 |
| Fred (Tom Gilleran), Scott (Lee Kinsolving), and Steve (Michael Forest), alien invaders, ride into town |
“Black Leather Jackets”
Season Five, Episode 138
Original
Air Date: January 31, 1964
Cast:
Scott:
Lee Kinsolving
Crew:
Writer:
Earl Hamner, Jr.
And Now, Mr. Serling:
“Earl
Hamner, Jr. brings his typewriter and his fertile mind back into The Twilight Zone next
time with a program about visitors. On the surface they’re beatniks, a few
raunchy-looking characters on motorcycles roar into town one day. But once you
meet them, you won’t forget them. They’re quite different from what they appear.
On The Twilight Zone, Lee Kinsolving,
Shelley Fabares, and Michael Forest star in ‘Black Leather Jackets.’”
Rod Serling’s Opening Narration:
“Three
strangers arrive in a small town. Three men in black leather jackets in an
empty rented house. We’ll call them Steve and Scott and Fred, but their names
are not important. Their mission is, as three men on motorcycles lead us into The Twilight Zone.”
Summary:
The peaceful calm of a suburban neighborhood is shattered by the arrival of three mysterious young men on motorcycles. Dressed in black leather jackets, the trio—leader Steve, along with Fred and Scott—rent a house from a local real estate agent. Their new neighbor, Stu Tillman, is immediately suspicious. He warns his daughter, Ellen, to steer clear of them.
The peculiar behavior of the young men increases Stu Tillman's suspicions. Large quantities of industrial freezers are delivered to their house and strange electrical disturbances begin that night. Unbeknownst to Stu, the strangers also possess telekinetic powers. Stu goes next door to investigate the electrical disturbances and is met with a hostile reception. He confronts the men, who push him around and, through a strange mental power, compel him to forget the encounter and return home, convinced they are just "nice boys." Meanwhile, in their own home, the strangers activate a room full of advanced electrical equipment, alluding to a larger, unknown purpose.
The plot thickens when Ellen, needing a ride, accepts an offer from Scott, the youngest of the three strangers. While sitting in the town park, they form a connection through conversation. Scott misses a crucial meeting with Steve and Fred, who are seen communicating with a monstrous, disembodied eye on a screen. The true nature of the strangers is revealed: they are advanced extraterrestrials, disdainful of humanity, and they have been infiltrating communities worldwide in preparation for a final strike to rid the planet of its inhabitants.
As days pass, Scott becomes increasingly attached to Ellen, and his affection for her causes him to question the mission. He misses another meeting, and when Ellen finally confronts him about his secrets, he grows angry, prompting her to go home. Steve punishes Scott but lets him stay on as a non-participant, just as the final, chilling instructions are received: they are to poison the town's water supply with deadly bacteria.
Scott makes a desperate attempt to save Ellen. He flees to her house and begs her to run away with him to a safe place. Confused and terrified, Ellen believes he is mentally unstable and seeks her father's help. Stu calls the sheriff's office and Deputy Harper assures him they'll handle the problem. In a shocking twist, Deputy Harper is revealed to be one of the alien invaders.
In a final, desperate plea, Scott
returns to his house and implores the alien leader to spare humanity, arguing
that they are capable of love. His plea is rejected, and he is branded a
traitor. He returns to Ellen's house and is confronted by Deputy Harper. Scott
tries to warn the Tillmans, but it's too late. Deputy Harper and three medical attendants
forcibly take Scott away. As Scott is led off, his final words are a hopeless
warning that they've made a terrible mistake. The Tillmans, unaware of the true
danger, watch him being taken away, thinking they've done the right thing.
Deputy Harper leaves with a sinister sense of satisfaction, his true nature
still a secret. The invasion is now unstoppable, and humanity is doomed.
Rod Serling’s Closing Narration:
“Portrait
of an American family on the eve of invasion from outer space. Of course, we
know it’s merely fiction – and yet, think twice when you drink your next glass
of water. Find out if it’s from your local reservoir or if possibly it came
direct to you from The Twilight
Zone.”
