User Reviews

Albert Baker is trapped in a world of romantic fantasy. But his attempts to play the great lover backfire each time. Falling out with his current girlfriend, he walks home alone. In the display window of a London department store, he spots an unusually attractive dummy.

It comes to life, and smiles at him.

So smitten is Albert that he gets a job at the store as a dresser. He calls the dummy 'Eve', and in his imagination they act out every romantic situation imaginable. For the first time in his life, he is happy.

But Mr.Royal, his boss, announces his intention to replace the store's stock of dummies, meaning that Eve is bound for the furnace...

Adapted from the story 'Special Delivery' by John Collier, 'Eve' sounds like an ideal premise for a comedy, and indeed there is some amusement to be had in watching the Dennis Waterman character romancing Eve in soft focus and slow motion, but the episode also works as a study in psychology. 'Albert' goes insane because his dreams won't come true, and his madness leads him to ( accidentally ) commit murder.

When Eve comes to life, she is played by the beautiful American actress Carol Lynley, and though mostly mute manages to convey emotion using a variety of expressions and gestures. Dennis Waterman was a good five years or so away from 'The Sweeney' and a decade before 'Minder'. He is excellent as 'Albert', at times reminding one of Tom Courtenay's 'Billy Liar'. That wonderful actor Michael Gough plays 'Mr.Royal'.

One question though - how did Albert manage to get Eve away from London without attracting attention?

The premise of shop window dummies coming to life was also explored in the 'Twilight Zone' episode 'The After Hours', as well as the 'Dr.Who' classic 'Spearhead From Space'. 'Eve' is more whimsical, but no less gripping, and ends on a tragic note.

Albert Baker is a young man who has no luck with girls and works in a dead end job . One day he walks past a mannequin and it appears to come to life . Albert instantly falls in love with her

Along with Girl Of My Dreams this is the one episode of JOURNEY that has burnt itself in to my memory . There is something within the human psyche that when we see disturbs us when we see showroom dummies . They're inanimate objects composed of plastic but are human in appearance , so much so that you do have a genuine fear they will come alive something DOCTOR WHO writer Robert Holmes did with great effect with his stories about the Autons which Russell T Davies reused in the opening story of the resurrection of DOCTOR WHO in 2005

Having a pre fame Dennis Waterman playing the part of Albert does help the episode stick out in the memory but rewatching after a gap of decades you'll notice how richly written and flamboyant the characters are . We have Mr Royal who is a total sleaze and who is going out with a member of staff who is young enough to be his daughter , Mrs Kass a randy landlady and George Esmond a hippy who calls everyone " man " and " baby "

This is a very enjoyable episode of a very enjoyable show and has a enigmatic ending . Of course everyone thinks Albert is deluded but as the haunting final scene shows.... well I don't want to spoil it but it's an interesting twist even though it's unexplained . It's a supernatural show and like the best episodes of JOURNEY TO THE UNKNOWN it's supernatural in tone

Really reminded me of the hit movie 'Mannequin' as in the hero has to save the shop mannequin he's fell in love with and who comes to life only in front of the window dresser. Dennis Waterman is quite the gentle sweetheart and has such an innocence about him, even after accidentally killing his boss, and it really was an accident, you forget he went on to play such tough characters later on his career. Apparently Richard Carpenter wrote the beautiful song "Eve" (which, obviously, Karen sang with her unforgettable voice, go listen if you have never heard it) after watching this episode. Well worth watch.