"The Demon With This Glass Hand," was, is, and will always be may favourite from this series. "The Man Who Was Never Born," is without doubt, the saddest. I always cry/
I always thought The Man Who was Never Born" *must* have been THE major inspiration to Jim Cameron/The Terminator films.. The first time I saw the episode (in the late 90's) my initial reaction was, "well the Terminator films "had" to be based on it...: The concept of going back in time to kill someone to keep a nightmarish future from occurring---that IS exactly what "Never Born" was all about---and the Terminator franchise, too, obviously. The first 20 minutes of the episode are a master class in episodic sci-fi writing. (It gets a little schmaltzy after that, but I enjoy the whole episode, especially the ironic twist ending.) Good memories!
@@schmoborama I always thought that Robert Culp, when playing a serious part vs. going for comedy ("The Greatest American Hero" ....), had the benefit of his additional insight as he was also a prolific Screenwriter and occasional Director. Demon is certainly one of his finest performances.
No matter how many times these episodes are shown, I always watch. These shows were way ahead of their time, and today's television cannot compare. These programs made you use your mind, think and ask the question, could this be possible?
18:34 My favorite is Inheritors. The metallurgist was Ivan Dixon who went on to play Kinchlow in Hogan's Heroes and the plant manager he worked with in this episode was portrayed by Leon Askin, who went onto play General Burkhalter in Hogan's Heroes.
There were a couple episodes with Hogan's Heroes actors in it. Richard Dawson was in at least one episode. Same for the guy that played Major Hochstetter.
I absolutely cannot believe that you had "The Sixth Finger" as just a runner up! - It will ALWAYS be the greatest written and acted episode of Outer Limits in my opinion. David Macallum (who would go on to fame in "The Man from Uncle" ) was incredible in this role. His character read like a Shakespearean play.
Fun fact: the shooting script actually ran a little short, and so they added a scene in which McCallum's character plays the piano and then comments about how little humanity creates that is truly lasting. It was written at the last minute (and not by the original screenwriter), yet is one of the more memorable scenes in the episode, with elegant dialogue that blends seamlessly with the rest of the script.
I still shudder at the episode "Wolf 359".....(I'm now 67) My older sister tried to scare me that same night I watched it. She snuck into my room, put a sheet over her head and waited until I was drifting off to sleep when she sprang it on me! I screamed loud enough that the neighbors thought I was getting murdered. She got a beating for it! Ahhhhh.....the 60's!
"My older sister tried to scare me" you say, I say you're lucky she didn't make you forget all about having legs and a bladder... and no 'try' about it from what I read(but I'm a year younger than you are.)
The idea of a simulated reality existing in a laboratory, which is intrinsically evil due to being man-made... Frankenstein, anyone? Still terrifying, thanks to some carefully-deployed puppetry.
Boy, you sure hit on my favorites. I saw these way back when they originally aired. I was supposed to be doing my homework but was fascinated by the Outer Limits. As others have mentioned, I was more than frightened by several of these episodes. The combination of the story, the great acting, the moody black & white, and the music all worked perfectly. I still can't stand bugs after watching the Zanti - oops spoiler alert.
Mistakenly, I introduced my son to The Outer Limits with the Zanti Misfits, and he, now in his twenties, STILL refuses to watch any other episodes. It's a brilliant, well-produced series. I feel it stands up today, and the things it discusses should be discussed, even now.
ICOOTW was a sideways waring about how nuclear waste was NOT going to go away. Cleaning up a room brought enough of the stuff together to create critical mass and kill people? Oh yes. Nuclear terror indeed.
I'm not sure many people thought that the aim of THE TWILIGHT ZONE was to be scary per se, altho certain episodes had very frightening moments and concepts. I don't think anyone who dug into the series's individual approaches a little deeper would compare these two different series as being more or less the same thing, since the only real links between them was that they both were early-ish black and white tv shows that dealt with fantastic elements. But how they presented and used aspects of the fantastic were quite different and unique to each of the shows. (well, this is a perspective I may have since I've bee involved in researching these and other shows like this and knew a couple of the writers. .)
As a kid, I was worried that it might come through our TV to get us!! ;-) Another great series and even before "The Twilight Zone" was the show "One Step Beyond" which was based on true stories. Very strange and worth checking out! ;-)
And do not forget "Corpus Earthling", I best recall that episode when I first watched the series back then when I was 9. I remembered Robert Culp for that episode for my first impression as an outstanding good actor. "Architects of Fear" is my favourite episode.
@@DANTHETUBEMAN a few years back, I watched Greatest American Hero and realized that he MADE that show; his character was so well played and the chemistry between him, William Katz and Connie Selleca was so excellent, as good as Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley, IMHO.
Yes! The skill of the producers drew viewers right into the story by stimulating them to think! By doing so, emotions take over and the story becomes nearly real.
The 2 part Inheritors episodes were my favorites. Outstanding acting and writing were hallmarks of this program. Truly belongs in the Golden Age of television!
@@4absentfriends Steve Inhat's speech at the end of The Inheritors was Fantastic. One of the hallmarks of this series was that the "Aliens" or alien influence was often benevolent, and that the "Monster" was actually a Human element ... for example, the Alien in the Bellero Shield.
@@pastateconstablesoffice It's "Ihnat." I think Ihnat was actually a bit irritated with the authors of The Outer Limits Companion for making the same mistake.
I'd love to see this remade as a movie, if it could be done in a similar spirit to the original. And I wonder how many have considered the seriously creepy part of the plot, amounting to the kidnapping of those kids, though apparently for noble purposes. Maybe a movie, or a series based on this episode as the opening of a longer story, could go further by handling the kidnapping element.
I remember seeing the one with David MacCallum as the guy they transformed into a future man when I was a kid then later he was in the Man From UNCLE. I noticed there that Martin Landau's father was Commisioner Gordon from the 60s Batman.
Season 1, Episode 5 - "The Sixth Finger". David McCallum was also in Season 1, Episode 32 - "The Forms Of Things Unknown". He was one of the rare stars that made more than one appearance in the series. Martin Landau was another.
@@colinp2238 No problem. "The Outer Limits" may have premiered in the 1960's, and only lasted 2 seasons. But, it was such an amazing, powerful, thought provoking series with many wonderfully cringe worthy moments. And, it still stands up even today. Now, I don't know about you, but I have one absolute favorite episode. Season 2, Episodes 10 & 11 "The Inheritors". It is an emotional rollercoaster, stretched out over 2 weeks & 2 episodes. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
the man who was never born also had the most amazing soundtrack, as many of them did. 6th finger definitely should have made top ten. btw you can watch all these on amazon prime
If you feel like spending $, yes you can. However, these are also on www.dailymotion.com All you have to do is type in 1963 Outer Limits tv series & viola!! Granted, there's long ads you can't turn off but still.
I saw some years ago, a special on The Outer Limits, and was impressed by how one scene was filmed: when Martin Landau's character is running through the woods, and the camera angle is low and up, it was said the cameraman was on a board that was pulled along through the woods. Or maybe on a low camera dolly. It was long enough ago that I forget details.
My favorite was the Architects of Fear. The faux alien was considered too frightening for prime time TV. So the final minutes where you actually see the alien were broadcast after the 11:00 news when children wouldn’t be up. What a great and intelligently written sci-fi TV show.
Ah... the power of puppetry. It's often used on stage, here in Britain at least, most recently in the stage adaptation of 'Spirited Away', but when used in a TV episode to create an alien more effectively that TV-budgeted CGI... and forty years before... very impressive.
HARLAN ELLISON WAS A BRILLANT WRITER, I COMPARE HIM TO H G WELLS . HE WROTE STAR TREKS " CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER " WHICH IS STILL MY FAVORITE . I BELIEVE HE WON A HUGO AWARD FOR THAT EPISODE
@@crankychris2 1967. The version of ‘City’ that won the Hugo was the one that aired on NBC, as opposed to the teleplay that Harlan originally wrote. That script won the Writer’s Guild award for Best Teleplay, as did ‘Demon With a Glass Hand’ a couple of years earlier.
Yes, “Demon With The Glass Hand” was also my favorite! What a great story! And I liked Robert Culp’s cat-like moves, but that ending was something else! It pulled the rug from under me!
Back then ( I'm old ) it was almost a cliche that 'man discovers he's a robot' represented a common dissatisfaction with life post-WWII, so it wasn't as shocking as it might be today. The equivalent today would be realising we are living in a simulation or a video game. Mundane in 2024.
Dang! I've been meaning to watch this show for years, but I'm moving it to the front burner. In this best-of video I spotted Cliff Robertson, Robert Duvall, Sally Kellerman, Robert Culp, and Arlene (T'Pring) Martel, and a lot of faces were familiar from other shows of the era. Thanks for a great video!
One of the most interesting, enriching, thoughtful shows ever created. A perfect match with other programs like The Twilight Zone, One step Beyond, Star Trek & others. A time when TV actually challenge the audience to think & imagine the possibilities. How times have changed. Today’s TV is a embarrassment..& insulting to our intelligence.
Although I was obsessed with The Outer Limits as a 7 year old in 1963 because of the monster factor, the human interest aspect of the plots didn't interest me all. But when I got into Sci-Fi literature Harlan Ellison was one of my faves, along wit Philip K. Dick & other progenitors of cyberpunk. Reruns of the show were few & far between, if not non-existent, at that time. But then MGM released VHS versions in the 80s & TNT started showing it on weekends in the early 90s. Now I have the complete collection in digital format on an external hard drive. And "Demon" is one of my faves as an 'adult'. This inspired me to dig it up & binge out on some classic TV. Thanks for this vid, dude.
