This is really quite a departure from your 'normal' Twilight Zone, if there could ever be such a thing. I was reminded of the atmospheric, fog enshrouded sets of films set in the 1930's and '40's, films as diverse as the original "King Kong" and "Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise". You were definitely not expecting the type of garish, yet lovely state-room that the Ransomes discovered upon check-in. Nor the unexpected warnings against embarking on such a 'private cruise', mentioned more than once. All the while I thought the ill fated Ransomes (Lee Phillips and Joyce Van Patten) and the Lady Anne were destined to meet the fate of the Titanic or some other worldly calamity. The episode's resolution is left somewhat open ended and disorienting, but the point was bringing the Ransomes back together again. A host of Twilight Zone stories dealt with the ever increasing pace of the modern world and it's effect on human beings caught up in the struggle of balancing career with home life. This one did it in a novel way, restoring love and romance to a couple who would have fallen apart otherwise. All done in a very disorienting way, ultimately leaving them adrift so to speak, before they could be saved both literally and figuratively.
17 Reviews
'Just shut up' 'Oh! yes-sir-yes-sir-yes-sir'
darrenpearce11111 November 2013
This is easily my favourite episode from the hour-long fourth series. The Twilight Zone at it's most charming. A nice change of pace from most of the others. An ideal one to watch to get into the series if you feel the Zone is just a tad too weird for you.
The Ransomes are a couple whose marriage is falling apart. Joyce Van Patten is engaging as the wife trying to rekindle the flame with her work obsessed husband. Wilfred Hyde-White and Gladys Cooper contrast stylishly with the Ransomes as old people still in love. Alan Napier (Alfred from 1960's Batman) appears as captain of HMS Lady Anne on which all the other passengers seem to be old.
An appealingly atmospheric setting for the most romantic entry of the anthology should lure you to sail into the zone. Don't be put off, however much Wilfred Hyde-White may offer you not to board.
The Ransomes are a couple whose marriage is falling apart. Joyce Van Patten is engaging as the wife trying to rekindle the flame with her work obsessed husband. Wilfred Hyde-White and Gladys Cooper contrast stylishly with the Ransomes as old people still in love. Alan Napier (Alfred from 1960's Batman) appears as captain of HMS Lady Anne on which all the other passengers seem to be old.
An appealingly atmospheric setting for the most romantic entry of the anthology should lure you to sail into the zone. Don't be put off, however much Wilfred Hyde-White may offer you not to board.
A Sentimental Journey
Hitchcoc17 April 2014
This one kind of grows on one. A couple, married for six years, books a cruise to England on a ship. During the entire process, they are warned time and time again not to do this. The couple is interesting. Their marriage is in big trouble. He is a workaholic who thinks only of his next deal; she is the long suffering wife who has put up with this since they said "I do." She feels if they could just get away and be together, something might be salvaged. He is a cad, cynically commenting on everything, determined to hate everything on the trip, dismissing his wife's romantic hopes. The "Lady Anne" is on its last voyage. It is populated with elderly people, people who have a history of romance on this ship, going back decades. Some of the film world's greatest elderly character actors are on board. After doing everything they can to get the young couple to leave, they give up and invite them to be part of everything. There are some sombre comments made and they play on the mind of the young man. At one point the couple agrees that when this trip is concluded, they will go their separate ways. This whole episode is nicely played with really good performances. It has a charm and a gentleness to it is subtle in its flavor. Not the typical Twilight Zone, more like a movie from the 1940's.
The Final Cruise
AaronCapenBanner4 November 2014
Lee Philips & Joyce Van Patten star as Allan & Eileen Ransome, a young married couple who are going through difficult times, and are close to divorcing. A last ditch effort to rekindle their romance sees them board passage on a trans-Atlantic cruise liner the Lady Anne, but they are surprised to find that all the other passengers are elderly couples who seem most anxious to see them leave, though not for the reason they may suspect... Endearing tale may not appeal to the young, though older viewers and sympathetic younger ones will appreciate what this episode is about. Though slight, this is still rather sweet, with a fine cast of veteran British actors.
Lovely acting...
planktonrules28 June 2010
A younger couple is interested in booking passage on a cruise ship. However, it's not the normal cruise season and the pickings are slim, so the only cruise seems to be on an old ship. But, when they are about to board, a couple older passengers approach them--telling them that they'll hate the cruise! They even offer to buy their tickets off of them at a HUGE profit! Frankly, I would have taken it, but the couple is stubborn. Once on board, they are shocked to see that all the passengers and crew are elderly! The folks are friendly enough and make them seem welcome--but it's obvious that something is going on...but what?!
