I watched this with my whole family as a 9 year old in 1964 on our black and white TV. I remember my father remarking that "this is how it could have happened - Adam and Eve." I vividly remember the scene when Adam finds Eve, her eyes were blackened. I asked my father why were her eyes blackened and he told because she was tired and hungry. Having not seen this episode in 45 years, I still remember it vividly - the TV transmissions back and forth with the home planet, scenes of bombs shaking the headquarters, with the final scene of the two walking off, Adam carrying his pack and Eve following. It may not have been a theatrical work of art, but it certainly left an impression on me all these years.
24 Reviews
"I hope your new world will be different".
classicsoncall25 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Ah yes, the Adam and Eve episode of The Twilight Zone. I recall as a kid seeing this back when the series first aired, and how I thought it was such a novel idea contemplating the origin of mankind. You have your different theologies and scientific explanations on how the human species came about, but the Adam and Eve story still maintains a certain ascendancy among the rest. This one is actually another take on the series' third season opener with Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery called 'Two'. In that story, their characters are also left to carry on the work of restoring humanity to a world left barren by the holocaust of the last great war. The twist here is that the nuclear annihilation alluded to took place in a distant galaxy, and the interplanetary survivors of that conflict have both been stranded on a planet called 'Earth'. I don't see the need to be so harsh in the criticism offered by other reviewers on this board. This could just as easily have been a tale from North American Indian folklore or an origin story handed down orally by any number of past and present cultures. Somehow we all got here, and it's a fascinating exercise to ponder on how that all happened. Just be careful with that first bite of the apple.
Interesting on a couple of level
caa82121 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I just saw this episode this evening, on a recently-added presentation by one of our local independent channels, which now presents two episodes each weekday.
As the gentleman opined in the other, previous comment here, I agree this may not have been one of the best programs of the series, but I find it entertaining nonetheless.
My father was a friend of one of the principals (in my hometown, Cincinnati), for whom young Rod Serling had worked in the media there -- and I remember Dad telling how talented and creative he was remembered there. Overall "Twilight Zone" is certainly one of the true classics in television, and given its production during the height of the Cold War period, provides not only a view of this era in the country, but also (today) a nostalgic picture of production techniques, creative viewpoints and the actors of this era several decades ago.
* Minor "spoiler."*
This particular story depicts, as did other presentations in this series and elsewhere, a story where the locale is meant to provide a "surprise" ending. Sometimes the characters are on earth, from elsewhere, while the story at first implies at least one is an "Earthling." These usually contained the message (as here) of a situation prompted by the doomsday buttons having finally been pressed by the super powers during this Cold War period.
Viewed today, stories like this one provide a nostalgic look at this worldly viewpoint 4-5 decades ago, and still provide some food-for-thought. -- as did this episode.
While the dialog may not have stretched the considerable talents of the leads, it still presents a simple, important message, and a worthwhile 20-some minutes of entertainment and interest.
As the gentleman opined in the other, previous comment here, I agree this may not have been one of the best programs of the series, but I find it entertaining nonetheless.
My father was a friend of one of the principals (in my hometown, Cincinnati), for whom young Rod Serling had worked in the media there -- and I remember Dad telling how talented and creative he was remembered there. Overall "Twilight Zone" is certainly one of the true classics in television, and given its production during the height of the Cold War period, provides not only a view of this era in the country, but also (today) a nostalgic picture of production techniques, creative viewpoints and the actors of this era several decades ago.
* Minor "spoiler."*
This particular story depicts, as did other presentations in this series and elsewhere, a story where the locale is meant to provide a "surprise" ending. Sometimes the characters are on earth, from elsewhere, while the story at first implies at least one is an "Earthling." These usually contained the message (as here) of a situation prompted by the doomsday buttons having finally been pressed by the super powers during this Cold War period.
Viewed today, stories like this one provide a nostalgic look at this worldly viewpoint 4-5 decades ago, and still provide some food-for-thought. -- as did this episode.