“It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork” and “Don’t Open Till Doomsday” are right up there as well. But we’ll be here all day rating these episodes...they’re all great! My favorites tend to be the ones with Robert Culp.
Well. They're not _all_ great. But this was a show that aimed for a high standard of literate writing, strong acting, and expert directing, and achieved those standards surprisingly often.
I think Steven Moffat referenced the Zanti. In the Doctor Who version of 'The Christmas Carol', there is mention of spiders with baby faces that only live in the back of wardrobes. I had an instant flashback.
Besides being Ellison's story, "Demon With A Glass Hand" benefits from the direction of the legendary Byron Haskin, who also directed several other episodes in your top 10.
just some of my favorite episodes : invisible enemy..cry of silence..cold hands, warm heart..galaxy being..a feasibility study..the probe..man who was never born. thanks for this great video.
I remember when it was first aired, there was a younger kid who lived next door that got so spooked by the first episode that he couldn't watch past the intro. A scary alien coming through the TV, that could be enough to scar a person for life. I thought it was great, and have been a fan ever since. Today we've got aliens coming through the TV all the time in the guise of "commercials", not particularly scary, mostly just disgusting.
Cool coming across this post. Outer Limits... one of only a couple of my favorite, visionary, iconic sci-fi presentations which have stuck with me my entire life, first getting excited about it when it first aired in 1963. For me, it would be hard to pin down a favorite, though your top 10 certain reflects mine closely. However, comparing the the original to that trashy remake from the 1990s is like comparing fine wine to Kool-Aid, or a healthy, tasty home cooked meal to a bag of junk food from a hamburger joint: no comparison.
One exception to your rule: The episode where those time travelers kill the would-be mass murderers IN ADVANCE makes for a compelling ep....And that story was never on the original OL....
I have to go with "The Inheritors" A great two part episode about the hope and benevolence of an alien world. A very clever plot of aliens utilizing a small group of humans against their own will that ultimately led to an act of charity gifted to the least among us. Superb acting and a score designed to pull on our heartstrings. BRILLIANT!
#6 The man who was never born; someone going back in time to prevent a mother from giving birth to a son who would grow up and destroy mankind, that's the script for the Terminator.
'The Man Who Was Never Born', 'Soldier', and Philip K Dick's story 'Second Variety', make Terminator. 'Second Variety' was made as 'Screamers' back in the 90s, but to little effect. They basically missed all of the story beats that made that story effective.
The Inheritors was my favorite episode. It showed a decent race of aliens that didn't want to conquer the Earth. They just wanted to help the helpless of Earth to repopulate their own planet. In away it showed how unfeeling we humans can be toward our own disabled.
Vic Perrin did all of the intros and outdros in one or two days! He was quoted as stating that he just had a gift for sounding authoritarian, even though he had NO IDEA what the speeches related to!!
Wow! I didn't realize that there were only 2 seasons. I was in grade school then. These were great shows. The mostly MESS that's on T.V. now. SHEESH!!!
It certainly made a lasting impression for 2 seasons. I was so bummed as a kid when I heard OL was off the air suddenly. Then 1 Step Beyond went south.
Thanks for posting this video. I was eleven years old when this series first appeared, and every episode was uttering intriguing to me. Though i didn't fully grasp the essence of this series, the underlying appeal was that it was truly "adult" writing that made it so successful, along with appearances by actors of less notoriety at the time who would go on to become great actors. Absolutely super TV and so innovative. Much of today's SciFi is cheapened by an abundance of effects and misses the true story-telling beauty that makes viewing immensely more enjoyable. Best Rgds.
I was eight years old when that episode aired. I was terrified by the energy monster. My dad had a vacuum cleaner like the one in "It Crawled Out of the Woodwork" and I would never go near it after watching that episode of The Outer Limits.
That was the first one I saw and has always been my favorite; the plot itself was kind of mundane, but the energy monster was SO COOL LOOKING!! Excellent effects for the time!
How could you not even mention the 'backdoor pilot' episode, "The Forms of Things Unknown", with David McCallum, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Vera Miles, and Barbara Rush, and directed with astonishing-for-television chiaroscuro panache by Gerd Oswald (who also directed the very worthwhile episode, 'The Invisibles').
At the time TFOTU was filmed, Science Fiction literature was experimenting with "New Wave SF." Which was oblique and atmosperic - more concerned with beauty than fear. I always thought it very daring for a TV "Sci FI" show to try and match New Wave's most experimental prose.
What a great series. My favorite was Hundred Days of the Dragon. But then again they were all my favorite. Because of this show I enjoyed a 32 years career in the sciences. They were very cerebral stories and always had a moral. I loved that show I was 7 when it first aired.
Thanks for a fine look at a show considered 2nd fiddle to Twilight Zone, but nonetheless a great sci-fi series. My fav Outer Limits episode -- one which influenced the 11-year-old me quite a bit -- had Carroll O'Connor as a charming, very un-Archie alien coming to Earth to freeze time in order to stop a murder. It was a spellbinding concept skillfully done and it highlighted O'Connor's versatility -- modern day viewers would never know it's him if they don't see the credits. And there's a line that cracked me up at age 11 and still does -- though he has frozen time, O'Connor's character can roam the venue of the impending murder. He examines the contents of a person's wallet, reporting back his home planet, "It has several certificates inside, each with the picture of a woman." (George Washington)
Saw "Demon With a Glass Hand" on its original airing when I was all of seven. Scared the hell out of me. Didn't see it again until sometime in the early 80's. Definitely my favorite.
I saw it when it first aired when I was about ten. About four years later, my dad decided to show me the Bradbury Building. I knew nothing about it, but when we entered and saw those wrought-iron elevator shafts and marble stairs, I immediately recognized it as 'that building! In The Outer Limits!' My dad had no idea what I was talking about.
You mean DON'T OPEN 'TILL DOOMSDAY"? Yeah,yuck!! But there's ANOTHER OL ep about a creepy house....only this house is an ILLUSION...."The Guests". (Wonder why the character "Norton" was allowed to escape?)
This whole show was done on the cheap. That being said, every dollar got on to the screen. The raw talent on display is astounding, then and now. Acting, writing, directing, photography, all of it, the top of their game. This is what the the best sci-fi does, it burrows into your brain and changes who you are for the better.
When watching all of the episodes, notice how the same sets, houses, road with trees, lake and bridge keep appearing. Many of the interior sets are also re-used: the O.B.I.T. machine turns up on a moon-base, for example ( in an episode that would not have been out of place on 'Space: 1999' ).
Loool. I could not contain myself when I heard him say "the troubling implication of recognising an artificial being as equal to a human" This is in a country that found it difficult to accept other human beings as equally human until relatively recently. As a kid growing up in the sixties TOL scared the life out of me but I always came back for more.
Forms of Things Unknown is tops for me (still way ahead of its time!) followed closely by The Guests, Don't Open Till Doomsday, Demon With A Glass Hand and the massively underrated The Duplicate Man.
Always really liked THE DUPLICATE MAN episode. The monster could've been better, but the concept of it speaking almost alluringly kind while being insanely violent?---now THAT was great!
"While conducting an inquiry into the disappearance of an administrator at a government research facility, a Senator (Peter Breck) is confronted with paranoia, secrecy, and intimidation. He then learns about an unusual security device that monitors the employees. The Outer Band Individuated Teletracer (known by the acronym O.B.I.T.)[1] is so pervasive that no one can escape its prying eye. After the missing administrator is found alive, and he reveals his knowledge of O.B.I.T., its sinister unearthly origins and purpose become apparent." Well, that pretty much sums up Facebook & Zuckerberg! lol
And, I can speak for the wrath of Zuckerberg & Facebook, personally. As I have been kicked off, my account deleted & my IP address blocked from the FB servers! lol
@@Nacho-Mamma The Soviets used to turn political dissidents into "Non Persons" and that's what Facebook tries to do to those that won't fall into line. Soon Zuckerberg will morph into our Emperor Palpatine.
@@billolsen4360 Well Bill, with Pervey Joe and Kameltoe Harris taking reign over the country, he will be Czar. Because, they both have repeatedly talked about the "Change" in how the country will be run, and have made no attempt to hide the fact that they are both communist sympathizers! And, social media has already become socialist media, laying out the RED carpet for them! So, we are so screwed!
Great Series Critique! I hold dear "The Outer Limits", I recall smelling my Moms cooking from the living room, as I sat on the floor in awe watching many of the episodes from this show. The closing theme sometimes brings a sentimental tear to my eyes.
@@GeorgeOrwell-yz6zx I used to sit in front of the old B+W Poe Motorola swearing I would not watch the show again,,, next week , back in front of the thing for another dose , hahaha.
This is a pretty decent selection of the Top Ten of Outer Limits. The only issue I have is that "O.B.I.T." should be solidly on it; it's depiction of a crusading U.S. Senator is one we sadly lack in these horrific days of political corruption.
I agree with "Demon WAGH" as #1, but my personal favorite is "The Inheritors", driven by two great actors - Robert Duvall & Steve Inhat (who most today have never heard of).