Commentary:
When “Black Leather Jackets” aired in January of 1964, it tapped into one of the most pervasive fears of the time: youth rebellion. The episode centers on three leather-clad beatniks who, to the horror of middle-class citizen Stu Tillman, move in next door, threatening not only the sanctity of his quiet neighborhood but also the innocence of his daughter Ellen. But this is The Twilight Zone, so these aren’t human beatniks, but extraterrestrials sent to poison the town’s water supply in a coordinated effort to wipe out humanity.
The most glaring inconsistency in the episode is the choice of the aliens arriving as leather-clad beatniks on loud motorcycles, a group that would have instantly drawn unwanted attention in any quiet, suburban neighborhood of the era. This choice was likely made for no other reason than to introduce an element of social commentary into the science fiction plot. The premise of the episode is built on a cliché of 1950s cinema: the rebellious outsider. By 1964, however, the image of the dangerous biker boy had largely been rendered obsolete by new “threats” to society and the general upheaval of the increasingly turbulent 1960s. This is one of several reasons why the episode has aged poorly since its original broadcast. The episode ultimately struggles to blend its social commentary with its alien invasion plot, resulting in a fascinating but flawed entry in the series.
Written by Earl Hamner, Jr., the episode was likely influenced by such films as The Wild One (1953), starring Marlon Brando, in which a motorcycle gang terrorizes a small town. The film was based on the story “Cyclists’ Raid” (1951) by Frank Rooney, itself inspired by sensationalist media coverage of the so-called “Hollister Riot,” or “Hollister Invasion,” which occurred during a motorcycle rally in Hollister, California in 1947. In a rarity for Hamner, he used the real names of people he knew for the script. The three aliens were loosely based on Hamner’s son Scott and his son’s friends Steve and Frank. The original title of Hamner’s script was simply “Love Story,” giving some indication of the greater interest Hamner placed in the relationship between Scott and Ellen than in the alien invasion plot. This relationship, and the performances of Lee Kinsolving and Shelley Fabares, gives the episode a glimmer of depth amidst its science fictional flaws. Had the episode been allowed to offer a subtler commentary on prejudice and understanding, it might have resonated more. Instead, it gets bogged down by an absurd plot to poison Earth’s water supply, a plan that feels particularly nonsensical when you consider the aliens possess mind control and telekinetic powers.
Aliens infiltrating small American communities, often with the aim of takeover or destruction, was another staple of 1950s and early 1960s cinema, seen in such films as It Came from Outer Space (1953), based on a story by Ray Bradbury, Invaders from Mars (1953), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), based on the novel by Jack Finney, and Village of the Damned (1960), based on The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham. The downbeat ending of the episode, in which Scott is disbelieved and taken away to an unknown fate, allowing the deadly invasion to proceed, was atypical for the time. This brings up another inconsistency with the episode, however, as the viewer is left to wonder if Scott could have simply demonstrated his alien mind powers to prove to Ellen he was sincere. Without such a demonstration, Ellen is left with no choice than to believe Scott is mentally disturbed.
“Black Leather Jackets” contains production choices that, while perhaps not intentional, lend a campy quality to the episode. The most striking example is the appearance of the alien leader. Hamner’s script described the image of the leader, named “The Mask,” as a metallic mask with slits for the eyes and nostrils. Instead, we see a giant, disembodied eye on screen. This single, unblinking eyeball is more absurd than menacing. The eye, incidentally, belonged to frequent series extra Robert McCord, while the uncredited voice of the alien leader was that of Gregory Morton. The visual absurdities don’t end there. The “beatniks” wear riding goggles that are more comical than cool, and an unintentionally humorous moment occurs when a mind-controlled Stu Tillman walks directly into the doorframe of the house. These stylistic choices – including Van Cleave’s kitschy jazz score – combine to create a disconnect from the effective and menacing tones of the best episodes of the series. Production errors, such as the reflection of a stage light in the doorknob, or the shadow of a boom mike on the white pillar of Ellen’s house, further cements the notion that this was a competent, but not a particularly polished, production.