While the dialog may not have stretched the considerable talents of the leads, it still presents a simple, important message, and a worthwhile 20-some minutes of entertainment and interest.
Ends with a twist but I'm not giving it away.
darrenpearce11129 December 2013
This is the first review here without any reference to the twist in the tale. The ending is usually the talking point. I would like to think there's someone out there who doesn't know it. If such a person exists then this review is submitted for your approval.
There are some remarkable likenesses about this one to an earlier entry (right down to the eye shadow), but I wont elaborate so as not to give anything away.
Yet another story about the world facing obliteration from nuclear war. Cook (Richard Basehart) is an astronaut crash landing on a planet light-years away. If there is war back home then he is surely stuck there.
One big plus is an actor of Basehart's caliber to deliver the pessimistic dialogue. There are shades of Taylor from 'Planet of the Apes' (another Serling written astronaut) in Cook's lonely reports to whatever might survive of the apocalyptic world he has left. The anthropological observation that fear is 'a universal trait' is a comment on how close to destruction the world was in the early 60's.
Loneliness, that often revisited Serling theme, rears it's head once again. The show began with 'Where Is Everybody' and was soon to disappear (after this fifth series) into a timeless and universal place in the hearts of those who love a great story well told. At the end you'll either groan or find there's much to talk about. Now watch this entry and be sure to read more reviews after.
There are some remarkable likenesses about this one to an earlier entry (right down to the eye shadow), but I wont elaborate so as not to give anything away.
Yet another story about the world facing obliteration from nuclear war. Cook (Richard Basehart) is an astronaut crash landing on a planet light-years away. If there is war back home then he is surely stuck there.
One big plus is an actor of Basehart's caliber to deliver the pessimistic dialogue. There are shades of Taylor from 'Planet of the Apes' (another Serling written astronaut) in Cook's lonely reports to whatever might survive of the apocalyptic world he has left. The anthropological observation that fear is 'a universal trait' is a comment on how close to destruction the world was in the early 60's.
Loneliness, that often revisited Serling theme, rears it's head once again. The show began with 'Where Is Everybody' and was soon to disappear (after this fifth series) into a timeless and universal place in the hearts of those who love a great story well told. At the end you'll either groan or find there's much to talk about. Now watch this entry and be sure to read more reviews after.
Much better than reviews suggest.
nosp-431 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Reading some of the reviews here, I have to wonder if the reviewers actually watched the episode, or if they have basic literary understanding. One reviewer says that we are supposed to believe that these people are the foundation of the Christian religion. What? The Adam and Eve story predates Christianity by thousands of years. It's a story of prehistoric origins borrowed by the authors of the Jewish scriptures.
There is no religious message in this episode at all. That a religion borrows a legend does not mean that the religion owns the legend, nor does it say anything about the origins of that legend. This story was not about religion, but rather a reflective piece on enigmatic tendencies of humanity, which on the one hand seeks to destroy itself with fear and hate, while on the other hand rebuilding itself from kindness and love. The episode presents this concept as an ongoing cycle.
Of course, the episode is scientifically ridiculous on every level. A ship 4.3 light years away cannot communicate instantaneously with its base, nor could a ship be sent for rescue in any useful timeframe short of a space warp, and based on the technology in the ship, that seems a bit out of reach for these people. And of course the human race did not spring forth instantaneously from an Adam and Eve, but rather evolved over millions and millions of years, so genetically speaking, Adam is related to the apple he was eating - he could not have been introduced into that Apple-rich environment from another planet. But, hey, this is entertainment, not a science show.
An interesting point nobody has mentioned is that Eve's language was English in reverse. For example, she says "Di ekil ot omec thiw ouy". When she introduces the apples to Adam, she mispronounces it "seppla" rather than "selppa".
