James Whitmore from On Thursday We Leave for Home - Twilight Zone

[kurtb8474]

I mean this with the highest respect: No one can say "Miracle Grow Plant Food" like James Whitmore. A great actor with a powerful voice.

[forcelifeforce]

When a person types "I don't mean to be pendantic,"

then you come off as weak. JUST state your information

with conviction and without hesitation. It smacks of

"Please don't hurt me if I state this."

You reduce my respect for you if you feel you must

soften and be pre-apologetic in your approach.

[therealkraas]

I was about to say "I wish TV today was this good" but I'm sure there was a bunch of shit on back then just like today. Anyway, this is a damn good ep.

[MrJonavo]

Point the camera at Whitmore as he reads Serling's script while a nostalgic musical piece plays in the background, and the result is one of the greatest scenes in tv history

[fred5399]

Such a powerful scene.

[deetjay1]

He did a thing called "The Next Voice You Hear", about a regular guy who hears the voice of God over his radio...Pretty shlocky stuff, but he was such a great actor, it actually kind of worked...

[BeccaLaughsAtBecca]

This is my absolute favorite episode of The Twilight Zone.

[whiddlywaddly]

This was the 1st episode I ever saw... I was about 6. The ending messed w/ my head. Whitmore acted so childish and stubborn... left to die on a barren planet.

[invincibleironman3]

Great actor. Great performance. RIP, James Whitmore.

[cueball61089]

Fabulous live you little Danny kulick. (Jo Jo)

[midnightmailman]

There was something gritty, earthy, and tangible about those episodes. You could hear the dirt on the floor and smell the grease and oil under the fingernails of those rough and real characters. This polished CRAP that passes for cinematography today where the starlet is more concerned about her money shot than her performance or the director about his signature camera angle over the storyline... makes me wanna swallow my own vomit.

[starbird44]

Does anyone have the entire episode.

This was a great episode.

[temjin44]

Personal favorite TW episode. Very overlooked.

[yamila68]

Does anyone know the link to the full episode?

[harley75604]

I was a great admirer of James Whitmore. This was probably my favorite Twilight Zone episode.

[cinematedman]

Same here. This one along with Walking Distance are two one hour episodes, that rank up there as my favorites.

This one is so painful, since Capt has a point, and we can sort of see with all the background how he would react the way he did, and then finally the end, as well.

I love how TZ rarely uses villians. They let the terror and tragedy happen from our own decisions, our own actions. Rod knew that is TRUE terror.

[Teflon65]

cinematedman: Not to be a pedantic jerk, but "Walking Distance" was a half-hour episode, shown during the first season. It starred Gig Young.

[cinematedman]

Funny you mention that. A good friend of mine said the same thing, calling my attention to that fact - we had both thought it was an hour long epi. Yet, it's the usual 22 mins. Amazing. In my memory, it seemed to last an hour. I think I was thinking on Rod narrated pieces, which are far and few, WD being one. Oh well. My bad.

Yup, the tragic Gig Young does a wonderful job in WD. Along with another favorite, Frank Overton. Very moving.

[Teflon65]

cinematedman: When you said you were thinking on Rod narrated pieces, what did you mean? Not to be pedantic again, but he narrated all of them. Of course, there were two, or three earlier ones, where he did some narration in the middle of the shows, as well as at the beginning and end. I think he only appeared once, on camera, at the end of an episode, during the narration. Of course, he did appear in "A World of His Own", as himself.

[cinematedman]

No, technically, he introduced all the episodes, not narrated them. He only narrated a couple, WD being one. I think, perhaps, the Dana Andrews time travel episode being another, that could be a full hour as well?

Yes, with Keenan Wynn he 'guest stars' as himself. When it comes to movie and trivia, I prefer to go by memory, not Googling, so bear with me. ;)

[Teflon65]

cinematedman: In the early episodes, Rod was credited as writer and narrator, even if he merely seemed to introduce the episodes. I think I understand what you are saying though. With Twilight Zone, I generally do not have to Google anything, but I am weak on the names of certain old actors. Keenan Wynn is one of them. I would recognize the face, but am bad with names anyway.

[humbleradio]

Ok, now you are getting pedantic ;) Rod introduces the episodes & concludes them. There is no SAG title to refer to introducer/concluder. Narrator covers off screen VO. It's part of the union way of doing things and getting paid for your work. You'll often see talent listed in various ways for this and other reasons that are not exactly the same as the role they perform. fx titles are rife with this kind of thing.

[Teflon65]

humbleradio: I know nothing about SAG rules. I was only reporting what I saw in the credits. I suppose it doesn't matter though, unless someone is trying to get paid for something.

[spacepatrolman]

@cinematedman The dana andrews episode is a one hour episode so is the one with his brother steve forest the parallel

[SheriffTankStoner]

@Teflon65 Rod also did 2 other 'end of episode' appearances. One for 'The Obsolete Man' and the other for (TZ Episode, not the 1963-67 TV Show) The Fugitive.

[spacepatrolman]

@Teflon65 rod serling showed walking distance to his writing class when he wase teaching at ithaca college in new york state the class didnt seem to like it he didnt understand that so he took LSD i dont know if thats true so the story goes

[steffidude]

He was great in Next Voice You Hear with Nancy Reagan Smith, and the classic Them. True they don't make them like that anymore!

[dyetkoque]

Well, they don't make them like that anymore. Wonderful actor. Thank you for posting. RIP.

[cinematedman]

He lived a rich long life. Thankfully, he left us much to admire about his time here.

I think this TZ episode, and THEM! are my favorites, but he's done so much good work.

[Redrowan2000]

Great Actor. Wonder what Jody is doing now.?