While the finale of this show was awfully expected, it's still a decent show for several reasons. First, while it's not exactly 'Twilight Zoney" in style, the show has a nice romantic style. It's a nice change of pace. Second, with some wonderful elderly actors, it can't help but be good. With Alan Napier, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Cecil Kellaway and Gladys Cooper, you have a nucleus of magnificent talent--and they are all charming and terrific performers.
So is this a must-see? Certainly not. But, it is worth seeing and is a worthy hour-long show.
While the finale of this show was awfully expected, it's still a decent show for several reasons. First, while it's not exactly 'Twilight Zoney" in style, the show has a nice romantic style. It's a nice change of pace. Second, with some wonderful elderly actors, it can't help but be good. With Alan Napier, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Cecil Kellaway and Gladys Cooper, you have a nucleus of magnificent talent--and they are all charming and terrific performers.
So is this a must-see? Certainly not. But, it is worth seeing and is a worthy hour-long show.
Hollywood 1960: A British Colony.
rmax30482317 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
They must have rounded up half of Hollywood's English colony for this story about a young married couple (Philips and Van Patten) who are more or less accidentally given berths on the Lady Anne, a slow passenger ship bound for London. I mean -- Wilfred Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Cecil Kellaway, and Alan Napier. It's unclear whether any of these names will be familiar to younger viewers, but Napier played Alfred in the old "Batman" series. Kellaway always struck me as a little too cute, but Wilfred Hyde-White was always a joy on screen. His features seemed a caricature of themselves, as if someone had taken hold of the top of his head and the point of his chin and pulled them slightly apart from one another, but he always brought something extra to his roles.
The story ends mysteriously, as befits a TZ episode, but the message is laid out in a leisurely way for its 55 minutes. Van Patten and Philips have been married a few years abut the relationship has grown shaky because of a familiar problem. Philips is drowning in his work, constantly anxious to get on with things, always busy, consulting his pocket watch. Van Patten is neglected and feels unloved: "We never get together, we never talk, we never --". No room for sentiment let alone sex.
HMS Lady Anne herself is an old ship, manned by an old crew and carrying old passengers. Okay, the ship takes thirteen days to reach Le Havre, but so what? The old folks, mostly couples, take the slow boat to London each year to reminisce about the old days and to celebrate the present in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. And what atmosphere! Cluttered and old-fashioned, with beaded curtains around the four poster bed, Victorian lamps, bronze figurines, formal portraits of British nobility on the bulkheads, and an abundance of ferns. As a matter of fact it looks rather like my place, which I've done my best to turn into a replica of an Egyptian cat house, ca. 1910.
That message I referred to? That's Philips finally observing how happy these oldsters are, taking their time, savoring the years they have left, and he absorbs the lesson. Stop pushing so much. He throws his pocket watch and its demands out of the porthole. His steely scowl is replaced by a smile. And both of them, now happy, become physical again.
The climactic scene is mysterious enough, I suppose, but the mystery is more of a puzzle than anything else. It sits uncomfortably on the rest of the story. And there are holes in the logic. What happened to the Lady Anne, for instance? It disappears without trace and without notice in the news. But how can that be? They bought their tickets from a real, live travel agent. Someone must have noticed that a passenger liner disappeared at sea? And why does the ship turn north? And how can Philips tell? If they were sailing due north, the sun would be directly astern only around noon. And why are all the other passengers over seventy years old? But none of that really matters too much. It's a leisurely story, unhurried and as relaxed as life aboard the ship itself. Except, I guess, for the crew. Somebody has to peel the potatoes and tend bar.
The story ends mysteriously, as befits a TZ episode, but the message is laid out in a leisurely way for its 55 minutes. Van Patten and Philips have been married a few years abut the relationship has grown shaky because of a familiar problem. Philips is drowning in his work, constantly anxious to get on with things, always busy, consulting his pocket watch. Van Patten is neglected and feels unloved: "We never get together, we never talk, we never --". No room for sentiment let alone sex.