No matter - her English pronunciation was much better when she reappeared in Star Trek's Catspaw episode as the much less attractive female alien Sylvia.
There is no religious message in this episode at all. That a religion borrows a legend does not mean that the religion owns the legend, nor does it say anything about the origins of that legend. This story was not about religion, but rather a reflective piece on enigmatic tendencies of humanity, which on the one hand seeks to destroy itself with fear and hate, while on the other hand rebuilding itself from kindness and love. The episode presents this concept as an ongoing cycle.
Of course, the episode is scientifically ridiculous on every level. A ship 4.3 light years away cannot communicate instantaneously with its base, nor could a ship be sent for rescue in any useful timeframe short of a space warp, and based on the technology in the ship, that seems a bit out of reach for these people. And of course the human race did not spring forth instantaneously from an Adam and Eve, but rather evolved over millions and millions of years, so genetically speaking, Adam is related to the apple he was eating - he could not have been introduced into that Apple-rich environment from another planet. But, hey, this is entertainment, not a science show.
An interesting point nobody has mentioned is that Eve's language was English in reverse. For example, she says "Di ekil ot omec thiw ouy". When she introduces the apples to Adam, she mispronounces it "seppla" rather than "selppa".
No matter - her English pronunciation was much better when she reappeared in Star Trek's Catspaw episode as the much less attractive female alien Sylvia.
Man & Woman
AaronCapenBanner6 November 2014
Richard Basehart stars as Col. Cook, an astronaut whose spaceship Probe 7 has crashed on an unknown but habitable planet, who tries in vain to fix it, finally giving up. He has some visual contact with his world, but is told that no rescue is possible, and that in fact a world war is imminent. This turns out to be true, and Cook discovers that he isn't quite alone either, as a beautiful foreign woman(played by Antoinette Bower) who is initially hostile, but they form a truce, as they lay claim to their new world which they name... Entertaining episode with a small but good cast is undeniably obvious and predictable, but done in the appealing style that this series specialized at.
Where's the love?
ericstevenson28 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
It really saddens me that this has a rating of only 7.5. This is one of my favorite episodes! I think it's mostly because it was the first episode I saw to feature that twist of it being Earth all along. This had already been done, but I hadn't seen that episode. The plot is that a guy named Colonel Cook is stranded on an unknown planet where he meets a woman named Norda. I just thought the ending was really heartwarming.
It's revealed that Cook's first name is Adam and Norda's first name is Eve and they decide to call this planet "Earth". I love how it deals with minimalism so well. There's only a few main actors but they still work off each other brilliantly. The idea of strangers forming their own society is just very sweet. We get a closing narration that says that even though the Bible is not literally true, it should still be seen as important. I've listened to this episode many times and I'm sad that it isn't one of the highest rated episodes. ****
It's revealed that Cook's first name is Adam and Norda's first name is Eve and they decide to call this planet "Earth". I love how it deals with minimalism so well. There's only a few main actors but they still work off each other brilliantly. The idea of strangers forming their own society is just very sweet. We get a closing narration that says that even though the Bible is not literally true, it should still be seen as important. I've listened to this episode many times and I'm sad that it isn't one of the highest rated episodes. ****
Definite spoiler: Someone had to do the cliché first
emguy13 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Good performances and all, but the ending is one that shows up on lists of overused sci-fi story devices. It was something like 30 years ago that I recall a sci-fi editor complaining that he had endless submissions about a couple finding themselves the only people on the planet, and then the big reveal at the end was, "And their names were Adam and Eve."
It's been a cliché for a while, but somewhere back in time, somebody wrote a story like that for the first time. If I give Serling the benefit of the doubt, maybe he was the first to turn that particular Bible story into a sci-fi tale.
It's been a cliché for a while, but somewhere back in time, somebody wrote a story like that for the first time. If I give Serling the benefit of the doubt, maybe he was the first to turn that particular Bible story into a sci-fi tale.