Inhat was never out of work, appearing in dozens of movies and TV shows of the era including Star Trek TOS ("Garth" in "Whom Gods Destroy.") It was quite shocking that he died from a heart attack at only 37.
I could figure out or understand "The Inheritors" until the third time I watched it. After which I consider it brilliant. Also the final episode of the series with Cedric Hardwick and David McCallum (cannot recall the title at the moment) is among my top five episodes.
The Premonition I liked your video. Well done! I would just add, as a old geezer sci fi fan who saw probably every episode as it was broadcast, The Premonition remains as my favorite.
So many great episodes, and I can't dispute anyone's picks. I still have my favorites, but one episode that has moved up high on my list is "O.B.I.T." -- way ahead of its time. I've come to really appreciate Jeff Corey and Harry Townes these days. Corey was an extremely versatile actor (as Luke Benson in Superman's "The Unknown People", as Plasus in Star Trek's "Cloud Minders", as Sgt. Singer in a Gomer Pyle episode, and in the "OBIT" episode as Byron Lomax. Seems like I remember him in an Untouchables episode as well, and I'm sure there are plenty of others).
The photography in that episode is outstanding, especially the set lighting. The blobs of light on the wall behind Corey during the alien's closing soliloquoy is almost avant- garde!
And that early masive desktop looking computer with its CRT monitor on the O.R.B.I.T episode was innovative for its time too!. Just like Lt Uhuras blue tooth device she had used in her ear, while at the comm controls on the USS Enterprise too. And these props was early to mid 60's sci-fi ideas it seems.
One of my favorite episodes also. Harry Townes acting impressed me as well. When he admits he secretly watched the O.B.I.T. screen, admitting “ I lied” it struck me as so honest and genuine. As usual Dominic F.s music was fantastic at a cinematic level.
"The machines are everywhere!" Definitely one of the scariest episodes. An extraordinarily creative concept. No television show has really done horror for adults since then.
*Forty percent of the Top 10 reviewed featured actors who later went on to win Academy Awards. And had you included (from the runner-up list) "The Guests", then fully half of the Top 10 episodes could've been said to feature actors who had (or would) win Academy Awards.*
Great video and overview. In "The Inheritors" - Steve Ihnat (Lt. Minns) and Robert Duval (Dr. Ballard) have an epic speech and exchange at the end. The scene is very emotional, affecting how we look at handicapped children or anyone with special needs.
My favorite of the series as well. And here's the thing: It's AMAZING that no one seems to talk about: Lt Minns lures these children away, and KIDNAPS them. The episode never really goes into the kidnapping aspect of it, except for a couple of lines that Ballard uses toward the end, when he's rebuking Minns. No effort is spared to stop Minns and his team, but that is true long before they have any inkling that children are involved. If you wanted to do a remake, you could go into the reactions of those left behind. You could also do a sequel, with those kids, those PRE-PUBESCENT, newly HEALTHY, mixed-gender kids, on that ship. O.M.F.G. The mind reels at the possibilities. But no, the new series did a remake, and gave us the biggest piece of STANK in the whole bunch.
@@ronaldgarrison8478 Remakes and sequels usually look like a good idea on paper. But the public decides later. The 1960s OUTER LIMITS is in an Epic class or an "ELEMENT" of its own. Joseph Stefano, the writers and talent team pulled together a classic miracle. I like your ideas for a followup on "The Inheritors." I can relate more to the Renaldo character who was the tech wiz and designed the anti-grav engine and the impenetrable force field generator. (I have a bit of an emotional side too.) You also might enjoy the 1960s series, "The Prisoner" with Patrick McGoohan. With a background of "The Village," it is an allegory to maintaining one's independence and dignity. Take care!
“Soldier” about the two soldiers attacking each other, written by Harlan Ellison was the inspiration for the “Terminator “ series. Not my favorite episode though.
When the Zanti Misfits arrived on Earth, I was a schoolboy with a bedtime of 9 pm, the starting time for showing The Outer Limits on television. Somehow I persuaded my Dad to let me have one evening a week when I could stay up until 10 pm, requesting the evening when The Outer Limits was shown. Wow! What television! The aliens weren't human actors in odd makeup, they had a different form, yet with endearingly humanlike faces! (OK the stop motion could have been improved.) But the concepts in the story.... Aliens who don't look like us! Aliens making demands: take our prisoners (not up for negotiation - scary). The concept of a civilization so advanced that they cannot kill - but they know that Earthmen can. The Earthlings were involved to do a job on the irredeemable prisoners. The aliens are not threatening Earth at all. Phew! What a relief. A satisfying storyline and not too scary after all! The episode made an impression on this boy & stays with me today. I appreciate you making the video of your Top Ten, but for me the Zanti Misfits takes my number one spot.
The grim lesson of the Zanti Misfits is that the aliens chose Earth because we are such good killers. That left a deep impression on my young mind. The manipulation, the difference between two civilisations, and the terrible reason for contact. Brilliant. With the quote about how a civilisation can be judged on how it treats its prisoners.
The start of the Outer Limits STILL gives me chills at 64. As an 8 yr old it literally gave me nightmares! Despite that I loved the show! The calibre of actors in it was amazing.. My favourite episode? The Galaxy Being!
Also, one of its very best eps is "Zzzz", primarily because of how stunningly acted the main character is (it seems hard to believe it was made in the early '60s) and how well written her relationship with the scientist is, though the premise is more fantasy than sci-fi.
I watched the outer limits when I was a kid I loved it along with The Twilight Zone both were great and better than anything else back then I wished the Outer Limits wasn't cancelled so soon Damn I was mad I watched every episode of both shows I loved the full hour of the Outer Limits It was well both were ahead of their time also loved the Time Tunnel it was good but all the good stuff didn't last as long as shitty stuff I loved the way the intro was on Outer Limits boy I thought it was cool boy those were the good old days 3 channel
I think you chose solid episodes, so thank you for the interesting look back. I also loved _Demon with a Glass Hand,_ but it would have been my #2. My #1 would be one of your runner-ups, _The Inheritors._ It is memorable to me in that it starts out as a mystery and turns into a solid story of hope and positivity. The fact that it is the only two-parter helps it stand out as well, giving time the story needs to really be fleshed out.
My favorite is about a couple living in a 1950s ranch house. One evening the wife is cooking dinner (of course) & a thunderstorm rolls in. It seems to be worse than usual. At one point it even sounds like something is hitting their roof. The husband looks outside to see a fire ball crashing through the atmosphere and then to the earth. He goes to check it out. There's some odd damage to the earth not far from the house. Back inside, he and his wife decide to weather out the storm. Suddenly the pounding on the roof starts again. The wife looks just in time to see something weird disappear back into the woods - a giant man? Husband doesn't believe her. When the pummeling resumes, he looks out the window to see it - a 30 ft tall man disappearing into the woods. They try to call the sheriff but the phone line is down. Then the storm knocks out the power. The wife screams. Something is looking into the house at them - it's the giant man. Now the husband's angry. He goes outside to get into a david vs goliath battle, with wife trying to stop him. The storm rages until dawn. Once the phone lines are back up, hubby calls the sheriff & tells him about the giant. He says the only thing that happened is a weather balloon went down. Hubby goes outside when workmen are getting the weather balloon off of the roof. You can see what looks like big handprints all over the roof and hubby's and wife's horrified faces. The end.
Yea, The thought of being trapped inside of that shield forever was very frightening, Also Sally Kellerman was in an old episode of Star Trek, Where no man has gone before.
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" was actually the second pilot for ST:TOS (very unusual for a second pilot to be made), funded by Lucille Ball and which sold the show to NBC.
The Outer Limits gave us some of the most memorable creatures in Sci/Fi history, and are almost as iconic as the creations of Ray Harryhausen, who will forever be the reigning master of "Stop Motion" animation & monster maker! The only exception would have to be the original Universal Studio's 1931 "Frankenstein" Boris Karloff Creature created by Jack Pierce. That is hands down the most beautiful makeup design in cinematic history.
I always go into these top 10's wondering if my affection for one or two of my favourites will be shared by the video creator. In most cases I'm happy if one or two are mentioned. In very rare cases, half my list is represented. The AdorkableRJ reveals that dorks abound. 5 of my favs within the top ten, and one in the honourable mentions breaks all records. I had 'The Galaxy Being' and' A Feasibility Study' higher on my list and O.B.I.T. is among my top ten, but we both chose "Demon with a Glass Hand" as #1. I'll happily join you to binge-watch anything you like. (One Step Beyond perhaps?)
Very well presented, giving away none of the endings. However, "The Inheritors" was by far the best, if not the best TV show period. Superb acting, superb ending.
My all time favorite sci-fi TV series!!! (with the possible exception of Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner," which may or may not qualify as sci-fi). Intelligent scripts and great acting. 2 things I most love about the OL series: 1) the gorgeous b&w cinematography (by Conrad Hall and Kenneth Peach), and 2) the wonderful music (by Dominic Frontiere and Harry Lubin). A few of my personal faves: "Keeper of the Purple Twilight" - "O.B.I.T." - "The Borderland" - "The Human Factor" - "The Forms of Things Unknown" - "The Production and Decay of Strange Particles" (you GOTTA love that title!) - "The Guests" - "Controlled Experiment" (the only humorous episode) - "The Sixth Finger" - "It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork" (that shapeless energy monster scared the $&#@ out of me when I was a kid!)
