BACK THERE is one of the most fascinating and, yet, creepy episodes of the series. This one will stick with you awhile.
Russell Johnson, a few years before his GILLIGAN ISLAND days, portrays a tormented gentleman called Peter Corrigan, member of a club of armchair adventurers, who happen to discuss time travel during a friendly game of cards. WHAT IF.... putting the theory into motion... and sure enough Corrigan is transported to the day President Lincoln is to be shot and killed. Can he stop it? Should he stop it?
And Rod Serling did have the foresight for this one, again to his credit, digging deeper into the possibilities that such a person from the future would surely be judged insane and thrown in the jug.
Here's the scary part. If you are a student of history, you certainly have read reports (Rod Serling did his homework) concerning a person or persons claiming Lincoln would in fact be killed on the very day he was. This is documented, although brushed off by historians, however who really knows where these folks came from? There were similar stories concerning President Kennedy in November 1963.
An outstanding episode. Extremely well written and directed by David Orrick McDearman, who specialized in cop shows, such as PETER GUNN, later switching to sitcoms, like BEWITCHED.
The supporting cast is spot on; Raymond Bailey (pre BEVERLY HILLBILLIES) the distinguished gent, also Bartlett Robinson (as William), best as snooty types and Paul Hartman as a cop. Look for 40s movie star (HENRY ALDRICH) Jimmy Lydon as a patrolman.
Jimmy became a tv producer at Warner Brothers/ABC; 77 SUNSET STRIP.
10 Stars All the way.
SEASON 2 196l remastered CBS dvd box set.
Russell Johnson, a few years before his GILLIGAN ISLAND days, portrays a tormented gentleman called Peter Corrigan, member of a club of armchair adventurers, who happen to discuss time travel during a friendly game of cards. WHAT IF.... putting the theory into motion... and sure enough Corrigan is transported to the day President Lincoln is to be shot and killed. Can he stop it? Should he stop it?
And Rod Serling did have the foresight for this one, again to his credit, digging deeper into the possibilities that such a person from the future would surely be judged insane and thrown in the jug.
Here's the scary part. If you are a student of history, you certainly have read reports (Rod Serling did his homework) concerning a person or persons claiming Lincoln would in fact be killed on the very day he was. This is documented, although brushed off by historians, however who really knows where these folks came from? There were similar stories concerning President Kennedy in November 1963.
An outstanding episode. Extremely well written and directed by David Orrick McDearman, who specialized in cop shows, such as PETER GUNN, later switching to sitcoms, like BEWITCHED.
The supporting cast is spot on; Raymond Bailey (pre BEVERLY HILLBILLIES) the distinguished gent, also Bartlett Robinson (as William), best as snooty types and Paul Hartman as a cop. Look for 40s movie star (HENRY ALDRICH) Jimmy Lydon as a patrolman.
Jimmy became a tv producer at Warner Brothers/ABC; 77 SUNSET STRIP.
10 Stars All the way.
SEASON 2 196l remastered CBS dvd box set.