HMS Lady Anne herself is an old ship, manned by an old crew and carrying old passengers. Okay, the ship takes thirteen days to reach Le Havre, but so what? The old folks, mostly couples, take the slow boat to London each year to reminisce about the old days and to celebrate the present in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. And what atmosphere! Cluttered and old-fashioned, with beaded curtains around the four poster bed, Victorian lamps, bronze figurines, formal portraits of British nobility on the bulkheads, and an abundance of ferns. As a matter of fact it looks rather like my place, which I've done my best to turn into a replica of an Egyptian cat house, ca. 1910.
That message I referred to? That's Philips finally observing how happy these oldsters are, taking their time, savoring the years they have left, and he absorbs the lesson. Stop pushing so much. He throws his pocket watch and its demands out of the porthole. His steely scowl is replaced by a smile. And both of them, now happy, become physical again.
The climactic scene is mysterious enough, I suppose, but the mystery is more of a puzzle than anything else. It sits uncomfortably on the rest of the story. And there are holes in the logic. What happened to the Lady Anne, for instance? It disappears without trace and without notice in the news. But how can that be? They bought their tickets from a real, live travel agent. Someone must have noticed that a passenger liner disappeared at sea? And why does the ship turn north? And how can Philips tell? If they were sailing due north, the sun would be directly astern only around noon. And why are all the other passengers over seventy years old? But none of that really matters too much. It's a leisurely story, unhurried and as relaxed as life aboard the ship itself. Except, I guess, for the crew. Somebody has to peel the potatoes and tend bar.
Renewal and Passage
glennsmithk5 November 2019
One of Twilight Zone's best with an bit of a mysterious twist ending. Classic episode for romantics. Beautiful interior sets. Superior performances, especially from the English actors. Elicits a range of viewer emotions from beginning to end, and is all delivered with a big screen look and feel. Don't miss it.
Wonderful Ending
kojap23 July 2018
A Major Achievement.....
lrrap9 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
...for a weekly 1963 TV series on a tight budget.
A real standout episode for a number of reasons. The setting and set decorations, thankfully, were all courtesy of the increasingly derelict MGM studio and backlot- the same ship/dock area that saw the Marx Brothers off in 1935's "Night at the Opera", in fact.
The relationship between Lee Philips and Joyce Van Patten is alarmingly true-to-life, thanks to their fine performances and a razor-sharp script that cuts uncomfortably deep into the incompatibility of so many real-life married couples.
But Fate--or Luck---or Divine Providence-- whatever--made Joyce insist on taking a cruise on an antique passenger ship for their honeymoon, a choice which seemed certain to be headed for disaster but which, unexpectedly, turned out to provide the magical, sentimental element that would overtake them and save their marriage.
Charles Beaumont's uniquely imaginative central plot device--- the final voyage of the venerable old Lady Anne populated by the last surviving members of that special "club" who had fallen under her spell in their youth--- is profoundly touching, as is the assembly of elder British actors in the cast, a real coup for the Twilight Zone as it limped along in its final two seasons. But it's the convergence of the two generations of lovers--- old and young--- and their effect on one another, that makes this episode so special.
My only complaint dramatically is the too-abrupt "disappearance" of Joyce at the deck railing as the camera moves in on Lee Phillips; seriously-- he wouldn't have noticed that she walked away? Too bad director Lamont Johnson couldn't have had Lee walk off a bit-- lost in thought-- with his back to her. That would have made her big disappearing episode (which plays a major part in the plot) much more convincing.
The ending, though perhaps a bit indecisive and sudden, nevertheless provides this moving tale with a sweet, otherworldly, even mystical sense of resolution and repose. Just another of those unexplained mysteries of the Twilight Zone-- which don't necessarily benefit from too close of an analysis.
ALSO--- as a bonus, a wry and quirky performance from the delightful Don Keefer as Spietro, the travel agent. Always cracks me up. LR
A real standout episode for a number of reasons. The setting and set decorations, thankfully, were all courtesy of the increasingly derelict MGM studio and backlot- the same ship/dock area that saw the Marx Brothers off in 1935's "Night at the Opera", in fact.
The relationship between Lee Philips and Joyce Van Patten is alarmingly true-to-life, thanks to their fine performances and a razor-sharp script that cuts uncomfortably deep into the incompatibility of so many real-life married couples.
But Fate--or Luck---or Divine Providence-- whatever--made Joyce insist on taking a cruise on an antique passenger ship for their honeymoon, a choice which seemed certain to be headed for disaster but which, unexpectedly, turned out to provide the magical, sentimental element that would overtake them and save their marriage.
