The Twilight Zone (TV Series) The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (1959) User Reviews

A real grower, improves with each watch

[phantom_tollbooth · 8/10 · 21 February 2007]

After hitting the viewers with three very different episodes right off the bat, Serling continued to go about introducing viewers to 'The Twilight Zone' in a very strange way by scheduling one the series biggest growers as the fourth episode. 'The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine' is one of the more understated episodes, focusing on an aging movie star's inability to cope with the changing times and only introducing a supernatural element in the closing minutes. Because of this approach, the episode is under whelming at first but subsequent viewings reveal it to be a thoroughly classy and beautifully written short story.

Both the leads, Ida Lupino as Barbara Jean Trent and Martin Balsam as her frustrated but caring agent, shine in their performances. The main problem with the episode is that the supposedly 25 year old footage of the actress is unconvincing. Lupino looks identical when playing the young Trent as she does when playing the middle aged Trent and this diminishes the tragedy of the situation significantly. Fortunately, Lupino acts her socks off in convincing us of her desperation to return to the past. It's a situation most can sympathise with, and yet Trent is far from a sympathetic character. She is a prima-donna who gives little thought to the feelings of those around her, such as the disastrously withered co-star who she tactlessly belittles because he reminds her of just how long ago her glory days were. It is somewhat surprising, then, that she is rewarded with a happy ending. It is clear what is going to happen from the moment we see the huge projection screen and it is cleverly pre-empted in the opening moments when Trent scares her maid by stepping out from behind the screen. What is not clear at the beginning, however, is whether being sucked into the projector will prove a reward or a harsh lesson in appreciating what we have and living in the moment. As it turns out, Trent is allowed to return to the past she longed for, a testament to how strong the wishful thinking of humans can be.

'The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine' gets better with each viewing. The top notch writing and acting combine to create a short play of enormous power which reflects the nature of humans to long for the past, even though we can never return. Except in the Twilight Zone.

Norma Desmond should have exited this way

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 May 2013]

With inspiration taken from Sunset Boulevard, Ida Lupino steps into Gloria Swanson's shoes as a faded movie queen who sits at home and watches her old films in glory years. Optimistically enough she still retains an agent in Martin Balsam who even tries to get her a small part in a film which film executive Ted DeCorsia thinks is pure charity. Not for Ida though. At least they didn't get her down to ask if they could use her old Deusenberg in a film.

All I can say is that Norma Desmond should have had this satisfactory an ending as the one that Ida Lupino's character received. Come to think of it both achieved their own version of The Twilight Zone and you'll agree if you this fine Twilight Zone Story.

25 years before "The Purple Rose Of Cairo"....

[gridoon2024 · 8/10 · 13 February 2016]

Although "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" is the lowest-rated "Twilight Zone" episode among the first four, it is my favorite (not that the others aren't good, mind you). It's a remarkable story about the passage of time, the power of movies, and the thin line between reality and fantasy. Ida Lupino was a true pioneer for women in Hollywood: she acted, she directed, she wrote....all in a period when it was even harder for women to have their own voice than it is now. Here, she gives a spellbinding performance that makes you both pity her and identify with her (anyone who claims that they never wanted to escape from their world into another, ideal one are lying). Martin Balsam gives her sympathetic support. The ending is somewhat predictable, but that doesn't take away the power of this story. Great stuff. *** out of 4.

"If I wish hard enough I can wish it all away".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 28 February 2010]

There's a theory of time that posits that all the moments that ever existed and will exist, actually exist right now. It's a bit too much to wrap your head around, but perhaps a bit of a comfort to those who wish they could go back to a simpler time and place. For Barbara Jean Trenton (Ida Lupino), that time was twenty five years earlier, the mid 1930's when her youth and glamor held the greatest promise. For my part, if I could travel through time, it would be back to the 1950's when I grew up. Maybe to a place like Willoughby, but that's another episode.

One thing that wouldn't be so special about 1959 would involve dealing with all that clunky machinery just to watch an episode of "The Twilight Zone". How many reels do you think it would take to catalog the entire series, and then find a particular story you wanted to watch? I guess you have to consider the trade offs, convenience versus simplicity, having it right now or taking the time to spool it up to the exact spot where the story begins. Popping in a CD has it's advantages.

