Ivan Dixon, left, and Steven Perry star in the 1960 Twilight Zone episode "The Big Tall Wish." On what is usually considered a movie night at Geoffrey's Comics in Gardena the regular comics club crew gathered Tuesday to watch a handful of "Twilight Zone" episodes.
Before I made the journey from Long Beach I was asked by a friend which episodes we would watch this evening. I said I didn't know, but any of the older Zone episodes were a can't-miss when it comes to quality, theme and sheer entertainment value.
We watched the episodes "The Big Tall Wish," "Nick of Time" and "Living Doll."
There were some fine moments in "Nick of Time" starring William Shatner, who plays a seemingly well-adjusted man who becomes obsessed with the future. And who could ever forget the creepy, classic "Living Doll" starring Telly Savalas?
There's man vs. man, man vs. nature and in "Living Doll" writer Charles Beaumont introduces us to man vs. doll.
"Hi, I'm Talking Tina and you're gonna be sorry," the doll says to Savalas.
Who loves ya, baby? Apparently not Talking Tina... baby.
My favorite episode was "The Big Tall Wish," which was the first one we watched last night. Yes, there was some heavy-handed acting and the story is pretty straightforward, but that's just me being silly because Wish is a fine example of what a good episode of "Twilight Zone" can do. A hard-luck boxer named Bolie Jackson -- played by Ivan Dixon -- gets a little magic through the wishes of a kid named Henry.
What interested me as a filmmaker is how this episode was composed with such a creative economy of shots (due to budget limitations). What impressed me as a fan of the "Twilight Zone" is how Rod Serling's science/fantasy/fiction shows never lose sight of the fact that they are about more than the plot. "The Big Tall Wish" would serve as a fine example to some of the current science fiction television creators who need a reminder of how effective sci fi can be for social commentary.
Watch "The Big Tall Wish" yourself at Veoh.
The Big Tall Wish is one of my favorites. Notable for being a Twilight Zone episode with a predominately black cast. We'd take this for granted today, but in 1960 when this episode aired, having a black cast was novel. You've got to give Rod Serling his due credit for this effort.