George Clemens Movies

When businessman Oliver Pope (Edward Andrews) strikes down a young bicyclist with his car, he panics and races home, leaving the boy to die of his injuries. Upon learning of the boy's death, Oliver remains silent, even allowing his business rival Pete Radcliffe (Kevin Hagen) to take the rap for the hit-and-run accident. But though Pope doesn't seem to be burdened with a conscious, the same cannot be said for his automobile. One of several Twilight Zones scripted by Waltons maven Earl Hamner, Jr., "You Drive" first aired January 3, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Don Gordon stars as Salvatore Ross, a repulsively arrogant young man who thinks that the world owes him a living. When he is rejected by virtuous social worker Leah Maitland (Gail Kobe), Ross vows to improve himself, and to do that he harnesses his newly-found ability to acquire the physical and personal traits of other people. But Ross miscalculates when he tries out his special skills on Leah's saintly father (Vaughn Taylor). The supporting cast of this Twilight Zone entry ran the age gamut from 20-something Seymour Cassel to septuagenarian Douglas Dumbrille. Scripted by Jerry McNeeley (of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. fame) from a story by Henry Slesar, "The Self-Improvement of Salvatore Ross" made its network bow on January 17, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Written by Bernard Schoenfeld, this moderately amusing Twilight Zone outing stars Wally Cox as nerdish computer technician James Elwood. Falling in love with secretary Millie (Sue Randall aka "Miss Landers" on Leave It to Beaver), Elwood begins receiving romantic advice from a most unlikely source -- his own giant computer "Agnes." Unfortunately, it turns out that Agnes has an agenda of her own. According to some reports, "From Agnes with Love" was intended as a pilot for a Wally Cox TV series; whatever the case, it first aired February 14, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

On the eve of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, dying millionaire Jason Foster (Robert Keith) summons his greedy relatives to his mansion. In a faint but firm voice, Foster informs his niece Emily (Virginia Gregg), nephew-in-law Wilfred (Milton Selzer), and Emily and Wilfred's despicable offspring Wilfred, Jr. (Alan Sues) and Paula (Brooke Hayward), that -- despite his hatred of them -- he intends to leave them his entire fortune. But there's a condition -- all four relatives must don grotesque masks which reflect their true natures -- and they are forbidden to remove those masks until the stroke of midnight. This memorable Twilight Zone episode was directed by Ida Lupino, who had starred in the first-season Twilight Zone entry "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine." Written by Rod Serling, "The Masks" originally aired on March 20, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hate hangs heavy in the air in the small midwestern town where accused murderer Jagger (Terry Becker) is sentenced to hang at sunrise. But there's a slight hitch in these plans -- though it is already mid-afternoon, the sun has failed to rise. Written by Rod Serling, this heavy-handed Twilight Zone episode may be the first filmed TV drama to make reference to the recent Kennedy assassination. Michael Constantine, Ivan Dixon, and George Lindsey ("Goober" on The Andy Griffith Show) are among the participants in "I Am the Night - Color Me Black," which made its network debut on March 27, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

