The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (23 Oct. 1959)
"The Twilight Zone" The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (original title)

Barbara Jean Trenton is a faded film star who lives in the past by constantly re-watching her old movies instead of moving on with her life, so her associates try to lure her out of her self-imposed isolation.

Director:

Mitchell Leisen

Writer:

Rod Serling

Stars:

Rod Serling, Ida Lupino, Martin Balsam

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Rod Serling	...	Narrator (voice)
Ida Lupino	...	Barbara Trenton
Martin Balsam	...	Danny Weiss
Jerome Cowan	...	Jerry Hearndan
Ted de Corsia	...	Marty Sall
Alice Frost	...	Sally

Storyline

Barbara Jean Trenton is a faded film star who lives in the past by constantly re-watching her old movies instead of moving on with her life, so her associates try to lure her out of her self-imposed isolation.

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Plot Keywords:

screening room | narrator | aging | agent | selfishness | 

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 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

Ida Lupino, who starred in this episode, would later direct the Season 5 episode, "The Masks." She thus became not just the only woman to direct an episode of the series, but also the only person both to star in an episode and to direct one.

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Quotes

Danny Weiss: Barbie, it's no good, honey. None of this is any good.
Barbara Trenton: Look, if you won't fix yourself a drink, sit down and be quiet - will you? You know something, Daniel, you have a habit of looking poised, ready to spring.
Danny Weiss: What was the picture?

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Connections

References Sunset Blvd. (1950)

User Reviews

Mediocre but a nice performance.

Ida Lupino is rather brave, as she plays a vain aging actress who is afraid to face the fact that she's not the young leading lady anymore. Instead of enjoying life, she sits around all day watching her old movies and pretending that life hasn't passed her by. When her agent (Martin Balsam) comes to see her, he begs her to stop his gloomy isolation and try out for a part. She agrees to try out for the part but the meeting with the producer goes horribly--as she INSISTS on playing a young lady and that the part is much bigger. She is, sadly, an over-aged prima donna--an "aging broad with a scrapbook" as the producer says in anger when she misbehaves horribly. And, as a result, she is not at all likable and it's hard to feel that sorry for her--and eventually it's too much for Balsam's character to put up with either.

Because Lupino refuses to accept the truth, she once again retreats to her movies--locking herself in a room for hours and hours on end and avoiding everyone. The hard-working and ever-patient Balsam has a plan. He'll bring one of her old co-stars by for a visit--perhaps a friend from the past will snap her out of it. Unfortunately, when Lupino sees this once-handsome man who is now older and far from handsome, she further retreats--unwilling to even continue the visit! She behaves abominably towards the guy---and I just wanted to backhand her! While the twist that eventually comes is only mediocre and the show lacked the weirdness I loved in "The Twilight Zone", there is still a lot to like. Lupino's fine acting is refreshing and a tribute to her as a professional--especially since I am sure many of the actresses of her era would NOT have agreed to play such an unlikable and pathetic character. Nice performance in an average (at best) episode.

By the way, Balsam was, as always, wonderful and believable here in support.