For years we all tuned in to hear these words, spoken in the raspy voice of the man responsible for bringing this series to our world: There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call "The Twilight Zone".
With those few words put together, a new catch phrase was introduced to the world: the Twilight Zone. When people talk about being zoned out or of someone seems to be lacking in attention, we still ask if they’re in the twilight zone. And it all started with a TV series.
Writer Rod Serling was already a celebrated scriptwriter when the series began in 1959. But his name would forever be linked to the odd anthology series that found him on screen each week, introducing what would be the next eerie or mysterious tale being told. His voice is one that fans and non-fans alike connect to the show. And while he went on to do other things, TWILIGHT ZONE is what he will forever be remembered for.
So why discuss TWILIGHT ZONE now? Image has just released the definitive version of the show. The entire first season of the series is now available on blu-ray disc. The images that were just a bit fuzzy when we viewed them so long ago are now visually pristine, shades of black and white so clear as to make them look as if it’s the first time you’re watching the show. Not only that, they’ve included a number of goodies for fans of Serling and the series alike including interviews with Rod Serling that were done later.
Going back and watching these episodes I was amazed at the quality of storytelling that was going on. And I think that was the secret to the series. It wasn’t based around cardboard characters that we witnessed in similar situations each week. It was an anthology series with different actors and most importantly different stories. And perhaps the telling thing about the show was that each week an entire story was told in less than 30 minutes. Even with a 60 minute show these days (minus time for commercials) writers for the most part can’t get that done. Instead we’re given plenty of car chases and fight scenes. TWILIGHT ZONE relied on none of these.
Everyone has a favorite episode and all of them from the first season are offered here. Two of my favorites are included. “Time Enough At Last” in which a bookworm played by Burgess Meredith finds himself the lone survivor after the world has been destroyed, now with enough time to himself to read everything he ever wanted to. But nothing is normal in the Twilight Zone. The second is “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” where we witness the slow dissolve of trust between friends and neighbors who suspect that one of them, or perhaps more, are actually aliens. Again, that twist at the end makes the story even more surprising.
It would be easy to sit back and wait for the shows to appear on TV once again. SyFy network seems to run marathons each three day holiday weekend. But with the release of this new blu-ray set you don’t have to. You can sit back and watch them at your leisure, viewing your favorites.
Extras just on this edition include the unofficial pilot hosted by Desi Arnaz, a “Tales of Tomorrow” episode, syndication promos, isolated musical scores, 18 radio dramas, interviews with stars of the episodes and audio commentaries. Other extras include the afore mentioned audio interviews with Rod Serling done at Sherwood Oaks College, the unaired pilot version of “Where Is Everybody?” with the pitch to the studio by Serling and footage of the Emmy Award wins for the show.
Fans will definitely want to add this set to their collection. For others it’s a great way to jump on and become familiar with one of the best written shows ever to air on TV. And still for many it will be the first time they’ve ever seen the show, which is sad, because to date they’ve missed what will forever be one of the best. And this is perhaps the best way to see it, offered with one of the best collections of extras available on any DVD set.
If “Twilight Zone” is a part of your vocabulary, then you need to add this to your collection. If its not, you need to visit this land between sight and sound, between science and superstition, a dimension of imagination known as…the Twilight Zone.
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