"The Twilight Zone" The Obsolete Man (1961)

Director:

Elliot Silverstein

Writers:

Rod Serling (creator)
Rod Serling (writer)

TV Series:

"The Twilight Zone" (1959)

Original Air Date:

2 June 1961 (Season 2, Episode 29)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

In a future totalitarian society, a librarian is declared obsolete and sentenced to death.

Plot Keywords:

Chancellor | Totalitarian | Librarian | Television | Explosive

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Dec. 31

5:02 PM

SYFY

The Obsolete Man

#2.29

Cast

Burgess Meredith	...	Romney Wordsworth
Fritz Weaver	...	Chancellor
Josip Elic	...	Subaltern (as Josep Elic)
Harry Fleer	...	Guard
Barry Brooks	...	Board Member
Harold Innocent	...	Board Member
Jane Romeyn	...	Board Member

Runtime:

25 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Cayuga Productions

Quotes:

Narrator: The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He *was* obsolete, but so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of man, that state is obsolete. A case to be filed under "M" for Mankind... in the Twilight Zone.

Contrast to other episodes

An episode with a theme near and dear to Serling's heart: intellectual freedom and the will and power of the "little" guy. It's an obvious tribute to novels like "1984", and while not as well executed as that novel, there is something to be said for the startling visuals presented on such a low budget that bring to life the horrors of a totalitarian regime. My only criticism is the ending -- not to give anything away, but did they run out of money for something better? Regardless, this is an episode that makes you wonder what today's political realities and quasi-religious governments would have inspired Serling to write.