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The Twonky

  • 19531953
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
569
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gloria Blondell, Hans Conried, and Janet Warren in The Twonky (1953)
  • Comedy
  • Sci-Fi
Tweedy college professor discovers his new TV set is animate, apparently possessed by something from the future, and militantly intent on regulating his daily life.Tweedy college professor discovers his new TV set is animate, apparently possessed by something from the future, and militantly intent on regulating his daily life.Tweedy college professor discovers his new TV set is animate, apparently possessed by something from the future, and militantly intent on regulating his daily life.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
569
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Arch Oboler
  • Writers
    • Henry Kuttner(short story)
    • Arch Oboler(written for the screen by)
    • C.L. Moore(story)
  • Stars
    • Hans Conried
    • William H. Lynn
    • Gloria Blondell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Arch Oboler
  • Writers
    • Henry Kuttner(short story)
    • Arch Oboler(written for the screen by)
    • C.L. Moore(story)
  • Stars
    • Hans Conried
    • William H. Lynn
    • Gloria Blondell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 34User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos8

    Hans Conried and Janet Warren in The Twonky (1953)
    Hans Conried in The Twonky (1953)
    Hans Conried in The Twonky (1953)
    The Twonky (1953)
    Hans Conried in The Twonky (1953)
    Gloria Blondell and Hans Conried in The Twonky (1953)
    Hans Conried, Edwin Max, and Janet Warren in The Twonky (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hans Conried
    Hans Conried
    • Kerry Westas Kerry West
    William H. Lynn
    William H. Lynn
    • Coach Troutas Coach Trout
    Gloria Blondell
    Gloria Blondell
    • Lady Bill Collectoras Lady Bill Collector
    Edwin Max
    Edwin Max
    • Ed, TV Repairmanas Ed, TV Repairman
    Janet Warren
    Janet Warren
    • Carolyn Westas Carolyn West
    Evelyn Beresford
    Evelyn Beresford
    • Old Lady Motoristas Old Lady Motorist
    Bob Jellison
    Bob Jellison
    • TV Shop Owneras TV Shop Owner
    Norman Field
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Stephen Roberts
    • Head Treasury Agentas Head Treasury Agent
    Connie Marshall
    Connie Marshall
    • Susie - Girl with football teamas Susie - Girl with football team
    William Phipps
    William Phipps
    • Studentas Student
    Bennie Washington
    • Maybelleas Maybelle
    Lenore Kingston
    • Offended Phone Operator #2as Offended Phone Operator #2
    Alice Backes
    Alice Backes
    • Offended Phone Operator #1as Offended Phone Operator #1
    Charles Phillips
    Gayle Pace
    Al Jarvis
    Al Jarvis
    • Mailmanas Mailman
    Joe Hawthorne
    • Man pushing grapefruit in wife's faceas Man pushing grapefruit in wife's face
    • Director
      • Arch Oboler
    • Writers
      • Henry Kuttner(short story)
      • Arch Oboler(written for the screen by)
      • C.L. Moore(story) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The last thing College Lit professor Cary West wants, while is wife is out of town, is a TV set to keep him company; but that's just what his wife, Carolyn has bought for him. —Rich Wannen <RichWannen@worldnet.att.net>
    • frame up
    • psychotronic film
    • professor
    • female nudity
    • bill collector
    • 46 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Out of Your Own Tomorrow... Out of Time and Space a Fearsome Power!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Released after William H. Lynne died.
    • Goofs
      After failing to send his car and The Twonky over the cliff, Kerry West starts driving again and when he speeds up the camera shot switches to the car's speedometer, and it shows the mileage is at 04136, and the face of the speedometer has changed from a black face with white numbers to a white face with black numbers. After getting into the Old Lady Motorist's car and she speeds up the camera shot switches to her car's speedometer and, by strange coincidence, it is also at 04136.
    • Quotes

      Cary West: I'm not afraid of you, you king-sized cigarette lighter!

    • Connections
      Featured in Svengoolie: The Twonky (1995)

    User reviews34

    Review
    Top review
    I agree with Lynne Cohen
    I agree, this movie scared me half to death when I saw it as a kid (probably around 8 or so).

    I was surprised when I ran into it much later on IMDb, and it was billed as a comedy. Looking back through adult eyes, it was probably pretty funny, and I hope to see it again someday. But back then, the idea that a TV that looked just like our TV could be alive, was really scary, particularly since I was already having nightmares about the big speaker from my dad's hi-fi system chasing me around the room.

    Maybe it will come out on DVD or VCD some day, and I can see it again.
    helpful•18
    2
    • lgrant
    • Jun 8, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Arch Oboler Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Gloria Blondell, Hans Conried, and Janet Warren in The Twonky (1953)
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