I'm a little surprised that Rod Serling would pen a story that so closely resembled "Sunset Boulevard". Ida Lupino's character mirror imaged Norma Desmond just a bit too closely to be considered an original concept. Martin Balsam portrays very much a similar character to Erich von Stroheim, the husband turned butler who's loyalty is unquestioned. Where the story diverges has to do with the way Danny (Balsam) and Sall (Ted de Corsia) challenge Barbara Jean to get with reality and clear the cobwebs that paralyze her existence.

Fortunately for us viewers, Ida Lupino had no such reservations about taking parts that were 'not big, but a nice showcase'. It's a real treat to watch any episode of "The Twilight Zone" and get to see who pops up from days gone by. Sometimes you get a two-fer, like you have here with Lupino and Balsam, celebrities who sometimes made their mark before the series began, and sometimes after. Combined with the stories that the program produced, it's not surprising that they still manage to entertain so well today.

Living in the Past

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 10 January 2014]

The washed up actress Barbara Trenton (Ida Lupino) is a woman stranded in her past, worshiping and watching her movies of twenty-five years ago in her glorious days. Her housemaid Sally (Alice Frost) is worried with her behavior and she tells to Barbara's friend and agent Danny Weiss (Martin Balsam) that unsuccessfully tries to make Barbara move on with her life, giving a new role in the cinema industry. But Barbara lives in the past and does not accept that she is older now.

"The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" is another engaging episode of "The Twilight Zone" of a woman in a midlife crisis that insists in reviving her successful past. The contradictory messages seem to be that aging is inevitable and you should accept it; and your dream may come true if you insist on it. But the most important is that this is an entertaining episode. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Além da Imaginação - The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" ("Beyond Imagination - The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine")

Here's to the wishes that come true

[Otoboke · 1 February 2008]

I really enjoyed this episode, which was a great surprise given the bad reputation it seems to have acquired. From a pure writing perspective, 'The 16mm shrine' is an absolute treat, with fantastic dialogue and character analysis, typical of Sterling. In particular I really enjoyed the philosophical indulgences of the episode, tackling themes of existence and reality, whilst balancing it with more psychological topics such as denial, pride, and desire. 'The sixteen-millimeter shrine' is an episode about how these ideas based around an unwillingness to accept change can seemingly alienate a person from the rest of the ever-changing world. It is also a fantastic example of cerebral Twilight Zone; one that explores the mind rather than the world outside it. These elements all come together very nicely to create a thought provoking and incredibly interesting 25 minutes.

The episode is not without its faults however, which mainly lay in Lupino and Leisen shoes. Ironically, I felt Lupino was unconvincing throughout, with only a few scenes that could count as memorable. This of course being an absolute shame considering how well Sterling had written her character. Furthermore Leisen didn't seem to know what to do with most of his characters, sometimes having them stand around on set doing next to nothing -which probably explains why accepted the poor performances from Lupino half the time-. Thankfully Balsam does a good job of covering up a lot of weak spots, helping redeem the show from an acting perspective at least.

As I said previously however, if you're a fan of classic film and cerebral science fiction, this shouldn't be as bad as it's sometimes made out to be. In addition to the writing that I mentioned above, the episode also features some fantastic photography (it still amazes me that the show looks this good nearly fifty years later!) and decent enough set-design. Overall 'The sixteen-millimeter shrine" is a great episode and above all is certainly one to make you think.

What ever happened to Babe Barbara?

[Coventry · 6/10 · 25 April 2016]