While the episode has its share of flaws in plot and production, it does not lack for talented performers. Lee Kinsolving (1938-1974) was born in Boston and began acting in college. He was a method actor who studied under Mary Welch at the Actors Studio in New York. After a stint as a leading man on Broadway, Kinsolving began performing in East Coast television programs. He moved to Hollywood in 1959 and landed several film roles, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960). Kinsolving was a versatile and prolific television actor. Notable television roles include the Route 66 episode “Follow the White Dove with the Broken Wing,” and The Outer Limits episode “The Children of Spider County.” He retired from acting in 1966 after becoming frustrated with the business. He briefly owned and managed the Toad Hall restaurant and bar in Manhattan before moving to Florida, dividing his time between Palm Beach and a home in Virginia. Kinsolving managed two art galleries and enjoyed spending time on the sea in his private schooner. He died on December 4, 1974 at the age of 36 from a sudden respiratory illness.
Shelley Fabares (b. 1944) was born Michele Marie Fabares in Santa Monica. She began appearing on television as a young child and made her film debut at age twelve in Never Say Goodbye (1956). Fabares perfected her image as the American girl next door on The Donna Reed Show in the role of teenager Mary Stone, which Fabares portrayed from 1958-1963. This role even led to a brief recording career in which Fabares scored a #1 hit in 1961 with “Johnny Angel.” Fabares appeared in surf movies and Elvis films later in the 1960s. After a dry spell, Fabares reinvented herself as a versatile television actress. Fabares received acclaim for her role in the series Coach (1898-1997), for which she received two Emmy Award nominations. Later in her career, Fabares provided the voice of Martha Kent, Superman’s Earth mother, to several DC Comics animated films.
Michael Forest (b. 1929) was born Gerald Michael Charlebois. He made his way to Hollywood after attending San Jose State University. Forest studied acting under Jeff Corey, through whom he met director Roger Corman. Forest acted in several Corman films in the 1950s and 1960s. Forest was a prolific television actor, appearing on such series as One Step Beyond and The Outer Limits. His most notable television role was as the god Apollo in the Star Trek episode “Who Mourns for Adonis?” Forest performed in stage productions under his birth name and lent his voice to numerous animated productions. The role of the beatniks in “Black Leather Jackets” required the actors to demonstrate an ability to ride a motorcycle. Forest rode motorcycles as a teenager but was not familiar with modern motorcycles. The production team, which included a Technical Motorcycle Supervisor for the episode, created a modified motorcycle for Forest which contained a hand shift and a foot clutch.
Denver Pyle (1920-1997) was born in Colorado and worked numerous jobs before finding his calling as an actor. While working on aircraft production at the Lockheed Corporation in Los Angeles, Pyle was discovered by a talent scout while performing in an amateur production. Pyle is best known for his roles as the grizzled westerner in numerous films and television series. Pyle worked in westerns by director John Ford, such as The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), as well as in films with John Wayne late in The Duke’s career. Other film roles include a memorable turn as Texas Ranger Frank Hamer in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), and a role in the low-budget film The Legend of Hillbilly John (1972), based on the “John the Balladeer” stories of Manly Wade Wellman. On the small screen, Pyle is known for his roles as Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard, Briscoe Darling, patriarch of the trouble-making, musical family, on The Andy Griffith Show, and Mad Jack in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams. Pyle also appeared in an episode of Boris Karloff’s Thriller.
New York-born Tom Gilleran (1936-2022) had the small role of Fred in the episode. Gilleran acted sparingly on the small screen. His notable appearances include four episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Michael Conrad (1925-1983) won two Emmy Awards, and was nominated for two more, for his role as desk sergeant Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues. Conrad earlier appeared in an episode of the short-lived anthology series ‘Way Out, in the creepy episode “Dissolve to Black.” Conrad appeared in a small role in the 1962 film version of Rod Serling’s Requiem for a Heavyweight, as well as in such films as They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) and The Longest Yard (1974). Conrad died in 1983 while filming the fourth season of Hill Street Blues.
Irene Hervey (1909-1998) was born Beulah Irene Herwick in Venice, California. She was trained in performance art from a young age by English actress Emma Dunn, who was a friend of her mother. Hervey signed with MGM early in her career and was often loaned out to other studios. An early memorable role came in United Artists’ The Count of Monte Cristo (1934). She signed with Universal in 1938 and appeared in such films as the western Destry Rides Again (1939), opposite James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich, and the horror film Night Monster (1942), opposite Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. Hervey had a memorable late career role opposite Clint Eastwood in Play Misty for Me (1971). On the small screen, Hervey appeared in many guest roles, including “The Watcher,” an episode of Boris Karloff’s Thriller, and an episode of My Three Sons (1969), for which Hervey received an Emmy nomination.
