Two government scientists, William Sturka (Fritz Weaver, "Marathon Man") and Jerry Riden (Joe Maross, "Run Silent, Run Deep"), know that world apocalypse is imminent. But they mean to do something about it. They intend to steal a spacecraft and take it to a distant star which they believe has the potential to sustain life. Standing in their way is a smarmy stooge, played by another top character actor, Edward Andrews ("Elmer Gantry").
Touching upon the fears of the time, with the Cold War and nuclear holocaust very much on peoples' minds, this decent episode really hits home when portraying the nervousness of our central characters. Director Richard L. Bare ("This Rebel Breed") enlivens the proceedings with some occasional ingenious camera placement as well as usage of Dutch angles. Sturka, his family, Riden, and his wife are definite all-American types, allowing an average viewer to be able to identify with them.
Overall, this episode is mostly talk, but it's generally interesting and entertaining, and the three principal actors, Weaver, Maross, and Andrews are all very good. Adding solid support are the appealing Denise Alexander ("Crime in the Streets") as Sturkas' daughter, Lori March ('Three Steps to Heaven') as his wife, and Jeanne Evans ("The She-Creature"), to whom director Bare was married at the time, as Ridens' spouse.
Now, some people may be able to predict the standard 'Twilight Zone' big reveal at the end, but for this viewer it definitely helped seal the deal. It drove home the point that for many peoples, certain ideas and fears could be indeed universal.
Scripted by Mr. Serling, based on a short story by Richard Matheson.
Seven out of 10.
Touching upon the fears of the time, with the Cold War and nuclear holocaust very much on peoples' minds, this decent episode really hits home when portraying the nervousness of our central characters. Director Richard L. Bare ("This Rebel Breed") enlivens the proceedings with some occasional ingenious camera placement as well as usage of Dutch angles. Sturka, his family, Riden, and his wife are definite all-American types, allowing an average viewer to be able to identify with them.
Overall, this episode is mostly talk, but it's generally interesting and entertaining, and the three principal actors, Weaver, Maross, and Andrews are all very good. Adding solid support are the appealing Denise Alexander ("Crime in the Streets") as Sturkas' daughter, Lori March ('Three Steps to Heaven') as his wife, and Jeanne Evans ("The She-Creature"), to whom director Bare was married at the time, as Ridens' spouse.
Now, some people may be able to predict the standard 'Twilight Zone' big reveal at the end, but for this viewer it definitely helped seal the deal. It drove home the point that for many peoples, certain ideas and fears could be indeed universal.
Scripted by Mr. Serling, based on a short story by Richard Matheson.
Seven out of 10.