One of the most original and influential movies in the history of cinema was "Sunset Boulevard", that's an inarguable fact. Slightly more than a decade later the storyline of frustrated and faded female movie starlets even evolved into an entirely separate new sub genre with "What ever happened to Baby Jane"; namely the Grand Dame Guignol" movies or – slightly less flattering – "Hagsploitation" flicks. This little episode of "The Twilight Zone" somewhat floats in between these two cinematic milestones, in terms of release date, obviously, but also in terms of content and character drawings. Admittedly this nearly isn't one of the best episodes of the first "Twilight Zone" season, but it's still worth checking out because of the acting performances (notably Ida Lupino and Martin Balsam) and because the topic of melancholic elderly actresses is always endearing. Barbara Trenton was a star and symbol of beauty during the '30s and early '40s with many great cinematic classics on her repertoire and plenty of fond memories of fairy-tale romances she had with her male co-stars. Now, 25 years later, Barbara locks herself up in her private home theater and firmly believes that she's still young and gorgeous. In fact – Barbara blames Hollywood casting directors that she doesn't get any suitable roles anymore. If her friend and agent Danny arranges an audition for her, Barbara furiously leaves the meeting because she's too young to play the role of a mother and even a confrontation with her former silver screen love-interest doesn't bring her down to earth. Barbara so desperately wishes to relive her glory days that it overcomes her… in the twilight zone! There's nothing spooky or morbid about the plot of "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine" and the denouement is more of a fantasy twist, which is why I personally don't consider this a very successful episode. Still, it's a joy to behold Ida Lupino's performance. She was truly one of the most underrated actresses of her generation and also a very gifted director! Did you know she directed one of the most disturbingly realistic thrillers ever? If not, check out the 1953 classic "The Hitch-Hiker" straight away! Martin Balsam ("Psycho", "Cape Fear") once again proves that he was one of the most reliable supportive actors ever.

I like this one. Makes me think about all the actors who once were...

[safenoe · 9/10 · 21 September 2016]

Ida Lupino shines in this role, and she also directed an episode of The Twilight Zone in an era where there weren't many female directors.

Whenever I watch this episode, it highlights the perils of being too nostalgic. I think about the actors in their heyday and wonder what they're doing now. Maybe they have quit acting to raise a family, pursue another career, or they become production staff. The impression the public has is that because their stars are on TV reruns throughout the years, they are rolling in the money!!!

I wonder how many actors, actresses, others, spend the evening watching their own performances in TV or movies.

Good, but Barbra's cantankerous character is awfully hard to stomach

[callanvass · 7/10 · 12 November 2013]

Barbra Jean Trenton (Ida Lupino) is a washed up movie star who is a shell of her former self. She constantly pines for the past (1930's to be exact) to the point where it turns into a dangerous obsession. She lives like a hermit in a dusty old room, watching films from her glory days. Her love interest Danny (Martin Balsam) tries to lure her out of the room. I did enjoy this episode. I've always pined to go into television shows or movies that I love. I think we've all had that fantasy at one point or another, but Barbra's character is impossible to like. I was fully aware of her depleting condition when it comes to herself, but the stuff this woman did infuriated me, so much that it brought the clever storyline down a few notches. We're all afraid of getting old, but damn! An old friend of hers that acted with her, Jerry Hearndan (Jerome Cowan) comes to visit her, and she is unwilling to speak with him anymore, because she pictured him much younger, and he's far too old. That is the epitome of irrationality. I wanted to strangle her! I do give credit to Barbra Jean Trenton for a great performance. She did TOO good a job of being unlikable. It was also amusing listening to them explain how Hollywood was changing, when it's changed so much these days. It's always a pleasure to watch a grand actor like Martin Balsam as well. The twist ending is pretty neat, but its one of those instances where I didn't want a happy ending. This woman is insufferable, and it felt backwards. Aside from the complaints about Barbara, it's a pretty good episode. Catch it on the tube, or wherever

7.2/10

Too Close For Comfort

[Mike_Yike · 8/10 · 10 April 2019]

I saw this episode when it first was broadcast about 60 years ago. I just saw it again on one of the nostalgia TV stations. It is about an actress, Barbara Jean Trenton (played by Ida Lupino), who does not like the prospect of aging. It is like the film Sunset Boulevard in that respect. When Miss Trenton has a visit from one of her old male co-stars, she thinks that he will be the dashing man of yesteryear. But of course he is not. She is shocked by the mere sight of the man. The episode's ending reminds me a little of Woody Allen's film The Purple Rose of Cairo although I haven't seen it but once, years ago.

Anyway, these days this Twilight Zone episode hits to close to home for me, a person in my 60s who likes the idea of living a long time, but not the idea of being old. For that reason I always prepare myself on those occasions when an old high school classmate contacts me through something like my Facebook page. I tell myself that there has been a lot of years since high school, and not to be shocked, advice Barbara Jean Trenton could have used.

