Reginald Owen plays Herbert Blakely, one of many British citizens doing their patriotic duty protecting the home front in 1940, as the Nazis are threatening invasion, but Herbert also must face his fear that his wife Ethel(played by Molly Roden) has been killed in their London home after a Luftwaffe bombing, though as it will turn out, Ethel has a similar dream about him being killed by a Nazi soldier at his outpost station! Can Herbert reach his wife in time, or are they both doomed? Good period atmosphere by director John Newland helps this otherwise standard tale of precognition, further helped by a good cast, with two older romantic leads.
6 Reviews
"This was their finest hour."
classicsoncall25 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I have to admit, I had to watch this one a second time because I didn't quite get it on the first try. The story takes place in 1940 with Great Britain about to be attacked by the Nazis, but the thing that confused me was the gathering that took place under the command of a Lieutenant (Philip Tonge) who stated that failure to comply with his orders would result in court martial, but all the men looked like civilians to me. So that was a bit distracting.
Stories of dreams or premonitions that turn out to be true aren't all that rare, but the twist here is that both an elderly man and his wife, separated by quite some distance, have the same dream around the same time of Nazi warplanes dropping bombs on London. When it turns out to be true, the man hurries home to learn that his wife escaped death by seeking shelter in a basement.
Before this revelation, the story is padded out with some additional intrigue with Nazis paddling their way up a stream or canal to the area the men were patrolling. The old gentleman (Reginald Owen) proves his competence by killing one of the pesky Germans, with a pitchfork no less, while his cowardly friend rises to the occasion as well. The business with the dreams of the elderly couple makes the story interesting while viewing, but otherwise this is probably one of the more forgettable episodes in the series.
Stories of dreams or premonitions that turn out to be true aren't all that rare, but the twist here is that both an elderly man and his wife, separated by quite some distance, have the same dream around the same time of Nazi warplanes dropping bombs on London. When it turns out to be true, the man hurries home to learn that his wife escaped death by seeking shelter in a basement.
Before this revelation, the story is padded out with some additional intrigue with Nazis paddling their way up a stream or canal to the area the men were patrolling. The old gentleman (Reginald Owen) proves his competence by killing one of the pesky Germans, with a pitchfork no less, while his cowardly friend rises to the occasion as well. The business with the dreams of the elderly couple makes the story interesting while viewing, but otherwise this is probably one of the more forgettable episodes in the series.
A lot deeper than expected.
Sleepin_Dragon22 May 2024
1940, and Britain is beaded for a Nazi invasion, retired gentleman Herbert Blakely is paired up with Willie Carr, a young man, excused active duty. One night the very worst happens, The Nazis land.
Definitely not what I was expecting, especially from a US anthology sci fi/horror series, this really was quite a profound watch.
It captures the fear and terror people felt during the war, that scene where Herbert and Willie chat about duties, fantastic.
I didn't expect a British set episode, particularly not a wartime set one. I'm surprised by the numerous negative reviews, it boasts a commanding performance from Reginald Owen, who steals every scene.
Quality viewing.
8/10.
Definitely not what I was expecting, especially from a US anthology sci fi/horror series, this really was quite a profound watch.
It captures the fear and terror people felt during the war, that scene where Herbert and Willie chat about duties, fantastic.
I didn't expect a British set episode, particularly not a wartime set one. I'm surprised by the numerous negative reviews, it boasts a commanding performance from Reginald Owen, who steals every scene.
Quality viewing.
8/10.
Apart from starring Reginald Owen, there's not a lot to distinguish this one.
planktonrules22 May 2018
"The Dream" is set during the early days of WWII and concerns a group of men from the Home Guard and their work patrolling the countryside for evil Nazis. One of them, Herbert (Reginald Owen) has a strange occurrance. He falls asleep on duty and sees his home and wife being bombed by the Germans...and this snaps him awake...awake in time to deal with a few Nazis with his good 'old pitchfork. So what happened to the wife? Is she alive? And, did she also have some sort of strange dream?
The acting was fine but the story itself seemed too unremarkable for this series about psychic phenomena. Overall, watchable but not much more. The actors (particularly Owen) did fine...the story itself just didn't do much for me one way or the other.
The acting was fine but the story itself seemed too unremarkable for this series about psychic phenomena. Overall, watchable but not much more. The actors (particularly Owen) did fine...the story itself just didn't do much for me one way or the other.
No Cowards in Foxholes
wes-connors29 June 2009
In 1940, during World War II, elderly British gentleman Reginald Owen (as Herbert Blakely) is called into service against what will become a spattering of German troops. Joining him in the foxhole is nervous young Richard Lupino (as Willie Carr). Although Mr. Lupino has a cowardly reputation, Mr. Owen somehow believes in the younger man's worth. As it turns out, Lupino was rejected for service because, he explains, "I've got bad lungs." He should quit smoking. When they are attacked, Owen has a dream about wife Molly Roden (as Ethel), which not only saves his life, but also signals Ms. Roden's may be over
**** The Dream (3/3/59) John Newland ~ Reginald Owen, Richard Lupino, Molly Roden
**** The Dream (3/3/59) John Newland ~ Reginald Owen, Richard Lupino, Molly Roden
The Dream
Prismark103 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
An episode that rounded up every British actor working in Hollywood.
It has lines such as "Churchill is a real old British bulldog himself." He was actually half American!
The story concerns a group of Home Guards on duty. Herbert Blakely has a dream in a foxhole that his house is bombed with his wife in bed.
He suddenly awakes to find a Nazi about to attack him but Herbert manages to kill him. He finds a small invasion force but the Home Guard repels them.
When Herbert rushes home, his house has indeed been bombed but his wife is missing.
It turns out that his wife had a dream that Herbert was being attacked and she rushed out to get hold of him. Just before the house got bombed.
A double dream, but apart from that it did not have much more to say.
It was rather odd that British soldiers in the early 1940s would be more concerned about Soviets rather than Germans.
I did wonder how far Herbert lived. By the time he gets home which was early in the morning and then goes back to his base, it's dark.
It has lines such as "Churchill is a real old British bulldog himself." He was actually half American!
The story concerns a group of Home Guards on duty. Herbert Blakely has a dream in a foxhole that his house is bombed with his wife in bed.
He suddenly awakes to find a Nazi about to attack him but Herbert manages to kill him. He finds a small invasion force but the Home Guard repels them.
When Herbert rushes home, his house has indeed been bombed but his wife is missing.
It turns out that his wife had a dream that Herbert was being attacked and she rushed out to get hold of him. Just before the house got bombed.
A double dream, but apart from that it did not have much more to say.
It was rather odd that British soldiers in the early 1940s would be more concerned about Soviets rather than Germans.
I did wonder how far Herbert lived. By the time he gets home which was early in the morning and then goes back to his base, it's dark.
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