1x04 "The 16mm Pinky Ring"

This week, host Craig digs up the dirt Hollywood Confidential-style on two booze-soaked Twilight Zone classics, “The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine” and “A World of Difference,” episodes featuring real-life spouses Ida Lupino and Howard Duff. Keep an ear out for an earnest exploration of the historical significance of the pinky ring, not to mention the thrilling return of Dr. Reba Wissner. And speaking of spouses, Teresa pipes in with her usual wifely crunchiness. There’s a pretty heavy film noir vibe going on up in here, so tread lightly and trust no one. 

https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/journals/journal-of-film-music/

https://www.amazon.com/Partners-suspense-Critical-Herrmann-Hitchcock/dp/0719095867

Opening theme: “Neither Here nor There” by Twin Loops
Closing music: “Hooray for Hollywood” by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (from the film Hollywood Hotel, copyright 1937 by Warner Bros.)

“Smokey Sax” by Hollywood Trailer Music Orchestra (from the album Film Noir: Vintage Cinema Classics, copyright 2015 by Megatrax Music)

“Le Freak” by Chic (from the album C’est Chic, copyright 1978 by Atlantic Recording Corporation)

Between Light and a Shadow: A Twilight Zone Podcast is a nonprofit podcast. Music clips and dialogue excerpts used herein are the property of their respective copyright owners; we claim no ownership of these materials. Their use is strictly for illustrative purposes and should be considered Fair Use as stated in the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. section 107. 

Afterthoughts ("The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine")

If I had to guess, I'd say I haven't watched "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" in at least 10 years, probably closer to 15. However, I watched the entire series several times over throughout my teenage years, so my memories of most of the episodes are still pretty strong.* My 50th anniversary viewing hasn't changed my opinion of it: it's a damned good episode, perhaps falling just short of actual greatness (the kind of greatness I would attribute to episodes such as "Long Live Walter Jameson" or "Death Ship").

It should be noted that writer (and series creator) Rod Serling didn't care much for the finished episode. In fact, in a letter to Raymond Frye (whoever that is/was) a few weeks after the episode's premiere, Serling stated that he "disliked" the episode "intensely." I'm gonna have to disagree with the master on this one.

The parallels to Sunset Boulevard are a bit obvious but never distracting. The performances are top notch (I'm a fan of both the leads, Ida Lupino and Martin Balsam), and the script has that Serling bite that we all know and love. The cinematography is excellent (the projection room scenes, with the cigarette smoke mingling with the flickering glow of the projector, are pure noir beauty). The ending is happy, but with that Zone twist.

Final score: 8.5 out of 10. I don't know why Serling hated it so much.



* There are always exceptions, of course. Case in point: "Ring-A-Ding Girl," from the series' fifth season. I know I've seen it, but I have no memory of it except for a couple of fleeting images. It'll have to wait a few more years: I won't be watching it till 12/27/2013.

TZ Promo: "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" (10/23/1959)

"Picture of a woman looking at a picture..."

Tonight marks the 50th anniversary of the 4th Twilight Zone episode ever broadcast: "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine," starring Ida Lupino and Martin Balsam. Written by Rod Serling and directed by Mitchell Leisen, the episode evokes the William Holden/Gloria Swanson classic Sunset Boulevard in its themes and sentiments (coincidentally or not, Franz Waxman composed the music for both). The episode examines the dangers of over-romanticizing the past at the expense of the present, a theme that Serling would return to repeatedly in future Zone scripts (most notable "Walking Distance," which is coming up next week).

Interesting historical notes regarding Ms. Lupino: She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (one for TV, one for film). And, aside from her impressive acting career (which included several key noir films in the 40's and 50's), she was also an accomplished director. In fact, she directed a fifth season TZ episode entitled "The Masks," which we won't get to until... March 2014!