One of three fifth-season Twilight Zone episodes written by Martin M. Goldsmith, "The Encounter" begins as WWII veteran Fenton (Neville Brand), a dyed-in-the-wool racial bigot, reluctantly hires Nisei youth Taro (George Takei) as a handyman. In the course of an extremely eventful day, both men are strangely affected by the Japanese samurai sword which Fenton keeps stored in his attic. Reportedly, this episode incurred the wrath of several Japanese-American organizations, which objected to certain aspects of George Takei's character. It is quite possible that this is the reason that "The Encounter" was removed from circulation after its one-and-only telecast on May 1, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A jaunty harmonica-music score by Tommy Morgan was the main redeeming feature of this otherwise pedestrian Twilight Zone episode. John Dehner stars as Jared Garrity, a frontier con artist who convinces the citizens of a sleepy western town that he possesses the ability to bring the dead back to life. After a few examples of his power, the townsfolk are convinced -- and are willing to pay through the nose to make sure that certain people remain dead. An amusing but predictable twist caps this episode, which was scripted by Rod Serling from a short story by Mike Korologos and first aired May 8, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rod Serling scripted this minimalist Twilight Zone episode from an idea by veteran vaudeville comedian Lou Holtz. Elderly Harmon Gordon (Patrick O'Neal) lives a life of "quiet desperation," knowing full well that his sexy young wife Flora (Ruta Lee) merely married him for his money. Desperate to win Flora's true affections, Harmon prevails upon his doctor brother Raymond (Walter Brooke) to give him an experimental youth potion. The formula works -- all too well. Thanks to a legal entanglement, "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain" was removed from the Twilight Zone syndication package; the episode was aired but once, on December 13, 1963, then remained in mothballs until it was revived for a two-hour Twilight Zone anniversary special in 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When Alan Talbot (George Grizzard) returns to his home town after a week's absence, he finds that there have been a few significant changes, chief among them the fact that a stranger is living in his house. At a loss to explain this and other curiosities to his fiancée Jessica Connelly (Gail Kobe), Alan determines to get to the bottom of things. Meanwhile, the viewers would like a few answers of their own -- namely, why did Alan murder a harmless old woman before the first commercial? Scripted by Charles Beaumont from his own short story, "In His Image" was the first of Twilight Zone's 60-minute episodes, and it originally aired January 3, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The leader of a ragtag American neo-Nazi organization, Peter Vollmer (Dennis Hopper) is unable to attract many followers beyond his own buddies. Despairing, Peter is willing to accept advice from anyone -- even the mysterious, German-accented stranger (Curt Conway) who has seemingly emerged from nowhere. The payoff of this Rod Serling-scripted Twilight Zone episode is obvious from the get-go; the only true "mystery" is the fact that fascistic Peter Vollmer regards as his best friend a Jewish concentration-camp survivor (Ludwig Donath). Future director Paul Mazursky appears as one of the brown-shirted hooligans. Despite its many structural flaws and lapses of logic, "He's Alive" was powerful enough to elicit strong audience response (both pro and con) when it was first telecast January 24, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

First telecast April 4, 1963, this grim 60-minute Twilight Zone installment would seem to be more suited to Alfred Hitchcock Presents or Thriller. Martin Balsam stars as Martin Senescu, curator of a "chamber of horrors" wax museum. Upon learning that the museum is to be demolished, Martin takes his favorite wax statues -- those of Jack the Ripper, Henri "Bluebeard" Landru, and ax murderer Albert W. Hicks -- to his home, much to the dismay of his wife Emma (Maggie Mahoney). Not long afterward, two brutal murders take place -- and the evidence leads Martin to conclude that the culprits were his beloved wax figures. Though credited to Charles Beaumont, "The New Exhibit" was actually scripted by longtime Beaumont collaborator Jerry Sohl. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Former streetcar conductor Julius Moomer (Jack Weston) aspires to be a highly paid TV writer, but he is handicapped by a severe talent deficiency. Julius' fortunes take a sudden upswing when, practicing a bit of black magic in his tiny apartment, he conjures up the ghost of William Shakespeare (John Williams). Unfortunately, not even Shakespeare's brilliance is any match for the formidability of bullheaded TV sponsors and network censors. A young Burt Reynolds steals the show as Brandoesque actor Rocky Rhodes, while star Jack Weston's wife Marge Redmond appears in a supporting role. Written by Rod Serling, "The Bard" was the last of the hour-long Twilight Zone episodes to be telecast; it first aired May 23, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Thirty years after leaving Earth, a group of space colonists live a spartan existence on a desolate asteroid. All that keeps these castaways together is the charismatic leadership of Captain William Benteen (James Whitmore), an archetypal "benevolent despot." When a rescue ship arrives to transport the colonists back to Earth, everyone rejoices -- everyone but Benteen, who is unwilling to relinquish his self-anointed authority. Written by Rod Serling, "On Thursday We Leave for Home" was the last of the 60-minute Twilight Zone episodes, though not the last one to be telecast. The episode made its network debut on May 2, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi