Escape Clause (6 Nov. 1959)
"The Twilight Zone" Escape Clause (original title)

A hypochondriac man sells his soul to the devil, exchanging it for one million years of immortality.

Director:

Mitchell Leisen

Writer:

Rod Serling

Stars:

Rod Serling, David Wayne, Thomas Gomez

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Rod Serling	...	Narrator (voice)
David Wayne	...	Walter Bedeker
Thomas Gomez	...	Cadwallader
Virginia Christine	...	Ethel Bedeker
Raymond Bailey	...	Doctor
Wendell Holmes	...	Cooper
Dick Wilson	...	Jack
Joe Flynn	...	Steve
Nesdon Booth	...	Guard (as Nesden Booth)

Storyline

The devil gives an aging hypochondriac exchange immortality, no aging, and complete indestructibility in exchange for his soul. The contract for the deal contains an escape clause allowing the man to end his life. Now why would he need that?

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Plot Keywords:

immortality | hypochondriac | devil | indestructibility | life imprisonment | 

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 1959 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cayuga Productions, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title refers to a legal term, condition or clause in a contract that allows a party to that contract to avoid having to perform the contract. The validity of the clause is usually limited by a time-frame (i.e 30 days or 72 hours) or subject to the the satisfaction of the customer for delivered goods or services.

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Goofs

Given Bedeker's immortality and invulnerability, prison should not have scared him - he could have escaped without fear of being harmed.

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Quotes

Narrator: [Opening Narration] You're about to meet a hypochondriac. Witness, Mr. Walter Bedeker, age forty-four, afraid of the following: death, disease, other people, germs, draft, and everything else. He has one interest in life, and that's Walter Bedeker. One preoccupation: the life and well-being of Walter Bedeker. One abiding concern about society: that if Walter Bedeker should die, how will it survive without him?

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Connections

Featured in Atop the Fourth Wall: Twilight Zone #9 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Kitten and the Bird"
(uncredited)
Music by John Gart

User Reviews

Oddly underrated

Okay, before watching this episode, I'll admit that this show is not a great example of Biblical scholarship. Sure, it's all very silly and flies in the face of Christian, Jewish and even Muslim teachings--but still, it's highly entertaining. While not as good as the wonderful "To Serve Man", this is indeed one of the best episodes of the series.

David Wayne plays a terribly neurotic man who is completely wrapped up in himself and his supposed impending death. He's perfectly healthy and young but is obsessed with every little ache and pain. As a result of this obsession, the Devil appears to him and offers him a contract--he can live a million healthy years just for the cost of his soul. This deal leads to some very dark and twisted humor (my favorite type)--and shows him doing many dangerous things just for kicks (such as jumping in front of a subway train). Naturally, since this is Satan we are talking about, it all comes with a wonderful twist. I won't say more, as it would ruin the suspense, but thanks to a great script it's a real keeper.