As far as special effects, I think "The Borderland" was their best. _Plot-wise, though_ ... not so much. Still, it's fun to watch; the production's sfx team really went to town with it.
The episode that I would have included was "The Production and Decay of Strange Particles," about an accident at a nuclear research laboratory. The setting is unusual - no spaceships in this one. No time travel, or monsters. Only a nuclear reactor hurtling toward meltdown. The aliens in this case, are men in hot suits who have been terrifyingly transformed by the radiation in the reactor room. The story proceeds with a cool, nightmarish grandeur to a grand finale.
Oh yes, I forgot that one! That's one of the few which missed something by not being in color. That wouldn't be a bad plot for a modern movie. That scene where the crushed men are being pulled up to be converted into alien energy beings was really frightening.
@@raymondhoward7164 That one, yes! And the moment just before that one, when the men in the hot suits are hiding behind the lead shielding, when the energy being steps around it to stare at them - and they see for the first time what has become of the men they left behind in the reactor room.
@@richardwadholm4019 Yes! There's an Invasion of the Body Snatchers feel to the scenes in the reactor building which still seems scary to me. I might add that I really can't agree with this best of list. It's rather elitist, prizing drawing room drama typical of elite literature over effective evocation of fear and wonder. The idea that any group of people would continue their intrigues and squabbles in the face of aliens in their living room - as happens in The Bellero Shield is ridiculous. That's why I'm a fan of Lovecraft. He understood that people who encountered aliens or spirits - who were no more likely to be benign than we are - would be permanently changed and probably traumatized. That's a better premise for a show such as T.O.L. than the liberalism of English majors.
But you forgot that,there "was another dimension involved"....which caused time-reversal effects (An atomic bomb exploding then IMPLODING,leaving no fallout!)
The Inheritors, was one of the best episodes of The Outer Limits. A current theme of today's Ufologists, is that aliens have manipulated our DNA, which was a groundbreaking idea in this episode. The location apartment - exterior of the Lt. Minhs/Ballard encounter, was shot at 6232 Afton Pl. In Hollywood. The building is in both parts (1&2) of the 2 hour continued episode. It still looks the same as it did so many years ago. It has an identical twin building directly across the street. The original, has steps to the front door, the twin has a low ramp. You can Google Map it to see the street view.
Anyone that grew up to see this series will HAVE to agree...this was the BEST sci fi series of all time!
Couldn’t agree more Rich!
Agreed 📼
I do too. Profound; nothing else compares.
Yeah
Stephen King called it the best show of it's kind.
"The Demon With This Glass Hand," was, is, and will always be may favourite from this series. "The Man Who Was Never Born," is without doubt, the saddest. I always cry/
I always thought The Man Who was Never Born" *must* have been THE major inspiration to Jim Cameron/The Terminator films.. The first time I saw the episode (in the late 90's) my initial reaction was, "well the Terminator films "had" to be based on it...: The concept of going back in time to kill someone to keep a nightmarish future from occurring---that IS exactly what "Never Born" was all about---and the Terminator franchise, too, obviously. The first 20 minutes of the episode are a master class in episodic sci-fi writing. (It gets a little schmaltzy after that, but I enjoy the whole episode, especially the ironic twist ending.) Good memories!
Agreed on both.
The Galaxy Being was pretty cool, too......
Demon is SO GOOD even with the villain's horrible outfits :p Culp was perfect, my #1 ep.
@@schmoborama I always thought that Robert Culp, when playing a serious part vs. going for comedy ("The Greatest American Hero" ....), had the benefit of his additional insight as he was also a prolific Screenwriter and occasional Director. Demon is certainly one of his finest performances.
No matter how many times these episodes are shown, I always watch. These shows were way ahead of their time, and today's television cannot compare. These programs made you use your mind, think and ask the question, could this be possible?
18:34 My favorite is Inheritors. The metallurgist was Ivan Dixon who went on to play Kinchlow in Hogan's Heroes and the plant manager he worked with in this episode was portrayed by Leon Askin, who went onto play General Burkhalter in Hogan's Heroes.
Agreed, and I think "Demon w/ Glass Hand" is No. 2.
There were a couple episodes with Hogan's Heroes actors in it. Richard Dawson was in at least one episode. Same for the guy that played Major Hochstetter.
@@RedVynil Hogan's had a great cast.
I absolutely cannot believe that you had "The Sixth Finger" as just a runner up! - It will ALWAYS be the greatest written and acted episode of Outer Limits in my opinion. David Macallum (who would go on to fame in "The Man from Uncle" ) was incredible in this role. His character read like a Shakespearean play.
Fun fact: the shooting script actually ran a little short, and so they added a scene in which McCallum's character plays the piano and then comments about how little humanity creates that is truly lasting. It was written at the last minute (and not by the original screenwriter), yet is one of the more memorable scenes in the episode, with elegant dialogue that blends seamlessly with the rest of the script.
Agree...'The Sixth Finger' was certainly one of the best.
No he had it as #1 he mentioned runners up before, between 1 & 2 .
Absolutely correct! THE BEST episode by far
My all time favorite ...
I found The Outer Limits much scarier in general than Twilight Zone when watching these back in the sixties.
Charlie Sierra absolutely 👍
I agree with you. The Outer Limits was more than scary. It was down right frightening. Until this day. It still scares me.
You're right. Wish they could have done more seasons.
I found that the old television series called Thriller with Boris Karloff was the scariest of all!!
@@lupepeters3255 Thank you. I will have to check it out again!
I still shudder at the episode "Wolf 359".....(I'm now 67) My older sister tried to scare me that same night I watched it. She snuck into my room, put a sheet over her head and waited until I was drifting off to sleep when she sprang it on me! I screamed loud enough that the neighbors thought I was getting murdered. She got a beating for it! Ahhhhh.....the 60's!
Hilarious story !! Thanks ! 😄😄😄😄
"My older sister tried to scare me" you say, I say you're lucky she didn't make you forget all about having legs and a bladder... and no 'try' about it from what I read(but I'm a year younger than you are.)
O.B.I.T. is my #1
#2 is nightmare
#3 the man with a glass hand.
The idea of a simulated reality existing in a laboratory, which is intrinsically evil due to being man-made... Frankenstein, anyone?
Still terrifying, thanks to some carefully-deployed puppetry.
The opening sequence, Vic Perrin’s “control voice,” and Dominic Frontiere’s score is was enough to make me sit quietly, and explore The Outer Limits.
The first season only had the music of Dominic Frontiere. But the second season music by Harry Lubin is just as classic.
Dominic Frontiere's music was used in various episodes of another 1960's TV classic! " The Invaders!"
Another guy who did some Outer Limits voice-overs was Robert Johnson. Fun fact: Johnson also did the "tape voice" on the Mission: Impossible series.
@@philcarpenter242 I think he did some voice work on Star Trek too.
He has a great voice like Doug rain as HAL.
Best sci fi show of all time. So much greatness about it, especially the music..
Boy, you sure hit on my favorites. I saw these way back when they originally aired. I was supposed to be doing my homework but was fascinated by the Outer Limits. As others have mentioned, I was more than frightened by several of these episodes. The combination of the story, the great acting, the moody black & white, and the music all worked perfectly. I still can't stand bugs after watching the Zanti - oops spoiler alert.
Mistakenly, I introduced my son to The Outer Limits with the Zanti Misfits, and he, now in his twenties, STILL refuses to watch any other episodes. It's a brilliant, well-produced series. I feel it stands up today, and the things it discusses should be discussed, even now.
No love for IT CRAWLED OUT OF THE WOODWORK? Cthulhu in a vacuum cleaner? Gave me nightmares.
No love for your opinion but I sleep well.
I think that cloud of smoke and the panic and fear on the actors faces scared me most definitely. Yeah that was a bizarre story.
This one and "Production And Decay Of Strange Particles" (which also had Leonard Nimoy in it) were the ones that gave me the most nightmares.
ICOOTW was a sideways waring about how nuclear waste was NOT going to go away.
Cleaning up a room brought enough of the stuff together to create critical mass and kill people? Oh yes. Nuclear terror indeed.
The outer limits was 10 time's more scary than the twilight zone, I watched this show my whole childhood and know everyone of them very well.
i always liked the outer limits better because it was an hour long as opposed the the 30 minute Twilight Zone
I'm not sure many people thought that the aim of THE TWILIGHT ZONE was to be scary per se, altho certain episodes had very frightening moments and concepts. I don't think anyone who dug into the series's individual approaches a little deeper would compare these two different series as being more or less the same thing, since the only real links between them was that they both were early-ish black and white tv shows that dealt with fantastic elements. But how they presented and used aspects of the fantastic were quite different and unique to each of the shows. (well, this is a perspective I may have since I've bee involved in researching these and other shows like this and knew a couple of the writers. .)
@@RSEFX very true my friend.
Your comment was 10 time’s more sleep inducing than others I’ve read on this app my whole time and I don’t wanna know you at all.
@@jimmyjennings4089 Thanks. I didn't mean to sound dismissive, tho i can see ho w it might come across that way.
I was about 6 when "the Galaxy Being" premiered. It scared the hell out of me. I was afraid that thing might be looking at me through the window.
Same here at about 7yo. I closed all the drapes & blinds in any room I was in for a few nights.
Yep, me too. That guy with no mouth scared the living crap out of me. I was ten,.
I was four--and transfixed by the Being, lol.
As a kid, I was worried that it might come through our TV to get us!! ;-)
Another great series and even before "The Twilight Zone" was the show "One Step Beyond" which was based on true stories.
Very strange and worth checking out! ;-)
@@USCG.Brennan Maybe that's what inspired the author of Poltergeist
Robert Culp was a great actor. Architects of Fear. The Man with the Glass Hand. I loved him on I Spy. Just a wonderful actor.
Demon with the Glass Hand. And Corpus Earthling, at no extra charge to you.
And do not forget "Corpus Earthling", I best recall that episode when I first watched the series back then when I was 9. I remembered Robert Culp for that episode for my first impression as an outstanding good actor. "Architects of Fear" is my favourite episode.
I agree, great actor. I liked him in the greatest american hero. He is just always good.
@@DANTHETUBEMAN a few years back, I watched Greatest American Hero and realized that he MADE that show; his character was so well played and the chemistry between him, William Katz and Connie Selleca was so excellent, as good as Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley, IMHO.
@@varanid9 yes he was the glue, he always brought something to the part.
I watched The Zanti Misfits when I was a little kid and those Zanti absolutely terrified me.
You damn right
It terrified my big sister too, but i just laughed my A$$ off but it was so funny to me.
Orlor Me too!!
@Dave Smith - Well, when you're seeing this shit when you're 5 years old, it's some scary shit.
I never looked at ants or bugs the same way again after that.
They just don't write sci fi like this anymore ! You actually have to Think
Which seems to be a dying "art", these days. 😢 Peace !
Because of people like Richard Matheson.
@@vanillagorilla8236 So true ! Thanks. ☺️
Yes! The skill of the producers drew viewers right into the story by stimulating them to think! By doing so, emotions take over and the story becomes nearly real.
That's WHY they don't do it anymore! They don't WANT us to think and, most people these days CAN'T think!!
Had many nightmares over many years after watching "The Guests". One of the best psychological horror episodes of all time!
The man who was never born should be number 1 just based on martin landau's performance alone
The 2 part Inheritors episodes were my favorites. Outstanding acting and writing were hallmarks of this program. Truly belongs in the Golden Age of television!
I couldn't agree more !
@@4absentfriends Steve Inhat's speech at the end of The Inheritors was Fantastic. One of the hallmarks of this series was that the "Aliens" or alien influence was often benevolent, and that the "Monster" was actually a Human element ... for example, the Alien in the Bellero Shield.
@@pastateconstablesoffice It's "Ihnat." I think Ihnat was actually a bit irritated with the authors of The Outer Limits Companion for making the same mistake.
I'd love to see this remade as a movie, if it could be done in a similar spirit to the original. And I wonder how many have considered the seriously creepy part of the plot, amounting to the kidnapping of those kids, though apparently for noble purposes. Maybe a movie, or a series based on this episode as the opening of a longer story, could go further by handling the kidnapping element.
I remember seeing the one with David MacCallum as the guy they transformed into a future man when I was a kid then later he was in the Man From UNCLE.
I noticed there that Martin Landau's father was Commisioner Gordon from the 60s Batman.
Season 1, Episode 5 - "The Sixth Finger". David McCallum was also in Season 1, Episode 32 - "The Forms Of Things Unknown". He was one of the rare stars that made more than one appearance in the series. Martin Landau was another.
@@Nacho-Mamma Thanks. Must watch those again.
@@colinp2238
No problem. "The Outer Limits" may have premiered in the 1960's, and only lasted 2 seasons. But, it was such an amazing, powerful, thought provoking series with many wonderfully cringe worthy moments. And, it still stands up even today.
Now, I don't know about you, but I have one absolute favorite episode. Season 2, Episodes 10 & 11 "The Inheritors". It is an emotional rollercoaster, stretched out over 2 weeks & 2 episodes.
If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
Yup--Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon).
the one with Martin Laundau and Commisioner Gordon was "The Bellero Shield"
the man who was never born also had the most amazing soundtrack, as many of them did. 6th finger definitely should have made top ten. btw you can watch all these on amazon prime
If you feel like spending $, yes you can.
However, these are also on www.dailymotion.com
All you have to do is type in 1963 Outer Limits tv series & viola!!
Granted, there's long ads you can't turn off but still.
I saw some years ago, a special on The Outer Limits, and was impressed by how one scene was filmed: when Martin Landau's character is running through the woods, and the camera angle is low and up, it was said the cameraman was on a board that was pulled along through the woods. Or maybe on a low camera dolly. It was long enough ago that I forget details.
My favorite was the Architects of Fear. The faux alien was considered too frightening for prime time TV. So the final minutes where you actually see the alien were broadcast after the 11:00 news when children wouldn’t be up. What a great and intelligently written sci-fi TV show.
Ah... the power of puppetry. It's often used on stage, here in Britain at least, most recently in the stage adaptation of 'Spirited Away', but when used in a TV episode to create an alien more effectively that TV-budgeted CGI... and forty years before... very impressive.
HARLAN ELLISON WAS A BRILLANT WRITER, I COMPARE HIM TO H G WELLS . HE WROTE STAR TREKS " CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER " WHICH IS STILL MY FAVORITE . I BELIEVE HE WON A HUGO AWARD FOR THAT EPISODE
Yes, 1968 I think.
@@crankychris2 1967. The version of ‘City’ that won the Hugo was the one that aired on NBC, as opposed to the teleplay that Harlan originally wrote. That script won the Writer’s Guild award for Best Teleplay, as did ‘Demon With a Glass Hand’ a couple of years earlier.
I was a kid when this show hit the TV. It scared the crap out of me. I know now it was the last real artwork to ever appear on television.
Zanti Misfits scared me right down to my 10 year old socks.
@@petercrowl9467 But of course, we didn't turn the TV set off & pick up the Golden Book version of The Three Little Pigs to get our minds off of it!!
Well, there WAS, "The Prisoner" 4 years later!
Yes, “Demon With The Glass Hand” was also my favorite! What a great story! And I liked Robert Culp’s cat-like moves, but that ending was something else! It pulled the rug from under me!
Back then ( I'm old ) it was almost a cliche that 'man discovers he's a robot' represented a common dissatisfaction with life post-WWII, so it wasn't as shocking as it might be today.
The equivalent today would be realising we are living in a simulation or a video game. Mundane in 2024.
Trent's girlfriend also played Spock's wife on Star Trek "Amok Time"
Yep! And the bank robber in The Zanti Misfits was a young Bruce Dern.
And was on Twilight Zone’s creepy “22” episode, another TZ episode and a Columbo episode. A real doll.
@@JAMESLEVEE - Which leads me to think of 'Silent Running.'
Arlene Martell. She did Twilight Zone, too.
@@chereecargill355 And an episode of Banacek.
Dang! I've been meaning to watch this show for years, but I'm moving it to the front burner. In this best-of video I spotted Cliff Robertson, Robert Duvall, Sally Kellerman, Robert Culp, and Arlene (T'Pring) Martel, and a lot of faces were familiar from other shows of the era. Thanks for a great video!
One of the most interesting, enriching, thoughtful shows ever created. A perfect match with other programs like The Twilight Zone, One step Beyond, Star Trek & others. A time when TV actually challenge the audience to think & imagine the possibilities. How times have changed. Today’s TV is a embarrassment..& insulting to our intelligence.
Couldn’t agree more!
I, for one am glad I gave up commercial TV 12-15 years ago.
I do not miss it.
You summed it up perfectly.
Although I was obsessed with The Outer Limits as a 7 year old in 1963 because of the monster factor, the human interest aspect of the plots didn't interest me all. But when I got into Sci-Fi literature Harlan Ellison was one of my faves, along wit Philip K. Dick & other progenitors of cyberpunk. Reruns of the show were few & far between, if not non-existent, at that time. But then MGM released VHS versions in the 80s & TNT started showing it on weekends in the early 90s. Now I have the complete collection in digital format on an external hard drive.
And "Demon" is one of my faves as an 'adult'. This inspired me to dig it up & binge out on some classic TV.
Thanks for this vid, dude.
Fuck hi tech, I lived through this shit. loved it, die shitters die.
When you are very young THE ZANTI MISFITS seem to stand out.
"Don't Open Til Doomsday" would be on my list.
“It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork” and “Don’t Open Till Doomsday” are right up there as well. But we’ll be here all day rating these episodes...they’re all great! My favorites tend to be the ones with Robert Culp.
Well. They're not _all_ great. But this was a show that aimed for a high standard of literate writing, strong acting, and expert directing, and achieved those standards surprisingly often.
I couldn't agree more ! Thanks.
Those are my two favorites!
I still have Zanti Misfit nightmares.
I think Steven Moffat referenced the Zanti. In the Doctor Who version of 'The Christmas Carol', there is mention of spiders with baby faces that only live in the back of wardrobes. I had an instant flashback.
It's the first episode I think about anytime The Outer Limits comes to mind.
The Zanti misfits was one of my all.tme favorite episodes. Those ant bodies with those human looking faces are. Classic.
They made a model of the Zanti's. One of which needs a dusting off, on my mantle. ;)
I couldn't look at them after the first glimpse!
Besides being Ellison's story, "Demon With A Glass Hand" benefits from the direction of the legendary Byron Haskin, who also directed several other episodes in your top 10.
He also directed George Pal's outstanding "War of the Worlds".
@@stephengorin5131 As well as the equally good, yet underappreciated, _The Power._
@@MCP2012 Yes. Forgot about that one. Thank you!