Clinging to the past

[Woodyanders · 7/10 · 31 March 2017]

Faded 30's film star Barbara Jean Trenton (a fine performance by Ida Lupino) lives in self-imposed exile watching 16mm prints of her old movies in a secluded room in her mansion. Both her maid Sally (well played by Alice Frost) and her loyal agent Danny Weiss (the always excellent Martin Balsam) try to get Barbara Jean to accept the fact that she's no longer the young starlet she used to be.

Director Mitchell Leisen does a solid job of crafting a wistful mood. Rod Sterling's serviceable script not only frankly addresses the ageism and sexism that exists in show business, but also makes a valid point about the perils of basking too much in one's past triumphs. Lupino and Balsam do stand-out work in their roles; they receive sturdy support from Frost, Jerome Cowan as practical ex-actor turned supermarket tycoon Jerry Hearndan, and Ted de Corsia as mean studio head Marty Sall. Alas, this episode suffers a bit from the fact that Barbara Jean is too vain and self-centered to be considered a sympathetic character and for playing too much through most of its duration like a standard straight drama on the dark aspects of show business. Fortunately, this episode is redeemed in the long run by the oddly haunting fantasy ending.

'Picture of a woman, watching a picture.'

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 30 June 2015]

Ida Lupino, the only woman to both star in and direct an episode of this series, is cast here as Barbara Jean Trenton. Barbara Jean is a veteran actress whose best days are clearly behind her. She now lives almost exclusively in the private screening room of her house, watching her old movies and trying desperately to relive the past. Her caring agent / friend Danny Weiss (Martin Balsam) tries in vain to make her accept the fact that time has moved on, but his efforts are basically for nought.

It may be that Ms. Lupino's character is something of a matter of taste. This viewer had little problem sympathizing with her. The fear of growing old, and the entire concept of nostalgia, are very much universal concerns for human beings. However, Barbara Jeans' mental state won't allow her to see people for who they are, or have become; she's fixated on memories of them. This is most evident when Danny arranges for her to meet with her old co-star Jerry Hearndan (Jerome Cowan), who left the film business and now runs a chain of supermarkets.

How closely one identifies with Barbara Jean and how much they sympathize with her may affect how they view the episode, especially the resolution. Her vanity is such that she can't even accept the offer of a role, even a meaty one, because it's basically a character role, which she considers beneath her.

It's the performances that really make this work. Ms. Lupino is compelling, with a very strong and likable turn from Balsam, an appealing one from Cowan, and a memorable interpretation by Ted de Corsia as studio head Marty Sall.

Eight out of 10.

Mediocre but a nice performance.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 13 June 2010]

Ida Lupino is rather brave, as she plays a vain aging actress who is afraid to face the fact that she's not the young leading lady anymore. Instead of enjoying life, she sits around all day watching her old movies and pretending that life hasn't passed her by. When her agent (Martin Balsam) comes to see her, he begs her to stop his gloomy isolation and try out for a part. She agrees to try out for the part but the meeting with the producer goes horribly--as she INSISTS on playing a young lady and that the part is much bigger. She is, sadly, an over-aged prima donna--an "aging broad with a scrapbook" as the producer says in anger when she misbehaves horribly. And, as a result, she is not at all likable and it's hard to feel that sorry for her--and eventually it's too much for Balsam's character to put up with either.

Because Lupino refuses to accept the truth, she once again retreats to her movies--locking herself in a room for hours and hours on end and avoiding everyone. The hard-working and ever-patient Balsam has a plan. He'll bring one of her old co-stars by for a visit--perhaps a friend from the past will snap her out of it. Unfortunately, when Lupino sees this once-handsome man who is now older and far from handsome, she further retreats--unwilling to even continue the visit! She behaves abominably towards the guy---and I just wanted to backhand her! While the twist that eventually comes is only mediocre and the show lacked the weirdness I loved in "The Twilight Zone", there is still a lot to like. Lupino's fine acting is refreshing and a tribute to her as a professional--especially since I am sure many of the actresses of her era would NOT have agreed to play such an unlikable and pathetic character. Nice performance in an average (at best) episode.

By the way, Balsam was, as always, wonderful and believable here in support.

Rip-off of Sunset Boulevard ??

