Escape Clause
- Episode aired Nov 6, 1959
- TV-PG
- 25m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
A hypochondriac man sells his soul to the devil, exchanging it for several thousand years of immortality.A hypochondriac man sells his soul to the devil, exchanging it for several thousand years of immortality.A hypochondriac man sells his soul to the devil, exchanging it for several thousand years of immortality.
Rod Serling
- Narrator
- (voice)
Nesdon Booth
- Guard
- (as Nesden Booth)
George Baxter
- Judge Cummings
- (uncredited)
Paul E. Burns
- Janitor
- (uncredited)
Allan Lurie
- Subway Guard
- (uncredited)
Robert McCord
- Man in Subway
- (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey
- Onlooker in Subway
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- Rod Serling(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt the time this series first aired, it was commonly believed that a frequent cause of hypochondria was a desperate need to find something to occupy one's mind, a combination of boredom and a lack of imagination about how to counter that boredom. Several TV series of the time had episodes involving a one-off character whose hypochondria was cured by finding something else of interest to replace the hypochondria.
- GoofsWhen the protagonist proclaims, "...the new Walter Bedeker!", part of the footage is run in reverse.
- Quotes
Ethel Bedeker: Walter, please come back to the apartment. I'll make you potato pancakes. Remember, you always used to love potato pancakes.
Walter Bedeker: Ethel, *you* are a potato pancake. You're as tasteless as a potato pancake.
- ConnectionsEdited into Twilight-Tober-Zone: Escape Clause (2020)
Featured review
Entertaining And Funny But Not The Best Of Season 1.
"Escape Clause" features a hypochondriac making a deal with the devil. The man is guaranteed immortality at the price of his soul. This familiar tale is well told by Rod Serling and crew. Thomas Gomaz is a hoot as the devil. Despite some questionable special effects, especially involving a steaming sticky stamp, Gomaz delivers a memorable performance. David Wayne, as Mr. Bedeker the hypochondriac, delivers a grating performance. However, it suits his character. The problem with this episode is Mr. Bedeker's change of personality after his deal with the devil. It seems to take place to quickly and his spiral into recklessness does not mesh with the character we met at the start of the show. At times, Mr. Bedekers actions and monologues make you feel as if there should be a laugh track. As for the title of this episode, "Escape Clause", it refers to Mr. Bedeker's only way of breaking the deal he signs with the devil; an event he surely never envisioned would come true. A solid, but not wholy convincing outing for The Twilight Zone that is worthy of a 8.0 out of 10.
helpful•256
- Skeeter700
- Feb 6, 2006
Details
- Runtime25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content