Charles Beaumont's uniquely imaginative central plot device--- the final voyage of the venerable old Lady Anne populated by the last surviving members of that special "club" who had fallen under her spell in their youth--- is profoundly touching, as is the assembly of elder British actors in the cast, a real coup for the Twilight Zone as it limped along in its final two seasons. But it's the convergence of the two generations of lovers--- old and young--- and their effect on one another, that makes this episode so special.
My only complaint dramatically is the too-abrupt "disappearance" of Joyce at the deck railing as the camera moves in on Lee Phillips; seriously-- he wouldn't have noticed that she walked away? Too bad director Lamont Johnson couldn't have had Lee walk off a bit-- lost in thought-- with his back to her. That would have made her big disappearing episode (which plays a major part in the plot) much more convincing.
The ending, though perhaps a bit indecisive and sudden, nevertheless provides this moving tale with a sweet, otherworldly, even mystical sense of resolution and repose. Just another of those unexplained mysteries of the Twilight Zone-- which don't necessarily benefit from too close of an analysis.
ALSO--- as a bonus, a wry and quirky performance from the delightful Don Keefer as Spietro, the travel agent. Always cracks me up. LR
Is It The Titanic
dougdoepke19 July 2016
Pretty good suspenser. The Ransome's (Phillips & Van Patten) are an upscale young couple. Trouble is wife Eileen's unhappy because hubby Alan appears only interested in his work. So, to get some time together, she talks him into a slow-boat to London. Much to Alan's displeasure, the ship is a leaky old tub due for retirement. But Eileen wants to make the best of it, even when the other passengers are all gentrified 70-year olds trying to talk the young couple against sailing with them. So what's going on with this mysterious voyage, and why does there seem to be an age requirement.
These hour-long entries often had to pad to fill out the time slot. That's the case here for some of the conversations. Nonetheless, the premise keeps up interest as viewers try to guess where the Lady Anne is going and what the deal is with all the elderly passengers politely discouraging the youngsters from going along. It's also a good chance to catch a number of Hollywood's elegant oldsters on the same screen. But, it's really Van Patten who shines by going through a number of nicely shaded emotional stages. The upshot seems a little abrupt, but is, I guess, apt for the subject matter. All in all, it's a fairly suspenseful episode without being memorable.
These hour-long entries often had to pad to fill out the time slot. That's the case here for some of the conversations. Nonetheless, the premise keeps up interest as viewers try to guess where the Lady Anne is going and what the deal is with all the elderly passengers politely discouraging the youngsters from going along. It's also a good chance to catch a number of Hollywood's elegant oldsters on the same screen. But, it's really Van Patten who shines by going through a number of nicely shaded emotional stages. The upshot seems a little abrupt, but is, I guess, apt for the subject matter. All in all, it's a fairly suspenseful episode without being memorable.
The Looooooove Boat! The geriatric loooooooooove boat!
Coventry11 February 2022
This episode moves forward at the same pace as the titular ship and all its senior citizen passengers; - incredibly slow and towards a finish that you can see from sea miles ahead. It certainly isn't bad, but it could have used a bit more pizazz.
That said, I do appreciate the mysterious atmosphere and great acting performances from a long list of veteran actors (Gladys Cooper, Cecil Kellaway, Alan Napier, Cyril Delevanti, ...). The plot, by the almighty and gone-too-soon Charles Beaumont, can be described as a sort of fusion between "The Love Boat" and "The Mystery of the Mary Celeste". In a desperate attempt to save their marriage, a young couple boards the Lady Anne to go to London for a late honeymoon. The Lady Anne is a beautiful but antique cruise liner, largely put out of work by intercontinental flights and much faster ships. The couple notices all the other passengers and crew members are over 75 years old, and very much trying to persuade them not to remain on board.
Worth seeing as a tribute to charismatic stars of the 30s and 40s, primarily. The episode even features a handful of unknown names (Carl Leviness, Colin Kelly, Scott Seaton, Frank Baker, ...) who dedicated their lives to appearing as uncredited extras in hundreds of movies. Respect!
That said, I do appreciate the mysterious atmosphere and great acting performances from a long list of veteran actors (Gladys Cooper, Cecil Kellaway, Alan Napier, Cyril Delevanti, ...). The plot, by the almighty and gone-too-soon Charles Beaumont, can be described as a sort of fusion between "The Love Boat" and "The Mystery of the Mary Celeste". In a desperate attempt to save their marriage, a young couple boards the Lady Anne to go to London for a late honeymoon. The Lady Anne is a beautiful but antique cruise liner, largely put out of work by intercontinental flights and much faster ships. The couple notices all the other passengers and crew members are over 75 years old, and very much trying to persuade them not to remain on board.