Great ending
mlh196331 October 2019
I admit I didn't see it coming but the ending really made the episode. Up until then it seemed like a decent story, well acted, etc. This is the kind of thought-provoking episodes that made TZ the iconic series it was.
Nice twist for the ending, even if predictable
talonjensen28 February 2018
Twilight zone episodes are usually made or broken by the ending twist. I really like the ending twist to this episode in spite of the obvious problems such as linguistic changes.
It was very predictable to me, but then I've read a lot of scifi/fantasy so this isn't the first time I've come across this ending.
The acting was better than average, but not great. The props better than average for the time and budget. I did think the writing could have been better, but the main point was clearly made.
It was very predictable to me, but then I've read a lot of scifi/fantasy so this isn't the first time I've come across this ending.
The acting was better than average, but not great. The props better than average for the time and budget. I did think the writing could have been better, but the main point was clearly made.
First Episode After Kennedy Shot
clacura20 May 2016
When watching TV, during this time period, every show had to continue production after Kennedy was shot. All the shows that aired after 11-23-63 all share this in common.
If you are a fan of TV shows from this era, keep this in mind during the episodes. Every actor on set was gripped with this cultural shock. The production team--director, producer, everyone on set had to deal with this tragedy. If you are a fan of the TZ, read King's 11-23-63. It is a long book that reads like a great TZ episode.
I need 10 lines to publish this. So I am burning lines. Burning lines. I need 10 lines to publish this. So I am burning lines. Burning lines.
If you are a fan of TV shows from this era, keep this in mind during the episodes. Every actor on set was gripped with this cultural shock. The production team--director, producer, everyone on set had to deal with this tragedy. If you are a fan of the TZ, read King's 11-23-63. It is a long book that reads like a great TZ episode.
I need 10 lines to publish this. So I am burning lines. Burning lines. I need 10 lines to publish this. So I am burning lines. Burning lines.
The Beginning of a New Civilization
claudio_carvalho20 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
When the Probe 7 piloted by Colonel Adam Cook crashes on a desert planet, he contacts his base and learns that a war has just begun in his planet. Therefore, neither repair of his probe nor rescue is possible. He explores the planet and finds a woman, Eve Norda, who is also the only survivor of her planet. They baptize the planet as Earth and decide to move on together.
"Probe 7, Over and Out" is an interesting episode of "The Twilight Zone", with an original concept of Adam and Eve. When they move on together, they will probably begin a new civilization on the desert planet. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Sonda 7, Câmbio e Desliga" ("Probe 7, Over and Out")
"Probe 7, Over and Out" is an interesting episode of "The Twilight Zone", with an original concept of Adam and Eve. When they move on together, they will probably begin a new civilization on the desert planet. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Sonda 7, Câmbio e Desliga" ("Probe 7, Over and Out")
Talk About The Wrong Stuff!
Dan1863Sickles3 December 2020
Okay, I'll grant there's beautiful music, atmospheric shadows, and a melancholy sadness to this episode that I find truly haunting. In a way it's the perfect book end episode. Twilight Zone Season 1 offered "The Lonely" about a man dying of loneliness in space who finds a woman. Season 5 offers "Probe 7" about an astronaut marooned and dying of loneliness in space who finds . . . a woman.
So why only four stars?
Well, it's the little things. Adam Cooke does not strike me as the astronaut type. I mean, talk about the wrong stuff! "Control, this ship is broken. My arm is broken! No, I can't make repairs. I can't seem to do anything but complain and make excuses and claw feebly at loose wires with my good hand!" And this guy was hand picked for initiative and coolness under pressure? He beat out 1000 other candidates for this mission into space? What were they like?
