The Lonely was the initial episode to go before the camera in TZ's first season. It is engaging, sad, emotional and complex in its story development. Like so many other episodes of this series, The Lonely seems pretty basic as we start to watch it, but there is much more here than what first meets the eye.
A convicted murderer (Jack Warden) is sentenced to a fifty year term of solitary confinement on a distant asteroid---interrupted only by supply ship visits every three months. The supply chief (John Dehner), out of empathy for the prisoner and his life of brutal human isolation, leaves him with a female humanoid robot (Jean Marsh) to help him pass the time. Whether due to his extreme loneliness or the very human-like warmth exhibited toward him by the robot, the prisoner falls deeply in love with it/her. During a subsequent supply visit, the chief advises the prisoner that his sentence has been reduced by a pardon, and he can now be brought home to Earth along with only 15 pounds of personal belongings. Because of their now deep emotional relationship, the prisoner insists on taking the robot (named Alicia) back to Earth with him--- but logistically this is quite impossible. The chief resolves the dilemma by re-establishing the fact that the robot is not a human being. As they are about to leave the asteroid, the chief reminds the prisoner that in giving up the robot, all he is leaving behind is his loneliness. The prisoner's response to the chief's observation is "I must remember that. I must remember to keep that in mind." Fade out.
Once more we encounter a tale that involves a non-human entity with strong human-like attributes as an essential part of the story's basic narrative--much like what was done in Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Walt Disney's Pinocchio. Rod Serling himself revisited a similar plot element in another well-remembered episode from the first season--The After Hours (6/10/60).
To simulate a locale that would also appear "other worldly," TZ began to film this episode in Death Valley---the first of a few others from the series that chose this site for a similar reason. After two days of extremely difficult shooting, the project was aborted and then moved back to the more comfortable confines of MGM's Hollywood studio. As is well known, Erich von Stroheim's silent classic Greed also extensively used Death Valley in that film's celebrated climax. What else on Earth looks like no place on Earth?
In addition to Serling, The Lonely was fortunate to also be able to utilize a truly remarkable company of outstanding creative artists. Jack Warden, the gifted veteran character actor, had a very impressive list of screen credits, including Heaven Can Wait (nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar), While You Were Sleeping (an early success for co-star Sandra Bullock) and Bye Bye Braverman (a little known but delightful comedy directed by Sidney Lumet). The lovely 25 year old Jean Marsh went on to fame and acclaim in Masterpiece Theatre's Upstairs, Downstairs. Bernard Herrmann's musical score was a fine accomplishment by one of the greatest composers to have ever worked in the film medium. And director Jack Smight went on to helm Harper, No Way to Treat a Lady, The Illustrated Man and Midway.
The Lonely is yet another reason why TZ's first season is considered to be one of the most fondly recalled achievements in the entire history of television's Golden Age.
A convicted murderer (Jack Warden) is sentenced to a fifty year term of solitary confinement on a distant asteroid---interrupted only by supply ship visits every three months. The supply chief (John Dehner), out of empathy for the prisoner and his life of brutal human isolation, leaves him with a female humanoid robot (Jean Marsh) to help him pass the time. Whether due to his extreme loneliness or the very human-like warmth exhibited toward him by the robot, the prisoner falls deeply in love with it/her. During a subsequent supply visit, the chief advises the prisoner that his sentence has been reduced by a pardon, and he can now be brought home to Earth along with only 15 pounds of personal belongings. Because of their now deep emotional relationship, the prisoner insists on taking the robot (named Alicia) back to Earth with him--- but logistically this is quite impossible. The chief resolves the dilemma by re-establishing the fact that the robot is not a human being. As they are about to leave the asteroid, the chief reminds the prisoner that in giving up the robot, all he is leaving behind is his loneliness. The prisoner's response to the chief's observation is "I must remember that. I must remember to keep that in mind." Fade out.
Once more we encounter a tale that involves a non-human entity with strong human-like attributes as an essential part of the story's basic narrative--much like what was done in Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Walt Disney's Pinocchio. Rod Serling himself revisited a similar plot element in another well-remembered episode from the first season--The After Hours (6/10/60).
To simulate a locale that would also appear "other worldly," TZ began to film this episode in Death Valley---the first of a few others from the series that chose this site for a similar reason. After two days of extremely difficult shooting, the project was aborted and then moved back to the more comfortable confines of MGM's Hollywood studio. As is well known, Erich von Stroheim's silent classic Greed also extensively used Death Valley in that film's celebrated climax. What else on Earth looks like no place on Earth?
In addition to Serling, The Lonely was fortunate to also be able to utilize a truly remarkable company of outstanding creative artists. Jack Warden, the gifted veteran character actor, had a very impressive list of screen credits, including Heaven Can Wait (nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar), While You Were Sleeping (an early success for co-star Sandra Bullock) and Bye Bye Braverman (a little known but delightful comedy directed by Sidney Lumet). The lovely 25 year old Jean Marsh went on to fame and acclaim in Masterpiece Theatre's Upstairs, Downstairs. Bernard Herrmann's musical score was a fine accomplishment by one of the greatest composers to have ever worked in the film medium. And director Jack Smight went on to helm Harper, No Way to Treat a Lady, The Illustrated Man and Midway.
The Lonely is yet another reason why TZ's first season is considered to be one of the most fondly recalled achievements in the entire history of television's Golden Age.