Worth seeing as a tribute to charismatic stars of the 30s and 40s, primarily. The episode even features a handful of unknown names (Carl Leviness, Colin Kelly, Scott Seaton, Frank Baker, ...) who dedicated their lives to appearing as uncredited extras in hundreds of movies. Respect!
A ship from a lost age and a couple on the rocks
Mobius_loop3 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is all about the durability of love and relationships, and the impermanance of life. As others have stated this is an unusual episode without science fiction or fantasy elements, just an extremely unusual situation.
The Ransomes are a couple whose marriage is rapidly spiralling down the drain. In a last desparate bid, the wife convinces the husband for one last try. In a momentary fit of pique, they chose an antiquated liner making a slow crossing (and we later find destined for the wreckers yard), against the advice of the travel agent. At the dock an elderly man makes them an absurdly large offer to buy their tickets to prevent them boarding but to no avail.
At this point onboard we meet the remarkable complement of couples, and a few unfortunate singles...all of them extremely elderly (played by some of the best British character actors of their time). They are initially shocked by the young couple, but come to accept them, and even like them. The oddity of the trip only increases as they realize they are the ONLY evenly remotely young people aboard, both passengers and crew.
The couple continue to bicker, but the romance of the enduring love of the couples around them makes them pause and take stock of their relationship. Towards the end, the husband realizes his obsession with work is not worth the end of his marriage, and they reconcile.
SPOILERS:
The husband notices that the ship has inexplicably turned North. At this point the wife suddenly disappears and the husband frantically searches for her. He is confronted at gunpoint and led to his wife who is already in a well stocked lifeboat on the water. The husband is nonplussed asking why and what have we done? But the wife understands. They will live, it is not only the ship destined to meet its end but all aboard, and they have been spared. The Captain assures them that their whereabouts have been radioed and they will be found. The Lady Anne sails into the fog never to be heard of again.
Still one of my favourite episodes, even though the premise is simple. I suppose the moral is you only live once, and get your priorities straight before you lose the most important things.
The Ransomes are a couple whose marriage is rapidly spiralling down the drain. In a last desparate bid, the wife convinces the husband for one last try. In a momentary fit of pique, they chose an antiquated liner making a slow crossing (and we later find destined for the wreckers yard), against the advice of the travel agent. At the dock an elderly man makes them an absurdly large offer to buy their tickets to prevent them boarding but to no avail.
At this point onboard we meet the remarkable complement of couples, and a few unfortunate singles...all of them extremely elderly (played by some of the best British character actors of their time). They are initially shocked by the young couple, but come to accept them, and even like them. The oddity of the trip only increases as they realize they are the ONLY evenly remotely young people aboard, both passengers and crew.
The couple continue to bicker, but the romance of the enduring love of the couples around them makes them pause and take stock of their relationship. Towards the end, the husband realizes his obsession with work is not worth the end of his marriage, and they reconcile.
SPOILERS:
The husband notices that the ship has inexplicably turned North. At this point the wife suddenly disappears and the husband frantically searches for her. He is confronted at gunpoint and led to his wife who is already in a well stocked lifeboat on the water. The husband is nonplussed asking why and what have we done? But the wife understands. They will live, it is not only the ship destined to meet its end but all aboard, and they have been spared. The Captain assures them that their whereabouts have been radioed and they will be found. The Lady Anne sails into the fog never to be heard of again.
Still one of my favourite episodes, even though the premise is simple. I suppose the moral is you only live once, and get your priorities straight before you lose the most important things.
All aboard H.M.S. O.A.P.
BA_Harrison12 April 2022
After six years, Alan and Eileen Ransome's marriage is on the rocks and sinking fast, largely because Alan spends more time at work than he does with his wife. In a last ditch effort to save their relationship, Eileen decides to accompany Alan on a business trip to London, booking a slow ship to Southampton in the hope that two weeks together at sea will give them time to patch things up.
As they are about to set sail, some of the other passengers try to convince the Ransomes not to sail on the Lady Anne, offering to buy their tickets for $10K, but Alan stubbornly refuses. During the cruise, the young couple are made to feel unwelcome by their fellow shipmates, all of whom seem to be pensioners. Cooped up together, Alan and Eileen's relationship reaches breaking point, but when his wife suddenly disappears, Alan panics and desperately searches the ship. When he eventually finds his wife safe in their room, he declares his love and vows to mend his ways (amazing how five minutes of sheer dread can make someone completely re-evaluate their priorities).