“Black Leather Jackets” also includes three uncredited roles. Wayne Heffley (1927-2008) appears as the moving man with the speaking role. Heffley previously appeared on the series in Rod Serling’s “The Odyssey of Flight 33.” Gregory Morton (1911-1986) provides the voice of the alien leader. Morton was a staple of television anthology programs. He appeared in episodes of Lights Out, Thriller, and One Step Beyond. Morton provided his voice to episodes of the Irwin Allen productions Lost in Space and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Mark Russell, who plays a medical attendant in the episode, often appeared in uncredited roles, including on The Twilight Zone in “The Fever,” from the first season, and the later fifth season episode “What’s in the Box.”
Joseph M. Newman (1906-2006) is best-known for directing the science fiction spectacle This Island Earth (1955), although director Jack Arnold reshot significant portions of the film, including most of the memorable sequences, when Universal Studios was dissatisfied with the footage shot by Newman. He was twice nominated for the now-defunct Best Assistant Director Academy Award in 1936 and 1937. Newman specialized in films with a documentary feel, a talent he developed while shooting documentaries and newsreels for the Signal Corps during the Second World War. Examples include the film noir 711 Ocean Drive (1950) and the adventure film Red Skies of Montana (1952). Newman turned in competent, if undistinguished, television work later in his career, including three additional episodes of The Twilight Zone: “In Praise of Pip,” “The Last Night of a Jockey,” and “The Bewitchin’ Pool.” Newman also directed ten episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, highlighted by the disturbing third season episode, “An Unlocked Window,” based on a story by Ethel Lina White.
“Black Leather Jackets” suffers from
numerous science fiction clichés and poor production choices that cause the
episode to age poorly. The plot is filled with inconsistencies, particularly in
the aliens choosing such a conspicuous disguise. The episode’s true strength,
however, lies not in its alien invasion plot, but in Earl Hamner’s interest in the cross-cultural relationship between Scott and Ellen. This focus
on a human story, set against a backdrop of suburban fear and Cold War
paranoia, provides the episode with a modicum of resonance. Viewed through the
lens of a flawed production and a society grappling with its fears of youth
rebellion, “Black Leather Jackets” stands as a fascinating, if ultimately below-average,
offering from the series.
Grade:
D
Next Time in the Vortex: A nostalgic trip back in time through the pages of the May/June 1984 issue of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone Magazine.
Acknowledgements:
--Interview with Michael Forest (The Twilight Zone: The 5th
Dimension (CBS DVD/Image Entertainment, 2014))
--Interview with Earl Hamner, Jr. (The Twilight Zone: The 5th
Dimension (CBS DVD/Image Entertainment, 2014))
--Inside The Twilight
Zone by Marc Scott Zicree (CBS DVD/Image Entertainment, 2000)
--“They Came from Beyond Main Street” by
Tony Albarella (The Twilight Zone Scripts
of Earl Hamner (Cumberland House, 2003))
--A
Critical History of Television’s The Twilight Zone, 1959-1964 by Don Presnell and Marty McGee (McFarland & Co.,
1998)
--The
Twilight Zone Companion (3rd
ed.) by Marc Scott Zicree (Silman-James, 2018)
--The
Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic by Martin Grams, Jr. (OTR, 2008)
--The Internet Movie Database (imdb.com)
--Wikipedia (Wikipedia.org)
Notes:
--Joseph
M. Newman also directed the fifth season episodes “In Praise of Pip,” “The Last
Night of a Jockey,” and “The Bewitchin’ Pool.”
--Earl
Hamner, Jr. wrote seven additional episodes of the series, including “The
Hunt,” “Stopover in a Quiet Town,” and the hour-long episode “Jess-Belle.”
--Wayne
Heffley also appeared in the second season episode “The Odyssey of Flight 33.”
--Mark
Russell also had uncredited roles in the first season episode “The Fever” and
the later fifth season episode “What’s in the Box.”
--“Black
Leather Jackets” was adapted as a Twilight
Zone Radio Drama starring Marshall Allman
and Elizabeth Ledo.
--The
interior of the Tillman house is the same living room set used in “Ninety Years
Without Slumbering” and “Ring-a-Ding Girl.”
-JP
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