And there's little scientific stuff that makes no sense. First we're told he's "nine million miles away." Then we're told he's "4.3 Light Years away." Gee, kind of a big difference there, Rod! Assuming it's 4.3 light years, those heart to heart radio chats in real time don't make much sense. Radio waves move at the speed of light, kids. Cooke would have to wait FOUR YEARS to hear from the gloomy guy at the other end. "We're about to get nuked! We're about to get nuked! Oh, you're four light years away. Call back in four light years and we'll talk about a rescue mission then!"
So no, I don't consider this episode a classic. But the lonely music and the shadows really get to me, especially late at night. Emotionally, this episode is awfully moving. But scientifically it's pure crap!
So why only four stars?
Well, it's the little things. Adam Cooke does not strike me as the astronaut type. I mean, talk about the wrong stuff! "Control, this ship is broken. My arm is broken! No, I can't make repairs. I can't seem to do anything but complain and make excuses and claw feebly at loose wires with my good hand!" And this guy was hand picked for initiative and coolness under pressure? He beat out 1000 other candidates for this mission into space? What were they like?
And there's little scientific stuff that makes no sense. First we're told he's "nine million miles away." Then we're told he's "4.3 Light Years away." Gee, kind of a big difference there, Rod! Assuming it's 4.3 light years, those heart to heart radio chats in real time don't make much sense. Radio waves move at the speed of light, kids. Cooke would have to wait FOUR YEARS to hear from the gloomy guy at the other end. "We're about to get nuked! We're about to get nuked! Oh, you're four light years away. Call back in four light years and we'll talk about a rescue mission then!"
So no, I don't consider this episode a classic. But the lonely music and the shadows really get to me, especially late at night. Emotionally, this episode is awfully moving. But scientifically it's pure crap!
In the intergalactic Gadda-da-Vida!
Coventry29 September 2022
As much as it breaks my heart to write this, I'm afraid that some of Rod Serling's favorite themes and subjects are beginning to get a little bit rusty after four and a half seasons of "The Twilight Zone". Here we have another tale about yet another lone astronaut crash-landing with his ship on yet another forsaken planet (where there's nevertheless oxygen and vegetation). I can spontaneously think of a handful of other TZ-episodes that used the exact same basic premise, and surely many fans with me. Luckily, Mr. Serling has two reasonably innovative twists in store for "Probe 7, Over and Out". The desperate space traveler begs for help from the crew on Earth, but they can't do anything since there's a nuclear war about to break out. And, secondly, there's a dreamy biblical twist that attentive viewers should be able to figure out approximately halfway the episode.
A Whole New World
kellielulu4 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's not biblical even the Bible borrowed the story as it did more than once.
Adam Cook and Eve Norda are our main characters . We only know them as Cook and Norda until the end. Cook makes the point that more intelligent of the two will learn the other's launguage indicating it will be Norda which I always found interesting . Interesting too as another reviewer said Norda speakes English in reverse.
I find it a very tender love story and how they must come to trust one another to survive .Yes it's an age old story but it will always have a certain relevance. Fear and hate destroyed their worlds and they are left to start over .That's never outdated unfortuately .In this case it's due to nuclear annilation and Cook and Norda end up in a whole new world to start over .
Adam Cook and Eve Norda are our main characters . We only know them as Cook and Norda until the end. Cook makes the point that more intelligent of the two will learn the other's launguage indicating it will be Norda which I always found interesting . Interesting too as another reviewer said Norda speakes English in reverse.
I find it a very tender love story and how they must come to trust one another to survive .Yes it's an age old story but it will always have a certain relevance. Fear and hate destroyed their worlds and they are left to start over .That's never outdated unfortuately .In this case it's due to nuclear annilation and Cook and Norda end up in a whole new world to start over .
A 'shaggy god' story.
BA_Harrison15 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Before commanding a nuclear submarine in Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Richard Basehart was astronaut Cook on the ill-fated spacecraft Probe 7, which crash lands on a planet several million miles from home. Unable to repair his ship, and with no help coming from his home planet (caught in the middle of a nuclear war), Cook is left all alone - until he meets a pretty young woman (Antoinette Bower) who has also crash-landed on the planet.
