![]() ![]() Dingle, the Strong," in which he plays a similar type of unfortunate character that is the beneficiary/victim of extraordinary powers. So much so that his performance in this episode undoubtedly secured his later appearance in "Mr. In "Time Enough at Last," he is memorable as the incredibly weak and unfortunate Henry Bemis, and he plays this type of role extraordinarily well. ![]() It can be argued that season two's "The Obsolete Man" is Meredith's best performance for the series, though he never turned in a bad one. These broad characters and the broad performances from the principal actors give the episode the feeling of a standard late 1950s situational comedy, something that is reinforced by the light flourishes from the music of Leith Stevens.īurgess Meredith appeared in a total of four episodes and "Time Enough at Last" is his best known performance from the series. A lesser actor than Burgess Meredith may have fumbled the role but Meredith lifts it up beyond its basic value on the page, adding idiosyncratic touches such as a stutter of speech. Even Henry is a cartoon character, more a type than a distinct personality. Every character in the show is a cartoon character and performed in an over-the-top manner, from Henry's bully of a wife ("Heeennnnrryyyy") to his overbearing boss. It has found an enduring place among fans of the show because it is painted in broad strokes. #TWILIGHT ZONE INTRO SCRIPT SERIES#It does signal that Rod Serling, and the other series writers, were going to approach serious social issues, such as the Cold War, even in the context of a humorous episode like "Time Enough at Last." The episode sticks in the memory due to the cleverness of its plot, it's unforgettable twist ending, and the memorable performance of Twilight Zone regular Burgess Meredith.ĭespite lacking in areas of complexity and psychological depth which distinguished many of the other classic episodes of the series, "Time Enough at Last" is an effective bit of tragedy with moments of real pathos, but perhaps an episode too reliant upon its cruel twist ending. It is a solid, entertaining, and certainly enduring episode but was not a sign of the type of seriousness of intent the series would achieve with the later masterpieces from the second and third seasons, despite the fact that it broaches the very serious issue of nuclear war. "Time Enough at Last" is, without question, one the most fondly remembered episodes in the show's entire run. Time goes by and, though he knows he won't starve, Bemis contemplates suicide as an escape from the unbearable lonliness of his situation. Bemis is, as far as he can tell, the last man alive. He panics, terrified of being the last man on Earth, and runs through the rubble of what was his hometown calling out for somebody, anybody. Stumbling through this wasteland, Bemis finds a newspaper prophesizing the event and realizes what has happened. ![]() Find them and putting them on, he finds the world around him in shambles. Emerging from the bank vault, shaken, Bemis, at first, cannot see anything, for he is blind without his glasses. One day, when Bemis is in the vault, reading, he sees the glass on his watch face break and then feels the ground and walls shake terribly, knocking his glasses from his face. On his lunch break, he takes his bagged lunch down into the bank vault where he closes himself inside to sit, eat, and read his book in the solitude and quiet. She then places them back where Bemis last left them in order to gloat when her husband comes along and finds the nasty surprise.Īt work, Bemis has devised a curious habit that allows him some time to read in the middle of his day. ![]() She is a sadistic, over-bearing woman who resorts to finding the books that Bemis has hidden in their home and proceeding to gratuitously mark over the text in black ink on each page. At home, his wife refuses to give him a moment of peace for reading or, frankly, anything else she doesn't deem fit for her husband to do. He attempts to read at his job and winds up neglecting customers and making mistakes, bringing his reading habit to the unwanted attention of the bank manager. Bank teller Henry Bemis is a bookish, middle-aged man who can never find time during his day to do what he loves: read. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |