The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank (23 Feb. 1962)
"The Twilight Zone" The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank (original title)

A young man wakes up at his own funeral and wants to know what the heck is going on. The townfolk are glad to see him back, but they begin to wonder if he's a man.. or something else?

Director:

Montgomery Pittman

Writers:

Montgomery Pittman, Rod Serling (creator)

Stars:

James Best, Sherry Jackson, Edgar Buchanan

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
James Best	...	Jeff Myrtlebank
Sherry Jackson	...	Comfort Gatewood
Edgar Buchanan	...	Doc Bolton
Lance Fuller	...	Orgram Gatewood
Dub Taylor	...	Peters
Ralph Moody	...	Pa Myrtlebank
Jon Lormer	...	Strauss
Ezelle Poule	...	Ma Myrtlebank
James Houghton	...	Jerry (as Jim Houghton)
Helen Wallace	...	Ma Gatewood
William Fawcett	...	Reverend Siddons
Mabel Forrest	...	Mrs. Ferguson
Vickie Barnes	...	Liz Myrtlebank
Patrick Hector	...	Tom (as Pat Hector)

Storyline

Everyone at Jeff Myrtlebank's funeral service is shocked when he pushes the coffin lid open and steps out, seemingly in perfect health. Old Doc Bolton mumbles some ridiculous explanation and the people there settle down a bit. Obviously his family is happy that he's back with them and his fiancée welcomes him as he is, with no questions asked. They do notice that he's a bit different. As time goes on however, rumors begin spread and the locals decide to take action.

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Plot Keywords:

young man | funeral | paranoia | baffled doctor | doctor | 

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1962 (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

A mailbox by the side of street reads "M. Pittman", for the director and writer of the episode Montgomery Pittman

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Goofs

When Jeff's fiancée, Comfort, comes to warn him about the angry group of men coming to threaten him, the line in the script is "I rode out to warn you. There's a group of men comin' out from town. They're gonna ask you to move out of the county." Instead, Sherry Jackson, the actress playing Comfort, flubs the line, and says "I rode out to warn you. There's a group of men coming out from town. They're gonna ask you to move out of the COUNTRY." Jackson apparently had been having so much trouble saying the line as written that director, Montgomery Pittman, left the mistaken word in the final cut.

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Quotes

[closing narration]
Narrator: Jeff and Comfort are still alive today, and their only son is a United States Senator. He's noted as an uncommonly shrewd politician, and some believe he must have gotten his education - in The Twilight Zone.

User Reviews

Wow

A great example of one of the best shows ever, at least one of the best written one's. While maybe not the best episode, this is my personal favorite. At his funeral, Jeff Myrtlebank comes out of his coffin and complains to the people who put him in there. The doctor is baffled, his fiancé curious, and the townspeople shocked. Even though there was no autopsy, the doctor was almost positive he was dead and he does not seem like the same person he was before. Finnally the townspeople decide to confront Jeff. The acting is good. The direction fast paced. A great example of small town paranoia & black humor. Holds up well today. Love the ending.