After Truman Bradley's introduction to 'state-of-the-art' devices for monitoring neural function, we are taken to a remote arctic base where men have inexplicably begin to manifest telepathic powers. The plot is inventive, as the newly acquired psychic powers are linked to advanced alien communication technology and CIA decryption tools are used to translate the human brain-activity that is being stimulated by alien signals into English (using the mysterious term 'YORD' as a key). The story has some fun with bringing a pretty lab assistant to the remote man-cave base but wisely then drops that angle when the men, distressed by the unwanted telepathic powers, are more concerned with answers than with dames. 'Star Trek' (1966) fans will enjoy seeing a young, mustached Deforest Kelly as the doctor on the frigid isolated base (a setting that resembles the 1951's 'The Thing'). While the plot-driver of quickly translating a completely alien language into English based on one repeated term stretches credibility somewhat, the basic story is clever and, considering the show's budget, the episode is entertaining and quite well made example of superior 50s TV sci-fi.
4 Reviews
The Old Colander on the Head Trick
Hitchcoc9 July 2013
I did enjoy this. It's a story about a group of telepathic people, working at the top of the world. They are angry and depressed and bored. Because they can see each other's thoughts, they can't even play a lousy game of poker. A scientist is brought up there, along with his lab protégé, a young woman with the same abilities. While there, they receive signals from a space ship that is headed toward earth. They take it upon themselves to warn the ship about the dangers of entering the atmosphere at high speeds. Now, if there were aliens with these capabilities, you would think they would have figured out a basic scientific fact. Nevertheless, they do all they can to warn the ship.
I know these were done on the cheap, but they reintroduced the classic brain wave device that is made from a kitchen colander with wires and antennas coming out of it. When the story is most serious, we watch the unconscious young woman, frozen with that thing on her head. I was reminded of Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters and some science fiction movie where they were going to exchange the mind of one of the victims with the brain of a chicken.
I know these were done on the cheap, but they reintroduced the classic brain wave device that is made from a kitchen colander with wires and antennas coming out of it. When the story is most serious, we watch the unconscious young woman, frozen with that thing on her head. I was reminded of Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters and some science fiction movie where they were going to exchange the mind of one of the victims with the brain of a chicken.
An episode that's more "Outer Limits" than "Sci-Fi Theater"
jcaynon-9130312 March 2015
This episode is somewhat unique in comparison to the other Science Fiction Theater episodes because the military apparatus here seems more interested in trying to assist the alien spacecraft and its occupants rather than blowing them out the sky as a potential risk to our world's security.
A young Deforest Kelly (Star Trek's Dr. McCoy) plays a military physician in this story, too! So it's worth it just to see him in a similar role as his most famous character.
Rather than succumb to the suspicion of anything alien or communist as do most of the characters in the other episodes, this little outing, although somewhat disappointing in the pay-off at the end of the show, is a worthy effort for this period of time on television.
A young Deforest Kelly (Star Trek's Dr. McCoy) plays a military physician in this story, too! So it's worth it just to see him in a similar role as his most famous character.
Rather than succumb to the suspicion of anything alien or communist as do most of the characters in the other episodes, this little outing, although somewhat disappointing in the pay-off at the end of the show, is a worthy effort for this period of time on television.
Over and Out
sugarmountainf31 January 2021
This episode had a "scientific advisor" for electronics and radar. Too bad it didn't have one for radio communications. The title means "transmit, but I'm not listening."
Aside from that Hollywood ignorance, it's an interesting story.
Aside from that Hollywood ignorance, it's an interesting story.
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