The Twilight Zone - Back There
“Back There” was one of my “Channel Ten faves” as a
teenager. Before I had cable (and later digital cable and Direct TV), I had to
turn an antenna just to pick up certain channels. Even then the channels that
weren’t local often faded in and out or had interference. On occasion, when the
time was just right, I could pick up Channel Ten, from a station in Alabama, I
believe. Kids today haven’t a clue what I’m talking about but the thrill of
picking up a station with content not in my normal lineup could be quite thrilling.
On Channel Ten, from ten o’clock to eleven, I’d watch the funny British
clothing store comedy, Are You Being
Served? and Twilight Zone which
followed it. It was an hour that almost every night came in without too much
difficulty, although, oddly enough, before and afterward the signal faded out.
I never understood why, but I sure wasn’t about to complain because this hour
was anticipated with much excitement. During a period of time (I guess maybe a
month or so), this was a routine but eventually the channel would become more
and more elusive before the signal simply became white noise. But it was
obviously quite an important period of my teenage life because I remember it
with such clarity and fondness.
Anyway, when I watch Twilight Zone now, there are certain episodes that perk up my enthusiasm and pet my nostalgia affectionately. One of those episodes is “Back There” (another, “The Howling Man”, will eventually get its write-up on the blog), a time travel episode featuring Russell Johnson, most recognized as The Professor on Gilligan’s Island. Interestingly, Johnson’s other TZ episode, “Execution”, also concerns time travel. I personally consider that one inferior (although I have only watched it once so my opinion could change, but it never hung on the brain like “Back There” had…) to this episode as Johnson is the central character, finding himself in Washington, DC, on the day Lincoln is to be assassinated in Ford’s Theatre during the stage play, “Our American Cousin”. Right before this, he was talking time travel with some of his peers in the Potomac Club, an affluent country club within the city. And, conveniently, Johnson leaves the club for home and has an “episode” as the screen slightly fades. From 1961 to 1865, Johnson has seemingly and inexplicably found himself somehow the recipient of a travel backward in time.
He spends his time trying to tell anyone that will listen to protect Lincoln or he will be killed by John Wilkes Booth. The only one who does, a cop (Barlett Robinson), is convinced that Johnson is not just some loony (as his boss, played by a harshly skeptical Paul Hartman, considers Johnson) to “sleep off a drunk”, but no one would listen to him, either. Interestingly, a “psychiatrist” named Jonathan Wellington (John Lasell, making the most of his time on screen) wishes to have Johnson released to his care and Hartman is all too eager to get rid of him. Lasell revealed as John Wilkes Booth is especially boosted by his handkerchief, a neat plot device carried over to 1961. That revelation is bolstered also by its placement in the episode, how Johnson is drugged and left in a fog of confusion while Lasell confidently waltzed out of his apartment onto murder Lincoln in cold blood.
Johnson’s haunted look at the end is perfectly performed, I think. I remember Johnson and that marvelous TZ score that just hit the right tone, giving the events unfolding that bit of eerie unease, distinctive as a kid. It was the right time at night, too, I reckon, because I can recall this feeling of tension, wondering if Johnson would in fact stop Booth from accomplishing the assassination, curious as to how history would be altered if he was successful. Alas, Johnson’s attempts were thwarted, although the attendant at the Potomac, nervy and anxious (he had spilled drink on Johnson prior to his departure from the establishment and trip back in time), would wind up benefiting from his trip to 1865! That was the irony in the travel back in time…time was altered but not in the way Johnson would have preferred.
Anyway, when I watch Twilight Zone now, there are certain episodes that perk up my enthusiasm and pet my nostalgia affectionately. One of those episodes is “Back There” (another, “The Howling Man”, will eventually get its write-up on the blog), a time travel episode featuring Russell Johnson, most recognized as The Professor on Gilligan’s Island. Interestingly, Johnson’s other TZ episode, “Execution”, also concerns time travel. I personally consider that one inferior (although I have only watched it once so my opinion could change, but it never hung on the brain like “Back There” had…) to this episode as Johnson is the central character, finding himself in Washington, DC, on the day Lincoln is to be assassinated in Ford’s Theatre during the stage play, “Our American Cousin”. Right before this, he was talking time travel with some of his peers in the Potomac Club, an affluent country club within the city. And, conveniently, Johnson leaves the club for home and has an “episode” as the screen slightly fades. From 1961 to 1865, Johnson has seemingly and inexplicably found himself somehow the recipient of a travel backward in time.
He spends his time trying to tell anyone that will listen to protect Lincoln or he will be killed by John Wilkes Booth. The only one who does, a cop (Barlett Robinson), is convinced that Johnson is not just some loony (as his boss, played by a harshly skeptical Paul Hartman, considers Johnson) to “sleep off a drunk”, but no one would listen to him, either. Interestingly, a “psychiatrist” named Jonathan Wellington (John Lasell, making the most of his time on screen) wishes to have Johnson released to his care and Hartman is all too eager to get rid of him. Lasell revealed as John Wilkes Booth is especially boosted by his handkerchief, a neat plot device carried over to 1961. That revelation is bolstered also by its placement in the episode, how Johnson is drugged and left in a fog of confusion while Lasell confidently waltzed out of his apartment onto murder Lincoln in cold blood.
Johnson’s haunted look at the end is perfectly performed, I think. I remember Johnson and that marvelous TZ score that just hit the right tone, giving the events unfolding that bit of eerie unease, distinctive as a kid. It was the right time at night, too, I reckon, because I can recall this feeling of tension, wondering if Johnson would in fact stop Booth from accomplishing the assassination, curious as to how history would be altered if he was successful. Alas, Johnson’s attempts were thwarted, although the attendant at the Potomac, nervy and anxious (he had spilled drink on Johnson prior to his departure from the establishment and trip back in time), would wind up benefiting from his trip to 1865! That was the irony in the travel back in time…time was altered but not in the way Johnson would have preferred.
Funnily enough, I was watching Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012)
the other night and “Back There” felt like a timely TZ episode to revist. Yes, “The
Passersby” could have been just as fitting but I want to save it for a
different day. What if the improbable were possible and Lincoln was rescued
from that bullet fired from the gun of this stage actor? You see Daniel Day
Lewis’ Lincoln, just falling in love with this brilliant storyteller and leader
who had to contend with a civil war, racial and political opposition, and
Johnson’s harried and pressing engineer trying to stop the whole murder from
happening; only a TZ fan could couple the film and an episode from the show
together within the same thought, I guess. Of course, “The Passersby” would be
another ideal companion to Lincoln (2012) as well, the final casualty of the
Civil War. I get choked up just thinking about that riveting ending.
Johnson as mentioned above might be best known as the Professor but "Back There" features my personal favorite performance of his. This is what I consider an iconic work in his career. I imagine it was one to be proud of. The experience of his character as he goes through something quite extraordinary Johnson captures that all. The time travel itself might be flawed but this the Twilight Zone so that is par for the course. I can give over to it, especially if the story or performances are compelling enough to make up for a less than satisfying reason behind the time travel.
Johnson as mentioned above might be best known as the Professor but "Back There" features my personal favorite performance of his. This is what I consider an iconic work in his career. I imagine it was one to be proud of. The experience of his character as he goes through something quite extraordinary Johnson captures that all. The time travel itself might be flawed but this the Twilight Zone so that is par for the course. I can give over to it, especially if the story or performances are compelling enough to make up for a less than satisfying reason behind the time travel.
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