Season 4, Episode 12
(#114 overall)
Cayuga Production
#4860
Originally aired
March 21, 1963
50 years ago tonight, another
genie visited The Twilight Zone, this
time only offering one wish instead of the customary three. I dunno, maybe
times were tough (I imagine this would happen today too, with all the
sequestering and whatnot going on).
John Furia Jr.’s “I Dream of
Genie” introduces us to George P. Hanley, another of The Twilight Zone’s spineless doormat types (on the ObnoxioMeter ™,
I’d probably place him somewhere between Roger Shackleforth and Henry Bemis; at least he’s nowhere
near James B.W. Bevis levels of noxiousness).
Here’s “I Dream of Genie” in a
nutshell (spoiler alert, if you care):
guy inadvertently buys a lamp, which houses a modernized genie who only
offers him one wish. Guy spends the next
hour imagining different wishes and their resultant consequences. Guy can’t make up his mind. Guy finally decides to take over the genie
job himself, restores all the classic Middle Eastern flair associated with
genies in lamps, and starts dolling out the customary three wishes per
customer.
“I Dream of Genie” tries to be
light and charming, and there is a certain Walter
Mittyesque quality therein as George entertains elaborate fantasies in the
form of dream sequences, but unfortunately there’s just not enough actual
content here to fill an hour, so it gets tedious pretty fast. It doesn't help
that TZ has already done this basic
story (season two’s “The Man in the Bottle,” which also featured a genie in modern attire), so
there’s nothing new or original here (except the ending, which I’ll admit is a
well-played surprise).
One bright spot is the fact that
George’s pet dog, Attila, changes from fantasy to fantasy (all told, four
different breeds play the various versions of the pooch). I’m a dog lover, so naturally I was tickled. And I can’t deny that I enjoy the scene early
in act two in which George mulls over possible new vocations before the actual
dream sequences kick in (scientist, army general, etc).
However, these elements wouldn't be enough to sustain a half hour format, much less this season’s double length
requirement. Sad to report, “I Dream of
Genie” is probably my least favorite episode of the entire fourth season. There’s just nothing here to hold my interest,
man. Nothing, that is, except…
We last saw Jack Albertson in season three’s “The Shelter.” It’s hard not to picture him surrounded by Oompa Loompas in 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (in which he played Charlie’s beloved grandfather); however, he’s probably best remembered for his Emmy-winning role as “The Man” himself from TV’s Chico and the Man.
Other TZ alumni on display here include Loring Smith, who previously appeared in season two’s “The Whole Truth” as politician “Honest” Luther Grimbley. We also get another dose of James Millhollin, who delighted us in season one’s “The After Hours” and season two’s “Mr. Dingle, the Strong.” Less delightful (and more head-scratchingly bizarre) was his choice to appear as Willoughby (!) the llama in the “Great Vegetable Rebellion” episode of TV’s Lost in Space.
George P. Hanley is played by Howard Morris in his only TZ appearance. He’s probably best
remembered as Ernest T. Bass on TV’s The
Andy Griffith Show, but you've probably heard his voice in numerous
television cartoon series, including The
Flintstones, The Jetsons, Magilla Gorilla and, more recently, Cow and Chicken on Cartoon Network. He was also the original voice of McDonald’s
Hamburglar!
I got yer Robble Robble right here, Andy!
I cannot for the life of me
fathom why this episode was endowed with an original score, while worthy season
four episodes like “In His Image” and “Death Ship” got the recycled library
music treatment (imagine Bernard Herrmann tackling either of those!). If it’s
any consolation (it’s unfortunately not), Fred Steiner’s work is serviceable enough…
but instantly forgettable.
“I Dream of Genie” strives to be a
light comedy with supernatural overtones, but it wears out its welcome long
before the hour is up. And even if it didn't, if it somehow managed
to hold our attention till the silly end… well, The Twilight Zone has done this story before, rendering this effort
completely superfluous. File it under “U”
for Unnecessary and hey, while
you’re at it, take next week off.
In two weeks:
Sorry to WAX rhapsodic, but Martin Balsam
just plain KILLS in his return to The Twilight Zone.
Seriously, he SLAYS ‘em.
1 comment:
I suppose I was prejudiced against this episode before I ever saw it, since I had heard it was a rather poor effort. But man, now that I've finally watched it; surprise, I really didn't care for it at all. Thought it was a total bore, and it didn't amuse me in the least. I don't even care enough about it to snark---can't think of anything else to say...
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