After watching Nightmare Cinema, I got the idea to, at some point, discuss Dead of Night, a 1945 film I read about in All-Time Favorite Movies, one of the dollar-bin books that made me a movie buff when I saw them lying around the house when I was 10 (the other being All-Time Favorite Movie Stars from the same publisher). I wound up getting to watch it on AMC not long afterwards and loved it.
Sadly, the movie seems to have been forgotten, though. There was finally a Blu Ray released last month, ironically, but at the time I wanted to watch it earlier this summer all it had had was an out-of-print bargain basement DVD from 2003. It’s also not available to stream anywhere.
In the process of discovering that I did find about about this 1977 TV movie that is unrelated but has the same name and is also a horror anthology. It became a prime candidate for my Twilight Zone series of posts.
I mentioned that all three of the films I will complement my reviews of three-episode Twilight Zone blocks with have, not coincidentally, three segments themselves. Let’s delve into this film’s three:
“Second Chance”: This stars Ed Begley, Jr., whom some of you might know as the son of the old racist guy in 12 Angry Men, some of you might know for his role on the classic TV series St. Elsewhere, which got him six Emmy nominations*, some of you might know because he’s such a noted environmentalist**, and some of you might know because he’s guest-starred on everything from M*A*S*H to Charlie’s Angels to Batman: The Animated Series to Roseanne to The Drew Carey Show to Veronica Mars to Hannah Montana to Monk***…geez when this guy dies other strapping blonde actors will probably celebrate that they finally get chances to guest-star on TV shows!
Anyway, at this time he was just a young actor making a name for himself and he played a car aficionado who buys an antique from 50 years in the past. He drives the car once….and he actually is back in 1926. The production design is incredible for a TV movie; the costumes and soundtrack really help sell the idea of the time travel too. As far as what happens when he is in the past, to say anymore would spoil this short story.
I will comment on its quality, though. It’s a really charming tale. In recent years becoming increasingly sensitive to America’s racist past has gotten me a bit more weary of getting swept us in the nostalgia of its yesteryears. Still, traveling back to this small town in that era was a fun journey. Also, that whole spirit of warmth, joy, and love just permeated the entire story.
That’s pretty much all I can say. Watch it!
“No Such Thing as a Vampire”: While the previous episode felt like a rare heartwarming Twilight Zone, this feels like prototypical Night Gallery. It’s got all the ingredients: a gothic location, a shady main character, a suffering spouse, a mystery, and a dose of the supernatural.
It’s the type of story that the ending can make or break but even though the ending its good I also liked the acting, writing, and direction throughout. Thumbs up.
“Bobby”: A mom grieving for her little boy who died desperately wishes for him back. He comes back, but what was the real tragedy? I want to say more but really would like my readers to experience it for themselves. I’ll simply tell you that this film’s final shot left me terrified in a way nothing has since this movie.
Bottom line: Second Chance – 85/100, No Such Thing As A Vampire – 76/100, Bobby – 100/100
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment.
*He’s gotten other nominations too but never gotten a single solo statuette anywhere. Poor guy.
**I sometimes go on Full Moon Hikes organized by a nonprofit called Tree People here in Los Angeles. One time I met an employee named Amanda Begley – apparently his daughter!
***to Modern Family to Better Call Saul to The Office to Scrubs to The Smurfs to The Love Boat… honestly I just scratched the surface. Ed Begley Jr. is probably the most prolific TV guest star in history. I’d be remiss if I didn’t’ specifically mention his hilarious recurring role as alopecia areata sufferer Stan Sitwell on Arrested Development though.
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