MovieChat Forums > The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street (1960) Discussion > Favorite Twilight Zone episode

Favorite Twilight Zone episode

posted 3 years ago by GrowingFamily (271)
13 replies | jump to latest

This episode is definitely one of my favorites. The cast is superb and it’s very well written. The story feels contemporary and I like that there is no resolution at the end.

reply

[–] mikethemartian (6983) 3 years ago

What I like about the episode was that the aliens were only toying with them and people were already falling apart. The aliens hadn’t even launched a full scale invasion yet.

reply

[–] whynotwriteme (7811) 3 years ago

Yeah. It's definitely a story ripped from today's headlines, even though it's 60+ years old. I remember reading this in an anthology of Twilight Zone stories back in 5th grade before I had ever watched a single episode. What a great show!

reply

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

I read the script in high school (mid 70's) before seeing the episode. Since the script was in a textbook, I assume it was considered very well-written and relevant (as it is today)

reply

[–] snepts (11123) 3 years ago

I didn't know individual episodes were featured here to comment on. I only just saw this one yesterday. Certainly seemed like a philosophical allegory to a vague suburban mindset. Provocative, especially for the time.

reply

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

"vague suburban mindset" ?

reply

[–] snepts (11123) 3 years ago

I struggled to capture the underlying fear and emotions the citizens were expressing. I'm not as good a wordsmith as I once thought I was.

reply

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

I know that feeling, too.

reply

[–] GrowingFamily (271) 3 years ago

I’m hoping we can revive some of the threads of the individual episodes here on Movie Chat. I’ve missed the IMDb boards. I feel like we’ve lost a lot of interesting dialogue.

reply

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

I would agree with "no resolution' if the final scene with the aliens was cut. To me that weakens the episode. One of my faves, too. I consider it a defining episode.

reply

[–] AngularTurnip (3338) 3 years ago

I thought the inclusion of the aliens was a nice touch. After all, aren't there people out there who exploit the hate and bigotry of others for their own profit?

reply

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

Fair point, but the alien coda makes an excuse for an ugly part of human nature. I stand by my original statement.

reply

[–] AngularTurnip (3338) 3 years ago

Fair enough.

I think we agree though that for the most part it's a pretty stellar piece of media.

reply

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

"pretty stellar piece of media." most def

Your point does add an interesting level to the story I must concede.

reply