@@MCP2012 I haven't seen THE POWER in many years. I wonder if I can track down a copy somewhere? Thanks for the reminder.
The Architects of Fear is still a dark and disturbing story.
rip robert culp
I'm watching it right now for the first time. What a great episode.
Kind of like Trump doing what he's doing now......
@@josephcontreras8930 Good God, there is more to the world than your loathing for a politician.
Your opinion is dark and disturbing, knobert!
just some of my favorite episodes : invisible enemy..cry of silence..cold hands, warm heart..galaxy being..a feasibility study..the probe..man who was never born. thanks for this great video.
This show used to scare the bejeepers outta me...
I remember when it was first aired, there was a younger kid who lived next door that got so spooked by the first episode that he couldn't watch past the intro. A scary alien coming through the TV, that could be enough to scar a person for life. I thought it was great, and have been a fan ever since. Today we've got aliens coming through the TV all the time in the guise of "commercials", not particularly scary, mostly just disgusting.
Bejeebers. That's saved for when you're really scared.
Between watching this and the Twilight Zone as a kid, it's no wonder I heard and saw "things" even in the day time when left alone in the house lmao.
Leonard Nimoy also starred in the 1990's remake of " I robot' on the new Outer Limits. Playing the same part.
Where are THEY located?! Do we all have bejeeper’s?!
Cool coming across this post. Outer Limits... one of only a couple of my favorite, visionary, iconic sci-fi presentations which have stuck with me my entire life, first getting excited about it when it first aired in 1963. For me, it would be hard to pin down a favorite, though your top 10 certain reflects mine closely.
However, comparing the the original to that trashy remake from the 1990s is like comparing fine wine to Kool-Aid, or a healthy, tasty home cooked meal to a bag of junk food from a hamburger joint: no comparison.
One exception to your rule: The episode where those time travelers kill the would-be mass murderers IN ADVANCE makes for a compelling ep....And that story was never on the original OL....
“Don’t open till doomsday” is one of my favorites
That's definitely a good one. Easily one of the most delightfully weird episodes.
TheAdorkableRJ huge the outer limits fan loved the nightmare episode it’s one of my favorites 🙃
and Miriam Hopkins !!
@Silvio Manuel The crew working on that episode named the monster "Turdo".
I remember that scared the he'll out of me as a kid.
I have to go with "The Inheritors"
A great two part episode about the hope and benevolence of an alien world.
A very clever plot of aliens
utilizing a small group of humans against their own will that ultimately led to an act of charity gifted to the least among us. Superb acting and a score designed to pull on our heartstrings.
BRILLIANT!
Hearing the music from this episode still chokes me up a little. Amazing work.
My second choice. A great one!
This was one of my faves also ...
@@MG-chaotic I have this episode on VHS tape from decades ago. I play every few years.
It kinda feels like a Spielberg film.
#6 The man who was never born; someone going back in time to prevent a mother from giving birth to a son who would grow up and destroy mankind, that's the script for the Terminator.
@Rusty Shackleford Spock, to Bones, about Kirk: “He knows.”
The son was a liberator and hero in Terminator. Not a villain.
'The Man Who Was Never Born', 'Soldier', and Philip K Dick's story 'Second Variety', make Terminator.
'Second Variety' was made as 'Screamers' back in the 90s, but to little effect.
They basically missed all of the story beats that made that story effective.
The Inheritors was my favorite episode. It showed a decent race of aliens that didn't want to conquer the Earth. They just wanted to help the helpless of Earth to repopulate their own planet. In away it showed how unfeeling we humans can be toward our own disabled.
Yes, The Inheritors was great. Steve Inhat did a incredible job.
They weren't the helpless. They were ... but that would be a spoiler for the most poignant part of the episode.
I'll put in a vote for "The Production and Decay of Strange Particles."
This episode took several viewings over the years for me to actually enjoy it! (Strange Particles)
Vic Perrin did all of the intros and outdros in one or two days!
He was quoted as stating that he just had a gift for sounding authoritarian, even though he had NO IDEA what the speeches related to!!
WHO asked yah?! Just kidding evion. Lol.
Imagine being his kids and being told to go to bed by that voice. After mom vacuumed.
We need a Outer Limits Marathon on television Halloween day the perfect time
Leroy Fisher.
Good idea Leroy, in England though we won't be able to party at Halloween this year because of covid-19.
Great vid! It's hard to believe that this awesome TV series only had two seasons!
Wow! I didn't realize that there were only 2 seasons. I was in grade school then. These were great shows. The mostly MESS that's on T.V. now. SHEESH!!!
It certainly made a lasting impression for 2 seasons.
I was so bummed as a kid when I heard OL was off the air suddenly. Then 1 Step Beyond went south.
Thanks for posting this video. I was eleven years old when this series first appeared, and every episode was uttering intriguing to me. Though i didn't fully grasp the essence of this series, the underlying appeal was that it was truly "adult" writing that made it so successful, along with appearances by actors of less notoriety at the time who would go on to become great actors. Absolutely super TV and so innovative. Much of today's SciFi is cheapened by an abundance of effects and misses the true story-telling beauty that makes viewing immensely more enjoyable. Best Rgds.
"IT CRAWLED OUT OF THE WOODWORK" been watching this show since it was origanally broadcast
I was eight years old when that episode aired. I was terrified by the energy monster. My dad had a vacuum cleaner like the one in "It Crawled Out of the Woodwork" and I would never go near it after watching that episode of The Outer Limits.
@@frazzledude It frightened me as well.
That was the first one I saw and has always been my favorite; the plot itself was kind of mundane, but the energy monster was SO COOL LOOKING!! Excellent effects for the time!
I think the visual effects were especially effective. The show always had an insufficient budget, but that didn't hinder this episode.
This episode & ‘The Guests’ were two of the more creepier episodes!
This scared the hell out of me as a kid i loved watching it
I love any episode of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits where man ends up really being the "monster" of the episode.
How could you not even mention the 'backdoor pilot' episode, "The Forms of Things Unknown", with David McCallum, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Vera Miles, and Barbara Rush, and directed with astonishing-for-television chiaroscuro panache by Gerd Oswald (who also directed the very worthwhile episode, 'The Invisibles').
At the time TFOTU was filmed, Science Fiction literature was experimenting with "New Wave SF." Which was oblique and atmosperic - more concerned with beauty than fear. I always thought it very daring for a TV "Sci FI" show to try and match New Wave's most experimental prose.
I agree...I think its the finest, nuanced episode of all...even having the two stylish ladies, and the blind butler...
@@Grendel979 I love all of the clocks.
@@Grendel979 Kasha will pour and Leonora will serve, come to me in your fine stiletto heels !
What a great series. My favorite was Hundred Days of the Dragon. But then again they were all my favorite. Because of this show I enjoyed a 32 years career in the sciences. They were very cerebral stories and always had a moral. I loved that show I was 7 when it first aired.
That early episode was different with no monsters except human ones . It was more of a political enemy .
Thanks for a fine look at a show considered 2nd fiddle to Twilight Zone, but nonetheless a great sci-fi series. My fav Outer Limits episode -- one which influenced the 11-year-old me quite a bit -- had Carroll O'Connor as a charming, very un-Archie alien coming to Earth to freeze time in order to stop a murder. It was a spellbinding concept skillfully done and it highlighted O'Connor's versatility -- modern day viewers would never know it's him if they don't see the credits. And there's a line that cracked me up at age 11 and still does -- though he has frozen time, O'Connor's character can roam the venue of the impending murder. He examines the contents of a person's wallet, reporting back his home planet, "It has several certificates inside, each with the picture of a woman." (George Washington)
Don't forget his costar alien, Barry Morse.
"It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork" left a deep impression. I watched Outer Limits when it came out as a kid.
Saw "Demon With a Glass Hand" on its original airing when I was all of seven. Scared the hell out of me. Didn't see it again until sometime in the early 80's. Definitely my favorite.
I saw it when it first aired when I was about ten. About four years later, my dad decided to show me the Bradbury Building. I knew nothing about it, but when we entered and saw those wrought-iron elevator shafts and marble stairs, I immediately recognized it as 'that building! In The Outer Limits!' My dad had no idea what I was talking about.
Yep, my favorite as well. Should be a movie.
Cabaret Voltaire did an interesting song about this episode ... " Soulenoid (Scream At The Right Time)". From the cd "Plasticity" ...
I agree, "Demon With the Glass Hand" is my favorite.
Same here.
Watched every episode when I was a kid. They were all scary, some more than others. Loved every minute of it.
Now THIS was a scary show. I still remember the episode about the camera that SUCKS people inside.
You mean DON'T OPEN 'TILL DOOMSDAY"? Yeah,yuck!!
But there's ANOTHER OL ep about a creepy house....only this house is an ILLUSION...."The Guests". (Wonder why the character "Norton" was allowed to escape?)
This whole show was done on the cheap. That being said, every dollar got on to the screen. The raw talent on display is astounding, then and now.
Acting, writing, directing, photography, all of it, the top of their game. This is what the the best sci-fi does, it burrows into your brain and changes who you are for the better.
When watching all of the episodes, notice how the same sets, houses, road with trees, lake and bridge keep appearing.
Many of the interior sets are also re-used: the O.B.I.T. machine turns up on a moon-base, for example ( in an episode that would not have been out of place on 'Space: 1999' ).