Was this example of the 'Adam and Eve' plot the first of its kind or already a tired cliché in 1963? I cannot say, but the fact that there have been numerous variations on the theme over the years means that Probe 7, Over and Out is wholly predictable from start to finish - a shame because the performances and direction are pretty good.
5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb. If I could find out for sure that this was the first story to use the trope, I'd rate it much higher.
Was this example of the 'Adam and Eve' plot the first of its kind or already a tired cliché in 1963? I cannot say, but the fact that there have been numerous variations on the theme over the years means that Probe 7, Over and Out is wholly predictable from start to finish - a shame because the performances and direction are pretty good.
5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb. If I could find out for sure that this was the first story to use the trope, I'd rate it much higher.
Great twist
Calicodreamin22 June 2021
On The Series Downgrade
dougdoepke12 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
After five seasons the series is on the downgrade as this lumpy entry shows. Stranded on an earth-like planet or is it the real Earth, things look bad for spaceman Cook (Basehart), especially now that his home planet has blown up thanks to nuclear war. The new planet, however, appears deserted. But not to worry, there's a nubile girl (Bower) who miraculously turns up. She looks a little mussed but still Playboy delectable. And guess what their names turn out to be. Yup, Adam and Eve! So what we get amounts to TZ's parable of Genesis with a subtext of nuclear war tossed in. And for good measure, add some dry preachments on common human foibles. I had to check the credits to make sure the entry wasn't produced by 50's drive-in king-pin Roger Corman.
The 30-minutes does have two things going for it. The redoubtable Richard Basehart, one of the best actors of his time, along with a good backlot mock-up of the crashed space probe. Basehart's great, as usual. However, it looks like after five demanding years, the writers were hitting bottom in search of material. Of course, that's understandable. Even the early years came up with clunkers now and again.
The 30-minutes does have two things going for it. The redoubtable Richard Basehart, one of the best actors of his time, along with a good backlot mock-up of the crashed space probe. Basehart's great, as usual. However, it looks like after five demanding years, the writers were hitting bottom in search of material. Of course, that's understandable. Even the early years came up with clunkers now and again.
Eden 2
safenoe29 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Richard Basehart plays Adam and Antoinette Bower plays Eve, so yep, it's Adam and Eve all over again as they start a new life and civilization together. Not a bad episode although issues of space travel were probably expedited init.
This episode plays upon alienation, and Marc Scott Zicree, in his superb Twilight Zone book, theorizes that The Twilight Zone's appeal was that it dealt with themes of alienation, particularly after world war two when the triumphant defense personnel returned and married and moved their families to tracts in the suburbs, where people kept themselves to themselves.
This episode plays upon alienation, and Marc Scott Zicree, in his superb Twilight Zone book, theorizes that The Twilight Zone's appeal was that it dealt with themes of alienation, particularly after world war two when the triumphant defense personnel returned and married and moved their families to tracts in the suburbs, where people kept themselves to themselves.
Adam and Eve?
gregorycanfield7 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Richard Basehart and Antoinette Bower as a man and woman who literally "find" each other. This is one episode where the "moment of revelation" may not be anything you would see coming. As the story starts, Basehart is the occupant of a space ship which is incapable of flight. Bower later appears, with no explanation of how she got to this place. Bower's character speaks no English, so she and Basehart have trouble communicating (at least in a verbal sense). By the end of the episode, we realize that they were indeed understanding each other, all along. Language had very little to do with anything. Could they have been Adam and Eve? Why not? The amazing thing about the Twilight Zone is that you can watch the shows repeatedly, and be struck by the same things just as often. The ending always makes me smile, and sends shivers down my spine at the same time. Great episode with wonderful performances from Richard and Antoinette.