Things finally seem to be on the up for the Ransomes: even the other passengers are acting more friendly towards them; well, up until the point that the young couple are forced at gunpoint to abandon ship in a lifeboat!
There's a lot of yadda, yadda, yadda in this episode, which tends to make it feel slower than its titular vessel, and Alan and Eileen's bickering is hard to watch at times. Thankfully, the intriguing mystery behind its elderly passengers just about keeps things moving, and the ending, in which the Lady Anne sails off into the mist with the O. A. P.s, never to be seen again, is suitably mysterious -- a final voyage for not just the ship, but for everyone on board, straight into the uncharted waters of The Twilight Zone.
As they are about to set sail, some of the other passengers try to convince the Ransomes not to sail on the Lady Anne, offering to buy their tickets for $10K, but Alan stubbornly refuses. During the cruise, the young couple are made to feel unwelcome by their fellow shipmates, all of whom seem to be pensioners. Cooped up together, Alan and Eileen's relationship reaches breaking point, but when his wife suddenly disappears, Alan panics and desperately searches the ship. When he eventually finds his wife safe in their room, he declares his love and vows to mend his ways (amazing how five minutes of sheer dread can make someone completely re-evaluate their priorities).
Things finally seem to be on the up for the Ransomes: even the other passengers are acting more friendly towards them; well, up until the point that the young couple are forced at gunpoint to abandon ship in a lifeboat!
There's a lot of yadda, yadda, yadda in this episode, which tends to make it feel slower than its titular vessel, and Alan and Eileen's bickering is hard to watch at times. Thankfully, the intriguing mystery behind its elderly passengers just about keeps things moving, and the ending, in which the Lady Anne sails off into the mist with the O. A. P.s, never to be seen again, is suitably mysterious -- a final voyage for not just the ship, but for everyone on board, straight into the uncharted waters of The Twilight Zone.
All that build up...
The-Right-Mike10 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The entire episode has me on the edge of my seat just dying to know what is going on exactly. It promises some great mystery will eventually be revealed, and it is mostly entertainingly if only for that promise and massive build up...
but then you get to the 40 minute mark, and realize it is running out of show, and if you see the mystery revealed, it will be a very short part.... but then it ends without ever really revealing the secret and you are left saying... WHAAA!?
I am glad the man stop being a jerk to his wife, but I can't help but feel bummed that there wasn't a fantastical finish to this one. What a tease!
but then you get to the 40 minute mark, and realize it is running out of show, and if you see the mystery revealed, it will be a very short part.... but then it ends without ever really revealing the secret and you are left saying... WHAAA!?
I am glad the man stop being a jerk to his wife, but I can't help but feel bummed that there wasn't a fantastical finish to this one. What a tease!
Joyce Van Patten Is brilliant as is rest of the cast
bmulkey-3426018 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is really excellent. Great sets and fine morals make this ep really good and it's slow pacing matches the ship in the story.
Already been reviewed but I want to add. We are not sure if the Lady Anne was suicide to the elderly passengers. After all. The ship could have been heading right towards the Bermuda Triangle and into another dimension. They may have headed north to just fool the Ramsones ( again Joyce Van Patten brilliant as Eileen)!
Already been reviewed but I want to add. We are not sure if the Lady Anne was suicide to the elderly passengers. After all. The ship could have been heading right towards the Bermuda Triangle and into another dimension. They may have headed north to just fool the Ramsones ( again Joyce Van Patten brilliant as Eileen)!
Nonsensical adaptation. Little happens and it takes a long time to not happen.
HEFILM5 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The story is basically one where nothing externally happens, that's really the point. The slow pace of the trip, the discovery of love, the loss of the old world.
But this episode, while retaining large chunks of dialogue from the short story, has conflict and mystery forced upon it. but not enough to turn it into a thriller or into a supernatural tale either. It's also like these elements were put in to make it TWILIGHT ZONEY and to try to have little cliff hangers before commercial breaks. A bigger problem may be in having the lead couple be bitter bickering people we are then forced to spend time with and watch smoke and drink in classic 50's era fashion.
So I'm saying the short story works, the longer screenplay, for the most part, doesn't.
