It has happened to most of us at one time or another. The daily stresses of life begin to wear us down in their often unrelenting way, and we seek escape from that unpleasantness through a flight of fancy. In the case of Barbara Jean Trenton (ida Lupino), she slips into a past movie world where she was once famous, young and beautiful. Eventually, reality becomes blurred for her---and for us, too, as we watch her rediscover herself in The Twilight Zone.
Rod Serling was fond of this plot device, which he revisited to greater advantage later in that astonishing first season with A Stop at Willoughby--now a classic of the series. The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (TSMS) provided excellent acting opportunities for the under-appreciated Lupino as the aging star who finds happiness only through reliving her life from an earlier time. And Martin Balsam as her sensitive and caring agent. This episode was a first class effort in every respect, from using a score composed by Franz Waxman, cinematography by-the legendary George T. Clemens and direction by Mitchell Leisen--one of the most celebrated Hollywood directors from its Golden Age.
Lupino and Balsam are justifiably well known. Leisen is less so today, and a modern audience may not fully appreciate just how important he was when at the apex of his fame. Trained as an architect and celebrated early in his career as a successful art and set director and costume designer, Leisen became a full-fledged film director with many noteworthy credits in his resume. He directed a great Fredric March early classic (Death Takes a Holiday); helmed one of John Barrymore's most enjoyable comedy performances (Midnight); and helped shape the lead role in To Each His Own that resulted in Olivia de Havilland winning a Best Actress Academy Award in 1946.
TSMS is not as well known as many other first season episodes from The Twilight Zone. This is a real pity, because it is extremely well produced and directed, and provides the audience with a good balance between bitterness and nostalgia so that neither overpowers the other. With its obvious plot similarities to the film Sunset Boulevard, Ida Lupino's fascinating performance is an interesting one to compare with the more famous but perhaps less nuanced one of Gloria Swanson. TSMS is certainly worthy of your attention when you make a visit to The Twilight Zone.
Rod Serling was fond of this plot device, which he revisited to greater advantage later in that astonishing first season with A Stop at Willoughby--now a classic of the series. The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (TSMS) provided excellent acting opportunities for the under-appreciated Lupino as the aging star who finds happiness only through reliving her life from an earlier time. And Martin Balsam as her sensitive and caring agent. This episode was a first class effort in every respect, from using a score composed by Franz Waxman, cinematography by-the legendary George T. Clemens and direction by Mitchell Leisen--one of the most celebrated Hollywood directors from its Golden Age.
Lupino and Balsam are justifiably well known. Leisen is less so today, and a modern audience may not fully appreciate just how important he was when at the apex of his fame. Trained as an architect and celebrated early in his career as a successful art and set director and costume designer, Leisen became a full-fledged film director with many noteworthy credits in his resume. He directed a great Fredric March early classic (Death Takes a Holiday); helmed one of John Barrymore's most enjoyable comedy performances (Midnight); and helped shape the lead role in To Each His Own that resulted in Olivia de Havilland winning a Best Actress Academy Award in 1946.
TSMS is not as well known as many other first season episodes from The Twilight Zone. This is a real pity, because it is extremely well produced and directed, and provides the audience with a good balance between bitterness and nostalgia so that neither overpowers the other. With its obvious plot similarities to the film Sunset Boulevard, Ida Lupino's fascinating performance is an interesting one to compare with the more famous but perhaps less nuanced one of Gloria Swanson. TSMS is certainly worthy of your attention when you make a visit to The Twilight Zone.