"Probe 7..." not up to Serling's usual high standards
chuck-reilly3 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
One of Rod Serling's main themes for his "Twilight Zone" series was "the end of the world as we know it" scenario, or in this case, the beginning. In this story (written by Serling), Spaceship Probe 7 crashes on an unknown planet that seems to have some vegetation and breathable air. The commander, played by Richard Basehart, is further distressed to learn that the world he came from is now being destroyed by a nuclear war. That sobering news puts a damper on any rescue mission. Since there's little hope in returning to his original planet, with great trepidation Basehart sets out to see what awaits him in this new land. He soon runs into a nice-looking alien woman (wouldn't you know it) who has also crash-landed her ship. After some minor communication mix-ups, the two intrepid pioneers decide to live together in peace and harmony and start anew on this strange world. Any loose ends to this story are neatly tucked away in the half hour time slot quicker than you can say "Over and Out."
"Probe 7..." wouldn't be half bad if it wasn't so obvious in its intent and purposes. Basehart's name just happens to be "Adam" and his newfound friend (Antoinette Bower) just happens to be named "Eve." Well, that explains at least the first section of the Holy Bible. Too bad the script is so contrived besides being filled with more holes than a donut shop. Basehart, one of Hollywood's great under-rated actors, does his best with the material, to no avail. Prolific veteran character actor Harold Gould ("The Sting") keeps a straight face while playing Basehart's main point-of-contact from his previous port-of-call. Gould, who recently passed away, had a long and distinguished career in both television and movies. Barton Heyman appears briefly as one of Basehart's fellow spacemen. Ted Post, who directed many feature films including Clint Eastwood's "Hang 'Em High", goes through the motions here without breaking a sweat.
"Probe 7..." wouldn't be half bad if it wasn't so obvious in its intent and purposes. Basehart's name just happens to be "Adam" and his newfound friend (Antoinette Bower) just happens to be named "Eve." Well, that explains at least the first section of the Holy Bible. Too bad the script is so contrived besides being filled with more holes than a donut shop. Basehart, one of Hollywood's great under-rated actors, does his best with the material, to no avail. Prolific veteran character actor Harold Gould ("The Sting") keeps a straight face while playing Basehart's main point-of-contact from his previous port-of-call. Gould, who recently passed away, had a long and distinguished career in both television and movies. Barton Heyman appears briefly as one of Basehart's fellow spacemen. Ted Post, who directed many feature films including Clint Eastwood's "Hang 'Em High", goes through the motions here without breaking a sweat.
Extremely Forgettable
Hitchcoc11 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Keep the two bit theology out of this. Giving your characters the names Adam and Eve is about as silly as you can get. For heavens sake, have a bit of subtlety. This boring episode has this fellow, wandering on the landscape trying to figure things out. Are we to believe that he has been transplanted here because of a nuclear war and becomes the Genesis of the Christian religion. This is grade school thought at best and so lacking in imagination as to be profoundly stupid. Or is this "irth" another place, somewhere else in the galaxy. I don't know, and I don't really care. I love the whole series and I know that every once in a while a real clinker gets launched because of time constraints and limited budgets. I'd be really surprised if Serling was very proud of this concoction.
The Garden of Proxima Centauri
mwm-1254823 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Set aside the jejune plot twist, which was probably less adolescent in 1963. Here's the setup: on the brink of nuclear war, the 1963 version of NASA sends Richard Basehart ALONE 4.3 light-years to Proxima Centauri. He crash-lands onto a planet identical to Earth, and survives with an arm broken in two places. (Don't worry! It doesn't appear to cause him any pain!) He radios home for help. Over a conversation with zero time lag, he tells his boss about the crash and says he only has a week of food left.
Too bad, his boss says. Nuclear war has broken out. Already 500,000 people are dead, and the boss expects mutually assured destruction within four hours. Ten hours at the outside.