I love 'The Guests', 'O.B.I.T', and 'The Forms of Things Unknown'
I think "The Guests" should havd made the top 10.
The Guests is my number one. "The thing upstairs has undreamed your door". "The windows have been undreamed too".
The Zanti scared the livin’ sh*t out of me! Incredible episode.
Loved the Zanti Misfits episode
It made me afraid of ants!
Loool. I could not contain myself when I heard him say "the troubling implication of recognising an artificial being as equal to a human" This is in a country that found it difficult to accept other human beings as equally human until relatively recently. As a kid growing up in the sixties TOL scared the life out of me but I always came back for more.
Forms of Things Unknown is tops for me (still way ahead of its time!) followed closely by The Guests, Don't Open Till Doomsday, Demon With A Glass Hand and the massively underrated The Duplicate Man.
Always really liked THE DUPLICATE MAN episode. The monster could've been better, but the concept of it speaking almost alluringly kind while being insanely violent?---now THAT was great!
My favorite episode was, "The Inheritors" with Steve Ihnat. Steve was a GREAT character actor.
Ah, yes. LORD Garth to you!
Too bad he died so young.
Canadian, went to 'Westdale High School', Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Lived in nearby village of Copetown.
Outside of this, I've only ever seen him in one episode of I Dream Of Jeanie!
It was a double episode story. So twice the enjoyment. Except the ending was not as amazing, to me, but still one of my favourites.
OBIT is facebook.....
Ahmen
"While conducting an inquiry into the disappearance of an administrator at a government research facility, a Senator (Peter Breck) is confronted with paranoia, secrecy, and intimidation. He then learns about an unusual security device that monitors the employees. The Outer Band Individuated Teletracer (known by the acronym O.B.I.T.)[1] is so pervasive that no one can escape its prying eye. After the missing administrator is found alive, and he reveals his knowledge of O.B.I.T., its sinister unearthly origins and purpose become apparent."
Well, that pretty much sums up Facebook & Zuckerberg! lol
And, I can speak for the wrath of Zuckerberg & Facebook, personally. As I have been kicked off, my account deleted & my IP address blocked from the FB servers! lol
@@Nacho-Mamma The Soviets used to turn political dissidents into "Non Persons" and that's what Facebook tries to do to those that won't fall into line. Soon Zuckerberg will morph into our Emperor Palpatine.
@@billolsen4360
Well Bill, with Pervey Joe and Kameltoe Harris taking reign over the country, he will be Czar. Because, they both have repeatedly talked about the "Change" in how the country will be run, and have made no attempt to hide the fact that they are both communist sympathizers! And, social media has already become socialist media, laying out the RED carpet for them!
So, we are so screwed!
I saw everyone of these episodes. I was in the 10th grade and my friends would come over and we would watch The Outer Limits. It was a great show.
They'll never make them like that again - sad to say ! 😢
Friends like those too... sad to say also.@@michaellaplant9543
This is the best sci-fi anthology series of all time.
I loved this show
I loved it, but Twilight Zone was equal I Think.
Great Series Critique! I hold dear "The Outer Limits", I recall smelling my Moms cooking from the living room, as I sat on the floor in awe watching many of the episodes from this show. The closing theme sometimes brings a sentimental tear to my eyes.
Brilliant Show, used to scare the shirt out of me as a kid.
Never had the shirt scared out of me before
Same. Some of the episodes were crazy scary
@@GeorgeOrwell-yz6zx I used to sit in front of the old B+W Poe Motorola swearing I would not watch the show again,,, next week , back in front of the thing for another dose , hahaha.
This is a pretty decent selection of the Top Ten of Outer Limits. The only issue I have is that "O.B.I.T." should be solidly on it; it's depiction of a crusading U.S. Senator is one we sadly lack in these horrific days of political corruption.
I agree with "Demon WAGH" as #1, but my personal favorite is "The Inheritors", driven by two great actors - Robert Duvall & Steve Inhat (who most today have never heard of).
Inhat was never out of work, appearing in dozens of movies and TV shows of the era including Star Trek TOS ("Garth" in "Whom Gods Destroy.") It was quite shocking that he died from a heart attack at only 37.
I could figure out or understand "The Inheritors" until the third time I watched it. After which I consider it brilliant.
Also the final episode of the series with Cedric Hardwick and David McCallum (cannot recall the title at the moment) is among my top five episodes.
The Premonition
I liked your video. Well done! I would just add, as a old geezer sci fi fan who saw probably every episode as it was broadcast, The Premonition remains as my favorite.
And well it should....
So many great episodes, and I can't dispute anyone's picks. I still have my favorites, but one episode that has moved up high on my list is "O.B.I.T." -- way ahead of its time. I've come to really appreciate Jeff Corey and Harry Townes these days. Corey was an extremely versatile actor (as Luke Benson in Superman's "The Unknown People", as Plasus in Star Trek's "Cloud Minders", as Sgt. Singer in a Gomer Pyle episode, and in the "OBIT" episode as Byron Lomax. Seems like I remember him in an Untouchables episode as well, and I'm sure there are plenty of others).
Corey is also outstanding in the excellent John Frankenheimer film, "Seconds".
The photography in that episode is outstanding, especially the set lighting. The blobs of light on the wall behind Corey during the alien's closing soliloquoy is almost avant- garde!
And that early masive desktop looking computer with its CRT monitor on the O.R.B.I.T episode was innovative for its time too!. Just like Lt Uhuras blue tooth device she had used in her ear, while at the comm controls on the USS Enterprise too. And these props was early to mid 60's sci-fi ideas it seems.
One of my favorite episodes also. Harry Townes acting impressed me as well. When he admits he secretly watched the O.B.I.T. screen, admitting “ I lied” it struck me as so honest and genuine. As usual Dominic F.s music was fantastic at a cinematic level.
Harry Townes was also in Star Trek.TOS S1's "Return of the Archons". He played Reger, who takes in the landing party on Beta III.
Oh my God you're telling me that OBIT with the alien monologue at the end of the show doesn't make it a classic top 10. What about
BEHOLD ECK?!
"The machines are everywhere!" Definitely one of the scariest episodes. An extraordinarily creative concept. No television show has really done horror for adults since then.
I loved Eck!
OBIT lives today in Social Media.
*Forty percent of the Top 10 reviewed featured actors who later went on to win Academy Awards. And had you included (from the runner-up list) "The Guests", then fully half of the Top 10 episodes could've been said to feature actors who had (or would) win Academy Awards.*
Outer Limits use to creep me out more then the Twilight Zone
Demon with a glass hand,, was one of my least favorite episodes. To each his own. It's the music on the Outer Limits that still haunts me to this day.
The sound track is FANTASTIC !!!
How did "ZZZZZ" not get mentioned here?
Great video and overview. In "The Inheritors" - Steve Ihnat (Lt. Minns) and Robert Duval (Dr. Ballard) have an epic speech and exchange at the end. The scene is very emotional, affecting how we look at handicapped children or anyone with special needs.
I'll always remember Steve Ihnat as Captain Garth of Izar, hero of Axanar on Star Trek, even if he blew up Yvonne Craig.
@@JAMESLEVEE Ihnat from Copetown, Ontario hamlet. Went to 'Westdale High School' (Wall Of Fame)Hamilton, Ontario(between Buffalo and Toronto).
My favorite of the series as well. And here's the thing: It's AMAZING that no one seems to talk about: Lt Minns lures these children away, and KIDNAPS them.
The episode never really goes into the kidnapping aspect of it, except for a couple of lines that Ballard uses toward the end, when he's rebuking Minns. No effort is spared to stop Minns and his team, but that is true long before they have any inkling that children are involved. If you wanted to do a remake, you could go into the reactions of those left behind. You could also do a sequel, with those kids, those PRE-PUBESCENT, newly HEALTHY, mixed-gender kids, on that ship. O.M.F.G. The mind reels at the possibilities. But no, the new series did a remake, and gave us the biggest piece of STANK in the whole bunch.
@@ronaldgarrison8478 Remakes and sequels usually look like a good idea on paper. But the public decides later. The 1960s OUTER LIMITS is in an Epic class or an "ELEMENT" of its own. Joseph Stefano, the writers and talent team pulled together a classic miracle. I like your ideas for a followup on "The Inheritors." I can relate more to the Renaldo character who was the tech wiz and designed the anti-grav engine and the impenetrable force field generator. (I have a bit of an emotional side too.)
You also might enjoy the 1960s series, "The Prisoner" with Patrick McGoohan. With a background of "The Village," it is an allegory to maintaining one's independence and dignity. Take care!
@@Bippy55 Thanks. I've heard good things about The Prisoner. I'll keep it in mind to check out at some point.
“Soldier” about the two soldiers attacking each other, written by Harlan Ellison was the inspiration for the “Terminator “ series. Not my favorite episode though.
@Greg Jones from Syria
When the Zanti Misfits arrived on Earth, I was a schoolboy with a bedtime of 9 pm, the starting time for showing The Outer Limits on television. Somehow I persuaded my Dad to let me have one evening a week when I could stay up until 10 pm, requesting the evening when The Outer Limits was shown. Wow! What television! The aliens weren't human actors in odd makeup, they had a different form, yet with endearingly humanlike faces! (OK the stop motion could have been improved.) But the concepts in the story.... Aliens who don't look like us! Aliens making demands: take our prisoners (not up for negotiation - scary). The concept of a civilization so advanced that they cannot kill - but they know that Earthmen can. The Earthlings were involved to do a job on the irredeemable prisoners. The aliens are not threatening Earth at all. Phew! What a relief. A satisfying storyline and not too scary after all! The episode made an impression on this boy & stays with me today.