The results are these changes don't track into the story leading to an obscure mystery ending that also doesn't track back to the moments of TV drama injected into it.
For example one cliff hanger moment has a nice old lady saying. "It means we don't have to kill you." Come back from commercial and the lead couple doesn't even seem worried or curious about this comment. The comment doesn't really make sense by stories end either.
The ship interiors themselves are pretty impressive, no doubt sets from some shipboard film, maybe even the, at the time, recent Titanic film. The cabin the couple has is carefully overdecorated as a honeymoon suite might be. Also an asset is a long involved music score by Rene Garriguenc, a regular and under appreciated part of the series crew.
The other thing forced onto the screenplay is almost to, Serlingize it. Instead of the loving newly weds of the original story we here have Beaumont(if indeed he did the adaptation himself) turning them into a typical Serling 1950's victim of the corporate rat race bickering with his wife who then turns to drink. It's hard to relate to this bitter lead couple as they basically hate each other and everybody else. It's also Serling like in that people talk and talk and talk.
So their encounters with the ship and the nice old couples aboard is supposed to transform the couple, but how any of this does that is a mystery. There are moments where the couple seems to want to get along, the actors do what they can, but the story never shows them change, they just suddenly are in love again. So, of course, the old people around them almost gain your sympathy and interest--only for the odd threatening moments.
The wife vanishes in mid sentence at one point leading to the husband running around looking for her only to have her reappear without explanation. This then is supposed to make the husband now appreciate his wife, but really, having to look for her for five minutes overcomes all? The wife has no such moment at all. Initially she is the hopeful one, this hope then gets crushed but we see no recovery.
The end of the short story is clear, if budget busting, ship exploding and sinking, in the episode it rides off into mystery and is never seen again, though you can still, I guess it may well have sank rather than get scrapped.
Like many of the hour long episodes the story is padded but in this case the padding doesn't match the rest of the piece of furniture that could be lovely.
So yes, fans of the older cast can enjoy some nice monologues they are given, but it all doesn't add up.
So I'm saying the short story works, the longer screenplay, for the most part, doesn't.
The results are these changes don't track into the story leading to an obscure mystery ending that also doesn't track back to the moments of TV drama injected into it.
For example one cliff hanger moment has a nice old lady saying. "It means we don't have to kill you." Come back from commercial and the lead couple doesn't even seem worried or curious about this comment. The comment doesn't really make sense by stories end either.
The ship interiors themselves are pretty impressive, no doubt sets from some shipboard film, maybe even the, at the time, recent Titanic film. The cabin the couple has is carefully overdecorated as a honeymoon suite might be. Also an asset is a long involved music score by Rene Garriguenc, a regular and under appreciated part of the series crew.
The other thing forced onto the screenplay is almost to, Serlingize it. Instead of the loving newly weds of the original story we here have Beaumont(if indeed he did the adaptation himself) turning them into a typical Serling 1950's victim of the corporate rat race bickering with his wife who then turns to drink. It's hard to relate to this bitter lead couple as they basically hate each other and everybody else. It's also Serling like in that people talk and talk and talk.
So their encounters with the ship and the nice old couples aboard is supposed to transform the couple, but how any of this does that is a mystery. There are moments where the couple seems to want to get along, the actors do what they can, but the story never shows them change, they just suddenly are in love again. So, of course, the old people around them almost gain your sympathy and interest--only for the odd threatening moments.
The wife vanishes in mid sentence at one point leading to the husband running around looking for her only to have her reappear without explanation. This then is supposed to make the husband now appreciate his wife, but really, having to look for her for five minutes overcomes all? The wife has no such moment at all. Initially she is the hopeful one, this hope then gets crushed but we see no recovery.
The end of the short story is clear, if budget busting, ship exploding and sinking, in the episode it rides off into mystery and is never seen again, though you can still, I guess it may well have sank rather than get scrapped.
Like many of the hour long episodes the story is padded but in this case the padding doesn't match the rest of the piece of furniture that could be lovely.
So yes, fans of the older cast can enjoy some nice monologues they are given, but it all doesn't add up.
Lesser Zone episode
J73dolphins1 March 2022
This is one of the few Zones that isn't bad, but isnt very memorable at all.
Slow moving and not very much going on.
Watch it once and move on to many many other great episodes that are much more likeable and deep. Totally mediocre at best.
Slow moving and not very much going on.
Watch it once and move on to many many other great episodes that are much more likeable and deep. Totally mediocre at best.
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