[BradenLambdin · 5/10 · 20 October 2020]

Is it me...or is this almost the exact same plot as the film Sunset Boulevard (1950)?? Think about it...a former star actress of the silent age still thinks she's the leading lady in Hollywood, until someone points out that she is washed up. The only difference in these versions is the endings (which i will not spoil but Sunset Blvd. has a much more realistic ending). I don't know if this was intentional, but the fact that The Twilight Zone episode came out 9 years after the film with a strikingly similar premise is sorta suspicious in my eyes.

I'm Ready For My Close-Up, Mr. Serling.

[Skeeter700 · 4 February 2006]

'The 16mm Shrine' is "The Twilight Zone"s take on Sunset Blvd. An aging actress, played by Ida Lupino, sits in a darkened room watching her old films. She longs to be beautiful and famous again; Just as she was in those films. All the while her maid and agent try to help her realize that 20 years have passed and she can't go back. Martin Balsam and Ida Lupino both deserve credit for creating memorable characters in the short amount of time they were given. The theme of revisiting the past was touched upon in the prior episode 'Mr. Denton On Doomsday' and would be dealt with even more extensively upon in the next episode 'Walking Distance'. However, both 'Mr. Denton On Doomsday' and 'Walking Distance' achieved a more satisfying conclusion then 'The 16mm Shrine'. The final plot twist is just unconvincing. Overall, I give it a 6 for 10.

It Just Doesn't Do It!

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 25 September 2008]

The actress that can't handle getting old is a recurring theme in movies: Baby Jane, Sunset Boulevard, etc. These people who were admired for their glamor must have problems when it comes to being absorbed into the general population. This was still the time when Hollywood created stars and then threw them away. Today, some of the stars are as successful in their maturity as they are when young, although the young still have a tremendous advantage. Ida Lupino can't stand growing old and has turned into a bitter, nasty witch. Still, there is great sympathy for her, especially from the man who has stood by her throughout her life. This has a pretty happy ending although we never know exactly where she has been sent. She could be in a personal hell for all we know. It fits the Twilight Zone formula very well and there are at least two other episodes that use the same basic plot.

She lives a world apart from reality.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 18 February 2019]

It speaks highly of the much underrated Ida Lupino that she does not overplay in this episode of The Twilight Zone where as a faded movie star, she is obsessed with the on-screen glory of the past that has led to a present of regret and delusion. Looking much the same (as this was obviously newly shot footage for the on screen excerpts) as she did 20 years before, Lupino is stubbornly sticking with the legend that her on-screen character believes to have wrongly alluded her and when the chance of a "return" results in her agent insulting her, she further falls into the trap of her past. That aspect of this episode would have been fine either had their shown actual Lupino films from the 1930's or have Lupino suddenly age like her male co-star who shows up for a sudden visit, revealing that Lupino in her character's eye still believe herself to be young and lovely.

Martin Balsam as an old friend provide solid support as he shows up to visit her on several different occasions only finding her to get worse and worse. The on-screen footage does not appear to be from the 1930's, so that does ring a brief false note in this entertaining episode that bears uncanny comparison to both "Sunset Boulevard and "The Star". Yet, Lupino remains commanding and believable throughout, never resorting to becoming melodramatic and maudlin. I had hoped for a more chilling conclusion but sounds what was their acceptable and wondered if this somehow could have inspired Woody Allen later with his comic masterpiece "The Purple Rose of Cairo".

Whatever Happened To Baby Jane foreshadowed

[darrenpearce111 · 7/10 · 25 November 2013]

The only person to star in a TZ and direct one ('The Masks') was Ida Lupino. She was a fairly big film star and a very acclaimed film director. There was usually a down-to earth tone to her performances and a gritty, dark quality about the films she directed. So it's interesting to see her as a spoiled star of old movies whose vanity prevents any comeback. Barbara Jean Trenton refuses to play a forty-year-old mother or come to terms with her stardom ending with a hit-and-run incident twenty-five years past. Miss Lupino and Martin Balsam (Arbogast in 'Psycho') are good as the nostalgic fan of her own stardom and the loyal, sympathetic agent.

