An elderly cripple is terrified of night calls from an ominous voice and demands answers as to who it is. What is truly unsettling is who/where the calls derive from.
It's not surprising that one of Twlight Zone's superior tales comes from the pen of Richard Matheson and is directed by the great Jacques Tourneur. Gladys Cooper is ideally cast as an incredibly worried and fussy old woman, wheel-chair bound and, without visits from her hired help, Margaret(Nora Marlowe, portraying the loyal every-woman who tries to reason with her burdensome employer), rather lonely and melancholy..she has no one and, through the incredible direction, we feel her terror at night when that moaning caller desires communication. She's on the bed, and who awaits across the line? The level of spookiness and the dread that slowly builds is a credit to a talented crew of experts in their field. The finale, our answer to who it is that frightens Elva Keene, adds icing on the cake, carefully and richly executed to deliver chills down your spine. The reaction of Cooper(..she deserves equal credit with the greats involved in this terrific episode)is perfect;her horror truthfully realized. Yet, it doesn't stop there and the story follows Elva, whose past mistakes still haunt her, as she confronts that caller, ending rather sadly for her. It's the idea of "missed opportunities" which close this story and Elva, through her dismissal of the unknown voice which beckons her, loses a chance at getting a peace which has eluded her. The story really is gripping thanks to the mystery at the heart of it, and Matheson's work provides director Tourneur with the perfect kind of tale to display his gifts using night and shadow as a device to blanket poor Elva. Bathed in darkness on her bed, Cooper's scared eyes reveal a terror explicitly conveyed by Tourneur's intrusive camera. The telephone itself is also heavily focused on..it's a symbol for which haunts Elva, not knowing when it will ring and what will be said across the line. This episode, as short and concise as it is, is a testament to what Twilight Zone is all about.
I watched this during Sci-fi channel's New Year's Day Twilight Zone marathon, so I recommend watching this in proper form in the box set if one has it because commercials constantly break the flow and certain trimmings for time are evident. I also recommend watching it late at night for supreme effect.
It's not surprising that one of Twlight Zone's superior tales comes from the pen of Richard Matheson and is directed by the great Jacques Tourneur. Gladys Cooper is ideally cast as an incredibly worried and fussy old woman, wheel-chair bound and, without visits from her hired help, Margaret(Nora Marlowe, portraying the loyal every-woman who tries to reason with her burdensome employer), rather lonely and melancholy..she has no one and, through the incredible direction, we feel her terror at night when that moaning caller desires communication. She's on the bed, and who awaits across the line? The level of spookiness and the dread that slowly builds is a credit to a talented crew of experts in their field. The finale, our answer to who it is that frightens Elva Keene, adds icing on the cake, carefully and richly executed to deliver chills down your spine. The reaction of Cooper(..she deserves equal credit with the greats involved in this terrific episode)is perfect;her horror truthfully realized. Yet, it doesn't stop there and the story follows Elva, whose past mistakes still haunt her, as she confronts that caller, ending rather sadly for her. It's the idea of "missed opportunities" which close this story and Elva, through her dismissal of the unknown voice which beckons her, loses a chance at getting a peace which has eluded her. The story really is gripping thanks to the mystery at the heart of it, and Matheson's work provides director Tourneur with the perfect kind of tale to display his gifts using night and shadow as a device to blanket poor Elva. Bathed in darkness on her bed, Cooper's scared eyes reveal a terror explicitly conveyed by Tourneur's intrusive camera. The telephone itself is also heavily focused on..it's a symbol for which haunts Elva, not knowing when it will ring and what will be said across the line. This episode, as short and concise as it is, is a testament to what Twilight Zone is all about.
I watched this during Sci-fi channel's New Year's Day Twilight Zone marathon, so I recommend watching this in proper form in the box set if one has it because commercials constantly break the flow and certain trimmings for time are evident. I also recommend watching it late at night for supreme effect.