I appreciate you making the video of your Top Ten, but for me the Zanti Misfits takes my number one spot.
Ray Harryhausen wasn't available for the stop-action scenes. ;)
Zanti's, the 'Brain'...and other creatures....they always go for the back of the neck...OUCH!....
The grim lesson of the Zanti Misfits is that the aliens chose Earth because we are such good killers. That left a deep impression on my young mind. The manipulation, the difference between two civilisations, and the terrible reason for contact. Brilliant. With the quote about how a civilisation can be judged on how it treats its prisoners.
The start of the Outer Limits STILL gives me chills at 64. As an 8 yr old it literally gave me nightmares! Despite that I loved the show! The calibre of actors in it was amazing.. My favourite episode? The Galaxy Being!
Also, one of its very best eps is "Zzzz", primarily because of how stunningly acted the main character is (it seems hard to believe it was made in the early '60s) and how well written her relationship with the scientist is, though the premise is more fantasy than sci-fi.
FANTASTIC REMINDER!!! I used to watch this without fail when I was younger and I was NEVER let down. GREAT SHOWS ;} Cheers from Canada and Thx!
I watched the outer limits when I was a kid I loved it along with The Twilight Zone both were great and better than anything else back then I wished the Outer Limits wasn't cancelled so soon Damn I was mad I watched every episode of both shows I loved the full hour of the Outer Limits It was well both were ahead of their time also loved the Time Tunnel it was good but all the good stuff didn't last as long as shitty stuff I loved the way the intro was on Outer Limits boy I thought it was cool boy those were the good old days 3 channel
I think you chose solid episodes, so thank you for the interesting look back. I also loved _Demon with a Glass Hand,_ but it would have been my #2. My #1 would be one of your runner-ups, _The Inheritors._ It is memorable to me in that it starts out as a mystery and turns into a solid story of hope and positivity. The fact that it is the only two-parter helps it stand out as well, giving time the story needs to really be fleshed out.
I remember that the eyes of the monster in "The Architects of Fear" were blacked out by our black bar. The network thought it was too frightening.
LOL
I remember that too.
The alien in " The architects of fear" was blacked out by the network. They saw it as too scary for TV. However the rest of the episode was viewable.
Nightmare is a war game between Earth and planet Ebon. Ebon accidently sent a bomb to Earth, so to make up for it, they staged a war game.
They played it on my station! I remember the 'Thetan' and had nightmares for a few nights afterwards
My favorite is about a couple living in a 1950s ranch house. One evening the wife is cooking dinner (of course) & a thunderstorm rolls in. It seems to be worse than usual. At one point it even sounds like something is hitting their roof. The husband looks outside to see a fire ball crashing through the atmosphere and then to the earth. He goes to check it out. There's some odd damage to the earth not far from the house. Back inside, he and his wife decide to weather out the storm. Suddenly the pounding on the roof starts again. The wife looks just in time to see something weird disappear back into the woods - a giant man? Husband doesn't believe her. When the pummeling resumes, he looks out the window to see it - a 30 ft tall man disappearing into the woods. They try to call the sheriff but the phone line is down. Then the storm knocks out the power. The wife screams. Something is looking into the house at them - it's the giant man. Now the husband's angry. He goes outside to get into a david vs goliath battle, with wife trying to stop him. The storm rages until dawn. Once the phone lines are back up, hubby calls the sheriff & tells him about the giant. He says the only thing that happened is a weather balloon went down. Hubby goes outside when workmen are getting the weather balloon off of the roof. You can see what looks like big handprints all over the roof and hubby's and wife's horrified faces. The end.
Great Show and I never get tired of viewing this imaginative tv of the 60’s
I grew up with the series and remember the ending of THE BELEROSE SHIELD as incredibly frightening. Thanks for the memories!
Yea, The thought of being trapped inside of that shield forever was very frightening,
Also Sally Kellerman was in an old episode of Star Trek,
Where no man has gone before.
@@twist7799 And the sad thing was that after it was gone she was insane, and still believed she was trapped in it forever.
But I NEVER want to see the ep "NIGHTMARE" again....horrible scenes of torture and that distorted sound....aagh....
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" was actually the second pilot for ST:TOS (very unusual for a second pilot to be made), funded by Lucille Ball and which sold the show to NBC.
The Outer Limits gave us some of the most memorable creatures in Sci/Fi history, and are almost as iconic as the creations of Ray Harryhausen, who will forever be the reigning master of "Stop Motion" animation & monster maker! The only exception would have to be the original Universal Studio's 1931 "Frankenstein" Boris Karloff Creature created by Jack Pierce. That is hands down the most beautiful makeup design in cinematic history.
Ray made art with stop motion... beats c.g.i. to me
@@illuminotme4261
Apples and oranges…..
I always go into these top 10's wondering if my affection for one or two of my favourites will be shared by the video creator. In most cases I'm happy if one or two are mentioned. In very rare cases, half my list is represented.
The AdorkableRJ reveals that dorks abound. 5 of my favs within the top ten, and one in the honourable mentions breaks all records. I had 'The Galaxy Being' and' A Feasibility Study' higher on my list and O.B.I.T. is among my top ten, but we both chose "Demon with a Glass Hand" as #1.
I'll happily join you to binge-watch anything you like. (One Step Beyond perhaps?)
Very well presented, giving away none of the endings. However, "The Inheritors" was by far the best, if not the best TV show period. Superb acting, superb ending.
My all time favorite sci-fi TV series!!! (with the possible exception of Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner," which may or may not qualify as sci-fi). Intelligent scripts and great acting. 2 things I most love about the OL series: 1) the gorgeous b&w cinematography (by Conrad Hall and Kenneth Peach), and 2) the wonderful music (by Dominic Frontiere and Harry Lubin). A few of my personal faves: "Keeper of the Purple Twilight" - "O.B.I.T." - "The Borderland" - "The Human Factor" - "The Forms of Things Unknown" - "The Production and Decay of Strange Particles" (you GOTTA love that title!) - "The Guests" - "Controlled Experiment" (the only humorous episode) - "The Sixth Finger" - "It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork" (that shapeless energy monster scared the $&#@ out of me when I was a kid!)
The Prisoner was a classic British spy or ex-spy thriller series which, I believe, ended too soon.
One of my favorite Outer Limits original episodes was The Production and Decay of Strange Particles.
As far as special effects, I think "The Borderland" was their best. _Plot-wise, though_ ... not so much. Still, it's fun to watch; the production's sfx team really went to town with it.
The episode that I would have included was "The Production and Decay of Strange Particles," about an accident at a nuclear research laboratory. The setting is unusual - no spaceships in this one. No time travel, or monsters. Only a nuclear reactor hurtling toward meltdown. The aliens in this case, are men in hot suits who have been terrifyingly transformed by the radiation in the reactor room. The story proceeds with a cool, nightmarish grandeur to a grand finale.
Oh yes, I forgot that one! That's one of the few which missed something by not being in color. That wouldn't be a bad plot for a modern movie. That scene where the crushed men are being pulled up to be converted into alien energy beings was really frightening.
@@raymondhoward7164 That one, yes! And the moment just before that one, when the men in the hot suits are hiding behind the lead shielding, when the energy being steps around it to stare at them - and they see for the first time what has become of the men they left behind in the reactor room.
@@richardwadholm4019 Yes! There's an Invasion of the Body Snatchers feel to the scenes in the reactor building which still seems scary to me. I might add that I really can't agree with this best of list. It's rather elitist, prizing drawing room drama typical of elite literature over effective evocation of fear and wonder. The idea that any group of people would continue their intrigues and squabbles in the face of aliens in their living room - as happens in The Bellero Shield is ridiculous. That's why I'm a fan of Lovecraft. He understood that people who encountered aliens or spirits - who were no more likely to be benign than we are - would be permanently changed and probably traumatized. That's a better premise for a show such as T.O.L. than the liberalism of English majors.
Yeah another of my favs ...
But you forgot that,there "was another dimension involved"....which caused time-reversal effects (An atomic bomb exploding then IMPLODING,leaving no fallout!)
Agree with about 75% of your picks. Great selection. Stellar writing on TOL and way ahead of its time.
Its seems many of today's sic fi movies were inspired by The Outer Limits..
@robert retka two of them, both by Harlan Ellison, which was both Cameron’s first and second mistake
Hollywood thieves and plagiarists outright stole these stories
@@tommylitz4543 it’s not always with malicious or mercenary intent. If they stole more of them their movies and shows wouldn’t suck so much.
Stephen King was a big fan of OT.
I mean O L.
The series that started Stephrn King's writing career.
How so?
The Inheritors, was one of the best episodes of The Outer Limits. A current theme of today's Ufologists, is that aliens have manipulated our DNA, which was a groundbreaking idea in this episode.
The location apartment - exterior of the Lt. Minhs/Ballard encounter, was shot at 6232 Afton Pl. In Hollywood. The building is in both parts (1&2) of the 2 hour continued episode. It still looks the same as it did so many years ago. It has an identical twin building directly across the street. The original, has steps to the front door, the twin has a low ramp. You can Google Map it to see the street view.