The Twilight Zone: Vol. 16

Rating:
Summary: Three Excellent Episodes
Review: "The Twilight Zone" is finally restored and presented in the way it was intended to be: clear picture, digitally-remastered sound, unedited and unabridged. This particular volume is a collection of three episodes with great premises, acting jobs, and interesting endings. In "And When the Sky was Opened," astronauts returning from space find a world where they do not fit in and has no knowledge of them. It is a strange story with an equally puzzling conclusion that requires careful examination to comprehend. "In His Image" is from the fourth season and in the hour-long format. From the droopy collection of hour-long episodes, this is one of the rare, classic category which discusses the story of an inventor and his invention: a mechanical man who looks just like him. "The Last Night of a Jockey" is a unique episode in that there is only one person present in the entire half-hour. The basic plot is that an ex-champion jockey is expelled from horse-racing for illegitamate activities. What follows is a mental struggle between that man and his conscience, who appears in a mirror and offers to grant him one wish in the hope that the jockey can elevate himself from a nadir of shame, humility, and hopelessness. Any "Twilight Zone" fan should get this collection. This is one of the better volumes of the "Twilight Zone" on DVD so far and opportunities to obtain it should not be passed up.

Rating:
Summary: Three Excellent Episodes
Review: "The Twilight Zone" is finally restored and presented in the way it was intended to be: clear picture, digitally-remastered sound, unedited and unabridged. This particular volume is a collection of three episodes with great premises, acting jobs, and interesting endings. In "And When the Sky was Opened," astronauts returning from space find a world where they do not fit in and has no knowledge of them. It is a strange story with an equally puzzling conclusion that requires careful examination to comprehend. "In His Image" is from the fourth season and in the hour-long format. From the droopy collection of hour-long episodes, this is one of the rare, classic category which discusses the story of an inventor and his invention: a mechanical man who looks just like him. "The Last Night of a Jockey" is a unique episode in that there is only one person present in the entire half-hour. The basic plot is that an ex-champion jockey is expelled from horse-racing for illegitamate activities. What follows is a mental struggle between that man and his conscience, who appears in a mirror and offers to grant him one wish in the hope that the jockey can elevate himself from a nadir of shame, humility, and hopelessness. Any "Twilight Zone" fan should get this collection. This is one of the better volumes of the "Twilight Zone" on DVD so far and opportunities to obtain it should not be passed up.

Rating:
Summary: One of these shows will give you a shiver.
Review: And When the Sky Opened, is perhaps the most erie story ever done on the Twilight Zone as Rod Taylor plays an astronaut who along with two others goes into space, black out, and then return only to discover that no one remembers them and that some mysterious force is wipeing them out of existence. "Someone or something" as they put it. They don't know how or why but they are powerless to escape their fate. A very terrifying story that will send chills down your back. The other show deals with Mickey Rooney playing a horse jock who wants to be a big man, and a small voice grants his wish, only the wish brings him more misery then he could ever have guessed. Stories written by Rod Serling and Richard Matheson.

Rating:
Summary: Lives take unexpected twists in "The Twilight Zone"
Review: In Volume 16 of "The Twilight Zone" DVD series the common thread is men who discover there lives are taking bizarre twists. "And When the Sky Was Opened," written by Rod Serling and based on Richard Matheson's short story "Disappearing Act," tells of three astronauts who have just returned from their first space flight. Harrigan (Charles Aidman) calls home, is told by his parents that they have no son and then suddenly disappears. When Forbes (Rod Taylor) disappears, only Gart (James Hutton) is left from the crew--but for how long? "In His Image." an hour-long episode by Charles Beaumont based on his short story "The Man Who Made Himself," George Grizzard plays Alan Talbot, who pushes an old woman in front of a speeding train and then goes off to meet with his fiancee (Gail Kobe). But when they drive to his hometown, Alan discovers that things are not quite as he remembered them. Mickey Rooney stars in Serling's "The Last Night of a Jockey" as Grady, who has been banned from the track for horse doping. As he contemplates his ruined career, an inner voice asks him for his dearest wish. Grady knows the answer--to be BIG. After a nap, he finds out he has been given his wish. The script is certainly passable, but Rooney's tour de force performance makes this a stand out episode.

Rating:
Summary: Lives take unexpected twists in "The Twilight Zone"
Review: In Volume 16 of "The Twilight Zone" DVD series the common thread is men who discover there lives are taking bizarre twists. "And When the Sky Was Opened," written by Rod Serling and based on Richard Matheson's short story "Disappearing Act," tells of three astronauts who have just returned from their first space flight. Harrigan (Charles Aidman) calls home, is told by his parents that they have no son and then suddenly disappears. When Forbes (Rod Taylor) disappears, only Gart (James Hutton) is left from the crew--but for how long? "In His Image." an hour-long episode by Charles Beaumont based on his short story "The Man Who Made Himself," George Grizzard plays Alan Talbot, who pushes an old woman in front of a speeding train and then goes off to meet with his fiancee (Gail Kobe). But when they drive to his hometown, Alan discovers that things are not quite as he remembered them. Mickey Rooney stars in Serling's "The Last Night of a Jockey" as Grady, who has been banned from the track for horse doping. As he contemplates his ruined career, an inner voice asks him for his dearest wish. Grady knows the answer--to be BIG. After a nap, he finds out he has been given his wish. The script is certainly passable, but Rooney's tour de force performance makes this a stand out episode.

Rating:
Summary: Lives take unexpected twists in "The Twilight Zone"
Review: In Volume 16 of "The Twilight Zone" DVD series the common thread is men who discover there lives are taking bizarre twists. "And When the Sky Was Opened," written by Rod Serling and based on Richard Matheson's short story "Disappearing Act," tells of three astronauts who have just returned from their first space flight. Harrigan (Charles Aidman) calls home, is told by his parents that they have no son and then suddenly disappears. When Forbes (Rod Taylor) disappears, only Gart (James Hutton) is left from the crew--but for how long? "In His Image." an hour-long episode by Charles Beaumont based on his short story "The Man Who Made Himself," George Grizzard plays Alan Talbot, who pushes an old woman in front of a speeding train and then goes off to meet with his fiancee (Gail Kobe). But when they drive to his hometown, Alan discovers that things are not quite as he remembered them. Mickey Rooney stars in Serling's "The Last Night of a Jockey" as Grady, who has been banned from the track for horse doping. As he contemplates his ruined career, an inner voice asks him for his dearest wish. Grady knows the answer--to be BIG. After a nap, he finds out he has been given his wish. The script is certainly passable, but Rooney's tour de force performance makes this a stand out episode.

Rating:
Summary: AND WHEN THE SKY WAS OPENED
Review: Volume 16 contains AND WHEN THE SKY WAS OPENED, IN HIS IMAGE and THE LAST NIGHT OF A JOCKEY. Rod Taylor, Charles Aidman and Jim Hutton turn in excellent performances in AND WHEN THE SKY WAS OPENED. IN HIS IMAGE is one of the best hour-long episodes from the 4th season starring George Grizzard. Mickey Rooney gets what he asks for in THE LAST NIGHT OF A JOCKEY. When purchasing a DVD on any of the "Twilight Zone" episodes, I think it is safe to say that in the majority of cases the buyer knows those stories by heart. The main concern is one of quality. How does the picture measure up? In this case I have never seen better transfers. The images are excellent. They are sharp, clear and maintain consistent contrast. The laserdisc versions had a problem with black & white contrast. That problem has now been corrected.