Another Unheralded Episode

[ramsfan · 9/10 · 31 March 2020]

I gain a greater appreciation of Rod Serling's genius with each watch and with each passing year. The man was simply a visionary who could tap into emotions many of us share, and touch on themes as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine is one such episode, a show with a powerful commentary on one's desire to return to the past and the potential dangers in doing so.

Barbara Jean Trenton (Ida Lupino) is a faded star twenty years past her prime. Longing for the glory days, the former leading lady sits in her viewing room watching her old reel-to-reel films and shuttering herself from the outside world, much to the chagrin of her dutiful maid and caring agent Danny Weiss (Martin Balsam). Unwilling to acknowledge her mortality and contemptuous of modern day pictures, a scheduled audition for a small movie role and a later reunion with her one-time leading man, now an aged retiree only drive her further into fantasy. She again retreats to watch her films, unwilling to adjust to the present and unable to return to the past. Or is she?

Rod Serling's work frequently displayed a nostalgia for a simpler time and a desire "to go home again". His elevated status in Hollywood, the demands required for success and the battles he fought with TV executives created personal turmoil and only further reinforced these feelings. The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine is a poignant reflection of this theme. Veteran actress Ida Lupino does a masterful job of conveying the fear of irrelevance and reminding us of the fine balance required between fond remembrances vs losing oneself in the past. Fine Support is given by Martin Balsam as the agent desperately trying to shake Barbara Jean from clinging to the past. And Ted DeCorsia has a small but meaningful part as a movie producer not at all inclined to entertain Barbara Jean's delusions.

Another solid early episode of the Twilight Zone. Recommended watch.

Some fine performances, but not a whole lot else

[Shattered_Wake · 6/10 · 20 November 2010]

Picture of a woman looking at a picture. Movie great of another time, once-brilliant star in a firmament no longer a part of the sky, eclipsed by the movement of earth and time. Barbara Jean Trenton, whose world is a projection room, whose dreams are made out of celluloid. Barbara Jean Trenton, struck down by hit-and-run years and lying on the unhappy pavement, trying desperately to get the license number of fleeting fame.

Playing a bit like Billy Wilder's 'Sunset Blvd.' but with Ida Lupin ('High Sierra') instead of Gloria Swanson as the distressed, aging movie star. To me, this has always been one of the least entertaining & watchable episodes of the series. While Lupino, who would later be the only female ever to direct an episode of the show, does a great job as Barbara Jean Trent, and Martin Balsam is a solid co-star as Trent's agent & friend, the overall episode just does not have enough oomph behind it to make it a classic. This may come from the fact that it, for so long, played out as little more than just a standard Hollywood-themed drama, and the 'Twilight Zone'-ness of it doesn't appear until the final few moments which, to be honest, weren't creative enough to steal the show.

Overall, it's a nice effort to do something a bit different, but it just wasn't a stellar episode and won't go down as one of the tops of this wonderful series.

-AP3-

Dusty Dreams of a Prima Donna

[injury-65447 · 9/10 · 13 June 2020]

I really loved this one. I don't understand why it's rated so low on IMDB.

It captures a mood very well and Ida Lupino's performance is captivating.

The idea of an aging actress locked away in self isolation with her old memories, losing herself in a fantasy world of the past, is very Twilight Zone. It's a touchingly tragic story - and even more relatable now in a world where many people choose to live in their screens (me included) rather than engaging with the horrible reality we find outside.

I love how when she is confronted with the harsh truth of her present day, she digs herself in and adamantly refuses to see reason. Her life is one of dreams, and magical roles, of fantasy - she's not able to engage with reality the way other people are. The screen has made her immortal by capturing and recording her in those perfect, pristine moments.

I just really loved the vibe of this episode and it resonated with me.