Basehart meets a beautiful woman from another planet, presumably also many light-years from Proxima Centauri, who has also crash-landed. She is dressed in rags but appears well nourished and completely human. Her alien language is backwards-English - for example, "em" means "me" and "uoy" means "you." And Adam Cook and Eve Nordo are implied to live happily ever.
What kind of nation has the technology to identify a planet 4.3 light-years away that is identical to Earth, send an astronaut there alone with only a week's worth of food in a spaceship that promptly crashes, invent a radio that can talk over 4.3 light-years with zero time lag, AND engage in planet-destroying nuclear war? Who sends a woman alone many light-years from a home planet that has left its orbit? What are the odds that an alien who evolved many light-years from Earth would be identical to homo sapiens?
I've heard of the suspension of disbelief, but come on - this is the rendering-braindead of disbelief!
Too bad, his boss says. Nuclear war has broken out. Already 500,000 people are dead, and the boss expects mutually assured destruction within four hours. Ten hours at the outside.
Basehart meets a beautiful woman from another planet, presumably also many light-years from Proxima Centauri, who has also crash-landed. She is dressed in rags but appears well nourished and completely human. Her alien language is backwards-English - for example, "em" means "me" and "uoy" means "you." And Adam Cook and Eve Nordo are implied to live happily ever.
What kind of nation has the technology to identify a planet 4.3 light-years away that is identical to Earth, send an astronaut there alone with only a week's worth of food in a spaceship that promptly crashes, invent a radio that can talk over 4.3 light-years with zero time lag, AND engage in planet-destroying nuclear war? Who sends a woman alone many light-years from a home planet that has left its orbit? What are the odds that an alien who evolved many light-years from Earth would be identical to homo sapiens?
I've heard of the suspension of disbelief, but come on - this is the rendering-braindead of disbelief!
The lead actor talks like a corny 50s pulp fiction narrator.
fedor82 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Astronut: "Earth, please help, I'm stuck on a crappy planet!"
Base: "You think you have it hard? We're about to have a nuclear war... 5 billion dead and all that... A fine time you found to crash-land!"
Astronut: "I got broken bones, no supplies, and stuck on a remote planet - yet you want me to feel lucky? Well, eff you!"
Yup, the premise may be dramatic, but it's also rather silly. The silliness increases five-fold whenever a character gives a typical facepalm Serling speech full of holier-than-thou moralizing - of which this episode has plenty.
The astronaut even gives a speech when he stumbles upon the alien woman. He seems strangely displeased, as if finding a hairy caveman instead would have been better. The speech-making reaches its pinnacle of comedic lunacy when he (the astronaut, not the caveman) gives a speech about man's savage nature right after he gets beach-slapped by the cute female "alien".
An episode that suggests that Earth was a crash-land site for failed civilizations that nuked themselves out of existence. Pretty hilarious, actually.
The episode feels like a cheesy episode of Star Trek, but not because this good-looking female lead had the lead role in "Catspaw", an ST episode.
The difference between Kirk and this moralizer is that Kirk smiles when he sees a pretty alien girl, whereas this gloomy putz gives embittered speeches.
Yup, the premise may be dramatic, but it's also rather silly. The silliness increases five-fold whenever a character gives a typical facepalm Serling speech full of holier-than-thou moralizing - of which this episode has plenty.
The astronaut even gives a speech when he stumbles upon the alien woman. He seems strangely displeased, as if finding a hairy caveman instead would have been better. The speech-making reaches its pinnacle of comedic lunacy when he (the astronaut, not the caveman) gives a speech about man's savage nature right after he gets beach-slapped by the cute female "alien".
An episode that suggests that Earth was a crash-land site for failed civilizations that nuked themselves out of existence. Pretty hilarious, actually.
The episode feels like a cheesy episode of Star Trek, but not because this good-looking female lead had the lead role in "Catspaw", an ST episode.
The difference between Kirk and this moralizer is that Kirk smiles when he sees a pretty alien girl, whereas this gloomy putz gives embittered speeches.
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