plenty of people but they all are frozen in place--almost like exhibits in a natural history museum. They are all in the process of doing interesting things, but they are frozen solid. It turns out that the caretaker, Cecil Kellaway knows why--and the astronauts are NOT going to like it!
Cecil Kellaway was a wonderful character actor. He had a certain glow about him--a sparkle in his eyes that made this old man absolutely adorable. So, when it turns out he's a ghoulish guy in charge of a bizarre cemetery, I thought to myself that IF I had to be murdered, it would be nice to be done in by someone as homey and sweet as Kellaway!
Decent acting and an interesting script. The only problem is that this plot, like a few others in the series, didn't merit a 30 minute time slot. It could have been done in 10 and the pace wouldn't have dragged like this one did at times.
Cecil Kellaway was a wonderful character actor. He had a certain glow about him--a sparkle in his eyes that made this old man absolutely adorable. So, when it turns out he's a ghoulish guy in charge of a bizarre cemetery, I thought to myself that IF I had to be murdered, it would be nice to be done in by someone as homey and sweet as Kellaway!
Decent acting and an interesting script. The only problem is that this plot, like a few others in the series, didn't merit a 30 minute time slot. It could have been done in 10 and the pace wouldn't have dragged like this one did at times.
one of my favorite episodes---------------------
pbrandon07418 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Three men on a ship are going threw space and need to land on an planet when they get low on gas. they find a place just like earth, but the people do not move. they started walking around looking for stuff because they wold have to stay there for the rest of there lives. they wake up a robot when they land the robot later poisons them before he knows they are not a threat.i liked this episode .i think rod serling is a very creative man to come up with these ideas. some of my other favorite episodes are where is everybody, a nice place to visit, what you need, nightmare at 20,000 feet and the purple testament. the twilight zone is my favorite TV series.
Dont dream
AvionPrince1622 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A pretty interesting episode that have the same structure than the others: we discover what is strange and we discover the location, and after that a revelation come to us and a new reality for our heroes or new possibilities. So this time its our three heroes who find them lost and discover an other planet. But they will discover the terrible truth and they will get caught by a clever man/robot that will explain that this is the world where people can dream to be anything. So the old man put them in a dream too. So yeah that was still interesting and the sci fi genre didnt bother me here because it can tell a reality that can exist or have the possiblity to exist even if it look pretty weird. So i enjoyed the episode and find it pretty great to follow.
What is a Five Letter Word for Turkey? It's "E-l-e-g-y"
A_Dude_Named_Dude28 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Serling had some kind of fondness for asteroids as they figured in at least three different stories and of which the science was often very, very wrong. In "The Lonely," a convict is confined to one that is only nine million miles away from Earth (??) and bigger than Mars or Mercury (??!!) There was also "I Shot an Arrow into the Air," where a rocket pilot mistakenly thinks he has landed on an asteroid, even though everyone else would have known better. (One would think an experienced rocket pilot would realize that a celestial body with a 1g gravity and an atmosphere could not be an asteroid.) I can only assume that Serling and company just didn't care that it was wrong, or probably assumed no one would notice.
But even if we give them a pass for the error of being on a asteroid in Elegy, we still have to accept the fact that this episode is a turkey so bad even the Pilgrims wouldn't have touched it. Absolutely nothing in this show made even the slightest bit of sense. We are first told in Serling's narration that the astronauts are in a "far corner of the universe." When they land one says they're 655 million miles from Earth, which is somewhere between Jupiter and Saturn. Fine, we can accept that under the guise of creative license. But then they look up into the sky and see two suns. Houston, we've got a big problem.
But even if we are willing to ignore this due to creative license there's more. As the astronauts move about they see a number of people in everyday situations apparently frozen in time. We of course eventually find out why this is, and it is the most preposterous thing ever. (Spoiler Alert) What is the point of this cemetery? Why would anyone go to such lengths to be buried WHEN NO ONE WILL EVER SEE YOU IN YOUR RESTING STATE? You're dead, so you can't enjoy it, and no living person will ever go to it to appreciate it. I can just see the salesman for this operation: "Now when you die, we will transport your corpse to a place millions of miles from Earth, and pose you in whatever fashion you desire, to remain like that for all eternity, and for which no one, not even your loved ones, will ever see." To which everyone is apparently supposed to say,"Great! Sign me up!" Anybody willing to do this should have his head examined, preferably before he signs the contract.
It's a shame Serling didn't just put this script into a locked drawer and then pull it out 10 years later when doing Night Gallery. Then, he could have changed the setting to some remote island in the Pacific, and changed the three astronauts to sailors shipwrecked on the island. Had he done that I would have a much better appreciation for the story. But I wouldn't watch this version again, even if they gave me a free plot at Happy Glades.
But even if we give them a pass for the error of being on a asteroid in Elegy, we still have to accept the fact that this episode is a turkey so bad even the Pilgrims wouldn't have touched it. Absolutely nothing in this show made even the slightest bit of sense. We are first told in Serling's narration that the astronauts are in a "far corner of the universe." When they land one says they're 655 million miles from Earth, which is somewhere between Jupiter and Saturn. Fine, we can accept that under the guise of creative license. But then they look up into the sky and see two suns. Houston, we've got a big problem.
But even if we are willing to ignore this due to creative license there's more. As the astronauts move about they see a number of people in everyday situations apparently frozen in time. We of course eventually find out why this is, and it is the most preposterous thing ever. (Spoiler Alert) What is the point of this cemetery? Why would anyone go to such lengths to be buried WHEN NO ONE WILL EVER SEE YOU IN YOUR RESTING STATE? You're dead, so you can't enjoy it, and no living person will ever go to it to appreciate it. I can just see the salesman for this operation: "Now when you die, we will transport your corpse to a place millions of miles from Earth, and pose you in whatever fashion you desire, to remain like that for all eternity, and for which no one, not even your loved ones, will ever see." To which everyone is apparently supposed to say,"Great! Sign me up!" Anybody willing to do this should have his head examined, preferably before he signs the contract.
It's a shame Serling didn't just put this script into a locked drawer and then pull it out 10 years later when doing Night Gallery. Then, he could have changed the setting to some remote island in the Pacific, and changed the three astronauts to sailors shipwrecked on the island. Had he done that I would have a much better appreciation for the story. But I wouldn't watch this version again, even if they gave me a free plot at Happy Glades.
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