One major flaw

[richspenc · 6/10 · 31 December 2015]

This could've been an extremely good, moving episode if they just left out one major flaw. They made Barbara dean Trenton's "present" day character look exactly the same, exactly looking the same age as her character 25 years earlier. Barbara is continuously hooked on the past. She is an almost retired, has-been movie actress who spends most of her present days watching her old films from 25 years ago when she was a young, shining star in the prime of her glory days, in the prime of her youth. Barbara, now middle aged, is obsessed with wishing she could just go back. She spends most of her time hiding away with her mind in the past glued to her old films. Her agent, Danny, tries to help her, but the only work Barbara can find now is bit parts playing the herion's mother. Barbara can not accept that her days of being the beautiful young herion herself are gone. Even meeting up with her old flame Jerry Herndon, now noticeably aged, from her old films can't help her feel better. If they made Jerry noticeably aged, why couldn't the writers of this episode make a visual age difference between the two Barbaras? Barbara already looks middle aged in this episode. Why couldn't they've found a younger looking actress to play the young Barbara? I don't understand that. This episode even shows us an old photo of a beautiful, younger looking woman on the screen at the very end of the episode. I wasn't sure if that was a photo or a painting actually, but I'm sure the producers could've found an actress somewhere that looked more like her to play the younger Barbara instead of using the exact same actress looking exactly the same.

Living In The Past

[AaronCapenBanner · 8/10 · 25 October 2014]

Ida Lupino stars as former movie star actress Barbara Trenton, who lives a secluded life in her mansion, where she spends all of her time watching her old movies, where she was young and beautiful, being romanced by handsome leading men. Those days are gone, but her friend and agent(played nicely by Martin Balsam) tries to get her out of this trap, but his attempt to get her a new acting job goes terribly wrong, leaving poor Barbara little solace but in her movies of the past, which she is desperate to get back to... Underrated episode works even better today, with timely themes of longing for better times, though now of course she would be watching the films on DVD!

The ideas here were both better handled in the previous episode and come across as a stiff re-write of great films like "Sunset Blvd" and its angle on the void of obscurity.

[SLionsCricketreviews · 6/10 · 7 November 2017]

Each episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE so far has been a step down from its predecessor. While this isn't inherently true for the second episode with respect to the first, for they were such different but almost equally delightful viewing experiences, it is true of the latter two episodes. One of the biggest issues of this episode is that much of its thematic ideas were better explored in the previous episode, "Mr. Denton on Doomsday".

It's about lost fame, the desire for control in one's life that is spiraling way out of control. Unfortunately the context of the fading movie star here lacks any feeling of individuality as it comes off mostly stiff and too much a poor carbon copy of a great film like "Sunset Boulevard" right down to the protagonist meeting with a former director of hers to discuss a new project. It's a problem because the episode seems to treat the main character's downfall in a sincere way, almost asking the viewer to sympathize with the tragedy at play and it ultimately leaves too little time and space for imagination as the show promises in its weekly opening monologue.

The episode is played a tad too conventionally, and stiffly so, that when the 'twist' happens in the episode, it's unfortunately too late for any creative vision to take over. The episode ends almost as clumsily as it begins and the near half an hour passage in between is a perfectly ordinary and watchable but uneventful and underwhelming affair that made me long for more of the remarkable entertainment value of the show's first two episodes.

The episode's guest stars are Ida Lupino, who I recognized from "High Sierra" featuring Humphrey Bogart, and character actor Martin Balsalm who was highly impressive in the films I had associated him with: "12 Angry Men" and "Psycho". Lupino is good but Balsalm was bitterly disappointing in the role of the faded star's closest acquaintance. There are instances of blatantly poor acting, especially whenever a degree of range is asked for. The most effective casting choice was Alice Frost as the servant for my money and the film's only mildly creepy moment occurs with her character where she sees her employer on the movie screen in her private screening room. As the scene began to play itself out, I was suddenly reminded of the maid's earlier line to Balsalm's character about how she is certain that she's been seeing Lupino's character up on that screen. In an almost classical TWILIGHT ZONE style, the scene builds up with the promise of a fine payoff but here, completely squanders such an opportunity to create something memorable and nerve-wrecking by cutting away from the scene.

"The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" was an underwhelming episode. The ideas of lost fame and the need for control of destiny were better handled in the slightly more imaginative and Twilight Zone-esque episode that was the predecessor. Here, most of it feels too uninspired and the episode fumbles its way through to the end without exercising a degree of creativity which is what I've come to adore about the show. Not a bad episode by any means but a bitterly disappointing experience.

Boring.

[Analog_Devotee · 3/10 · 4 November 2021]

A slow and boring tale caked in melodrama that leads up to an equally disappointing and not-far-out-enough ending. Value your time and skip this episode.