This episode is one of my favorites in predicting technology before it became reality. There are a number of plotting errors (which may have been intentional for dramatic purposes or may just be due to technology not being in existence/use in the mid-50s). The lead off accident that triggers the story is not possible since the train should have come to a stop when the engineer had his heart attack due to the engine being equipped with a "Dead Man" switch (which was in use for years before the story). As to his heart condition not being detected, I will give them a pass since in that time frame I do not know if exams involved the now standard stress test (such as running someone on a treadmill while being monitored). The portable EKG invented in this story which radioed its readings to a recorder eventually was developed for the space program to monitor the astronauts and acted as the needed stress test.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Fun Punchline Ending
8 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The story is about an someone who is scanning the encyclopedia and sending the images to an object in synchronous orbit. At the end, he aims the scanner at himself and transmits himself to that object (which is probably his space ship).
The fun part of this ending is that this episode was written/aired in 1957, 9 years before Star Trek aired and made the Transporter (which allowed people to be sent and retrieved from a Planet's Surface) a TV troupe.
The actual story's plot, which involves detecting the signals put out by a TV to see which channel it is tuned to, is based on Pre-Tempest technology but seems to be similar to what Tempest is intended combat. I think that in the UK, they had (have?) similar vans that are used to detect the existence of TV Sets to make sure that the owner is paying their TV tax.
The fun part of this ending is that this episode was written/aired in 1957, 9 years before Star Trek aired and made the Transporter (which allowed people to be sent and retrieved from a Planet's Surface) a TV troupe.
The actual story's plot, which involves detecting the signals put out by a TV to see which channel it is tuned to, is based on Pre-Tempest technology but seems to be similar to what Tempest is intended combat. I think that in the UK, they had (have?) similar vans that are used to detect the existence of TV Sets to make sure that the owner is paying their TV tax.
Captain Midnight
(1954–1958)
Why Captain Midnight became Jet Jackson
29 March 2005
Captain Midnight was based on a WWII era Radio Show of the same name (just updated for TV). The Radio show and the original TV Airing was sponsored by Ovaltine which marketed "Secret Decoder Ring" and Badge tie-ins during the Radio show (and I think the TV Show). There was also a fan club that allowed you to be a member of Captain Midnight's "Secret Squadron". They owned the character name. When the show went into syndication, they were no longer the sponsor so the syndicated versions had to have the name altered (to Jet Jackson). One of the changes that was made in the TV Show (from the Radio Version) was the alteration of the Secret Squadron serial numbers from SS-X (Captain Midnight was of course SS-1) to SQ-X due to the SS reference being in poor taste due to WWII Nazi associations.
Medical Investigation
(2004–2005)
A Recycled 60 year old case
22 October 2004
I just saw the pilot and the Case of the Blue Men (used as the Pilot) was a retelling of a 60-year old WWII era mystery. For those who want to read the original case that they recycled check out a book by Berton Roueche called "Eleven Blue Men". The story was also included in his "The Medical Detectives".
The story was gripping and showed how the step-by-step procedure of this type of investigation proceeds. The fact that I already had read the book years ago, spoiled the ability for me to solve the mystery before they did as did the fact that they did not go into their databases and locate the 60-year old case. Of course since this is TV (and they were recycling the WWII era case) this meant that they could not use their Databases to find the report due to them setting it in current time and pretending that the WWII case never occurred. Also the episode would be over if they had found the report in their Database.
The story was gripping and showed how the step-by-step procedure of this type of investigation proceeds. The fact that I already had read the book years ago, spoiled the ability for me to solve the mystery before they did as did the fact that they did not go into their databases and locate the 60-year old case. Of course since this is TV (and they were recycling the WWII era case) this meant that they could not use their Databases to find the report due to them setting it in current time and pretending that the WWII case never occurred. Also the episode would be over if they had found the report in their Database.
Thunderbirds 2086
(1982)
Typical US rewrite and editing for that time
19 May 2004
It has been years since I saw this show but at the time, I was able to see not only the US version but the original Japanese episodes which were used to make the US version so I was aware of what liberties were being taken to make the US version.
For example, the US version had US 3D footage added (as transition sequences) and had some cuts to remove parts of some of the scenes or other dumb editing that was made since the original was regarded as too sophisticated for the American audience.
An example of the former cutting was a scene where a character was caught in an explosion. The Japanese version showed the flaming gas hitting the character while the US version cut the actual contact.
In the dumb editing area was a sequence of a Spacestation-to-Spacestation shuttle (think of it as an airplane) being boarded by the passengers. They are shown floating (they are "weightless") down the center isle and seating themselves in the seats on the "floor" of the craft. The Japanese version continues with them then using the seats on the "ceiling" - which is cut out from the US version as well as having these seats hidden behind a matt-painting to hide their existence.
The dubbing also took liberties with the Japanese plotline and always had at least one "in-gag" reference per episode such as having one of the characters ask that an airlock on a space ship be opened (so he can enter) with the request "Open the Pod Bay, Hal" [2001 reference] or having a malfunctioning computer claim to be a "Wild and Crazy Computer" in a Steve Martin-like voice [a reference to his "Wild and Crazy Guy" routine].
For example, the US version had US 3D footage added (as transition sequences) and had some cuts to remove parts of some of the scenes or other dumb editing that was made since the original was regarded as too sophisticated for the American audience.
An example of the former cutting was a scene where a character was caught in an explosion. The Japanese version showed the flaming gas hitting the character while the US version cut the actual contact.
In the dumb editing area was a sequence of a Spacestation-to-Spacestation shuttle (think of it as an airplane) being boarded by the passengers. They are shown floating (they are "weightless") down the center isle and seating themselves in the seats on the "floor" of the craft. The Japanese version continues with them then using the seats on the "ceiling" - which is cut out from the US version as well as having these seats hidden behind a matt-painting to hide their existence.
The dubbing also took liberties with the Japanese plotline and always had at least one "in-gag" reference per episode such as having one of the characters ask that an airlock on a space ship be opened (so he can enter) with the request "Open the Pod Bay, Hal" [2001 reference] or having a malfunctioning computer claim to be a "Wild and Crazy Computer" in a Steve Martin-like voice [a reference to his "Wild and Crazy Guy" routine].
The Case of the Howling Dog
(1934)
Extra Trivia on Move (Spoiler)
9 December 1999
Warning: Spoilers
Plot Spoiler Follows - Read at your own Risk *
* * * * This is the infamous "Perry has a Guilty Client" story. It is based on the FIRST Perry Mason Story and Perry is not yet the character we are used to (he is still willing to cut corners to defend his clients - a habit he loses in later books when he defended them but did not create fake evidence or tamper with existing evidence).
If you can find the movie or the book, do so and enjoy the original version of Perry Mason.
* * * * This is the infamous "Perry has a Guilty Client" story. It is based on the FIRST Perry Mason Story and Perry is not yet the character we are used to (he is still willing to cut corners to defend his clients - a habit he loses in later books when he defended them but did not create fake evidence or tamper with existing evidence).
If you can find the movie or the book, do so and enjoy the original version of Perry Mason.
Scaramouche
(1952)
Info on that Sword Fight
3 August 1999
As has been commented by the other two people, the final sword fight makes the movie (although it is not the only reason to watch). It runs non-stop for over 7 minutes. One interesting point is that aside from the leap from the staircase to the floor below, Granger did all of his own stunts in the sequence (including swinging from the stage into the opera box and dangling over the audience early in the fight). The only fight that comes anywhere near it is the one between Danny Kaye and Basel Rathbone in "Court Jester".
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