tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post3077807343335598757..comments2024-03-13T23:42:41.022-07:00Comments on We Are Controlling Transmission: Spotlight on "The Invisibles"John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-60133064448415250452017-11-24T13:33:29.486-08:002017-11-24T13:33:29.486-08:00I think I come back to re-watch this episode more ...I think I come back to re-watch this episode more than any other. Absolutely riveting tv! The speeches, acting, plot line, this thing has it all. When first watching this as a 9 year old, it must have gone WAY over my head, thus, I don't recall this episode from my childhood, like I remembered vividly Man Who Was Never Born, Sixth Finger, Second Chance and 1 or 2 others. But as an adult, it totally comes alive for me. Bravo!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06899760253608859423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-19955134790785435022015-06-26T17:21:15.323-07:002015-06-26T17:21:15.323-07:00I never thought before to compare it to The Tingle...I never thought before to compare it to The Tingler with Vincent Price, with the William Castle magic of Percepto, but I agree on the similarities for this excellent episode, with George Macready, Don Gordon and Walter Burke! Mr. Burke does another fabulous job in The Mutant with Warren Oates!howiecricket52https://www.blogger.com/profile/04568965336005452543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-26928360940884558692014-11-29T11:04:49.714-08:002014-11-29T11:04:49.714-08:00"Its almost like a gimmick from MISSION IMPOS..."Its almost like a gimmick from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. In most episodes, about half-way through, comes a moment when, all of a sudden - something goes wrong. And their operation about to be breached (cut to commercial 'cliff hanger' break)."<br /><br />One of the most intense moments in the late-80s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE revival comes in a 2nd-season (9th season?) episode, where Jim's cover IS BLOWN, and the baddie tries to kill him, knowing full well EXACTLY who he is!! .....and then Jim goes ahead and PULLS OFF the mission ANYWAY. Wow.Henry R. Kujawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607373491331529952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-18088095763367991392014-01-09T11:22:46.844-08:002014-01-09T11:22:46.844-08:00Props to this episode, as spotlit here. A treat t...Props to this episode, as spotlit here. A treat to discover this OL tribute site. Albeit too late for the party (sigh). But as an incorrigible OL enthusiast, this is among my favorite episodes. Looks like nobody's commented on some of its key strong points, at least as win highest marks from me. <br /><br />The 'bear' itself is perhaps weakest link. A surprising flaw, for a series like OL - whose 'best foot forward' so often was its special visual effects (from optical to makeup design and execution, to props etc). But the powerhouse story, and narrative structure - pulling back the stage curtain slowly, letting the viewer in on what's going on here - bit by surprising bit. Drip, drip, drip - its delicious torture, to savor and thrill this viewer's sensibilities.<br /><br />In Act 1, we're drawn in unawares, not suspecting a thing. We're offered these three derelict guys, as recruitable losers. And we take them at face value, exactly as this 'subversive, powerful' operation does - from what we gather (initially). Its all creepy, dark, and intriguing.<br /><br />Then WHAMMO - the sleeper scene, peeling back Spain's cover, revealing he's an Intel Community agent, on job. Only now do us viewers find out, we've been involved in a counter-subversive operation, without even knowing or suspecting. The storyline, as its unfolded so deviously, has played us for 'useful idiots' - like violins. That's a hard hitting moment, great story telling.<br /><br />And continuing the 'excruciating narrative' angle - nothing can equal the next scene for dramatic impact. A moment before Spain was so cocky-confident that 'daddy' (as he told his fellow agent contact in the woods) 'didn't know' he was out. Obviously, Spain did his best to sneak out without 'daddy' noticing. But to think he pulled it off, got away with it? Apparently Spain might have spoken too soon. <br /><br />And as a viewer, the story ramifications in that moment are dizzying. Talk about suspense. Apparently Spain's tape-recorded field report to HQ, won't be reaching its destination, and his contact out of the game - permanently. But the uncertainties rushing through the viewer's mind in that moment are staggering. Was Spain's cover blown in the process? What of the recorded tape, with his voice - did it fall into invisible hands? Thus tipping them off as to exactly who Spain really is, and what he's doing - bungling his entire mission, in effect? <br /><br />Its almost like a gimmick from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. In most episodes, about half-way through, comes a moment when, all of a sudden - something goes wrong. And their operation about to be breached (cut to commercial 'cliff hanger' break). <br /><br />In that moment, the intensity plays across Spain's face in a perfect moment of acting and direction. He sees those muddy boots on the body beneath that sheet. And realizes a whole raft of high-stakes questions suddenly facing him. His biz has been compromised but he doesn't know how far - as us viewers realize, to our nail-biting suspense, along with him. <br /><br />That is a truly 'oh sh#t' story moment, unparalleled throughout so many great OL episodes and scenarios. Love the way they did that, in this episode, talk about your great scifi story-telling styles ... one of many OL virtues, well displayed in this episode (which I award all 4 of my Zanties).Brian Akershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09350950418007260040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-76961420484318419592013-12-12T05:38:07.841-08:002013-12-12T05:38:07.841-08:00Wow, you've touched on each of the sick, namel...Wow, you've touched on each of the sick, nameless nuclei that went into making this episode an unforgettable experience. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-61856971887514092252011-01-30T16:30:14.225-08:002011-01-30T16:30:14.225-08:00A magnificent appreciation, thank you Larry.A magnificent appreciation, thank you Larry.bobby jossonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-70997877184719715502011-01-29T11:15:22.016-08:002011-01-29T11:15:22.016-08:00Ted: Good point about the feathers...the only thin...Ted: Good point about the feathers...the only thing standing between us...and total turkey takeover.Larry Blamirenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-88424408160356666172011-01-28T19:46:49.934-08:002011-01-28T19:46:49.934-08:00Larry B--- I never noticed the light sensitivity....Larry B--- I never noticed the light sensitivity. But then, I think we can hear Planetta's critter growling inside it's case at the end, when it's under his cot. In any event, yeah---Stefano must have skipped over the instruction block when the shining-eyed recruits ("All riiiiiight! I found a group crazy enough to have me for a member!") are told: <br /><br />"OK---there's just one little problem. When they start to get withdrawal symptoms, and they sense that you're sitting on a crowded bus---well, that's why they call themselves Invisibles and not Inaudibles!"<br /><br />Larry R--- You're right on the money about the whole attachment thing. When I saw this as a kid, it was that shocking scene of trial-attachment that made my hair stand on end. It isolates and twangs some atavistic gag reflex. Just the idea of something alien/crawly/pinchy/hungry invading your body---sitting on your back and doing something unseen and unspeakable---<br /><br />I never thought it operated like THE TINGLER, though, beyond the idea of spinal attachment. MacReady's chatter about "fusion" and "spinal atoms," plus the fact that it doesn't show when proper symbiosis takes place, makes me wonder if it isn't more of an assimilation/osmosis process. Then again, it's got feathers. I'm not sure how those would be absorbed!Ted Rypelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-78479935137514524242011-01-28T17:39:23.293-08:002011-01-28T17:39:23.293-08:00You wonder just how to approach these sometimes--s...You wonder just how to approach these sometimes--something so damned ingrained. But I do think all this reexamining achieves something as close to objectivity as we're likely to get at this point, as well as (maybe) crystallizing just what makes this stuff burrow in your brain, tick in your heart, or squirm in your gut.<br /><br />It's so nice see how many others were infected by this remarkably compelling little germ.<br /><br />UTW: Tempting to think about. But I love how this show is 100% Spain POV (Spain Brain) right through and through, and wonder if that might throw it off.<br /><br />Ted: You notice how the critter roaring starts up when the morgue lights come on? I've wondered about this transport issue--maybe the suckers are light-sensitive? Why didn't Attachment 101 cover this?<br /><br />Speaking of attachment: Larry R, pretty queasy to think about isn't it?<br /><br />Gary: So right about Hall--I can only redundantly exclaim; what a brilliant artist this man was.Larry Blamirenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-4642253459613374472011-01-28T15:48:20.226-08:002011-01-28T15:48:20.226-08:00Just great, Larry. You didn't miss a precious...Just great, Larry. You didn't miss a precious detail, and there are so many of them! Obviously I cherish this episode, too. There's just so much on display here for OL fanatics to savor: photography, locations, tough performances, juicy dialogue, music... As mentioned in my earlier post, I also consider those wild speeches by enraptured MacReady and Hamilton to be highlights. What the hell did Hall do to achieve Hamilton's "vainglorious" close-up, a distorted wide-angle that appears to be trembling, in keeping with the victim's pain/pleasure seizure? Can you believe the sophistication of this amazing work? Cool that you mentioned Mordente's sick little laugh after his roll away from the creature; this bit was used as the teaser clip, optically fading out on Planetta laughing... which accentuates the episode's peculiar, "homoerotic" elements before it even begins! (A little IN COLD BLOOD foreshadowing here). Also love the fact that we finally have some words to match an ongoing OUTER LIMITS visual motif... "...the wind that blows newspapers down a gutter on a windy night..." And setting up our vigilant spies for a possible weekly series, "...and sweeps the gutter clean." No matter how you look at "The Invisibles," it's an impressive and often groundbreaking hour of golden age television.Gary Geraninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-85821192520022272282011-01-28T15:44:00.092-08:002011-01-28T15:44:00.092-08:00WOW--larry,
You've nailed it. Little more nee...WOW--larry,<br /><br />You've nailed it. Little more need be said, especially since you've gone beyond the mere description of the episode, but also avoided the more abstruse philosophical speculation that TOL seems to invite; instead, you lay out something of the range of emotions that many of us experience when viewing this particular show, sort of a "peeling away" of its surface effect and examination of its truly horrific UNSPOKEN power.<br /><br />It is twisted stuff, that's fer' sure.<br /><br />Which leads me to focus on the whole alien attachment thing itself, beyond the jarring inoculation scene. There is the truly grotesque, unthinkable idea--much in the manner of William Castle's madhouse "TINGLER"--that these things actually crawl into the tiny pin-prick opening, and fuse themselves into the actual SPINE of the host, where they more or less hang out to do their unholy work. When the host gets out of line in any way, even idle boasting that may call attention to itself, the parasite tightens its grip around the spine as a warning; obviously it is capable of much more.<br /><br />This is REALLY demented stuff, whether in print, on the big screen, or safely confined in the imagination of its author.....but it was actually broadcast on network TV in 1964.<br /><br />LRLarry Rapchaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-58577486982835444312011-01-28T15:23:40.797-08:002011-01-28T15:23:40.797-08:00Excellent coverage, Larry! Your arguments eloquen...Excellent coverage, Larry! Your arguments eloquently defend this powerful episode's many virtues. <br /><br />Those speeches by MacReady and Hamilton always coil along my spine, no matter how many times I've heard them. I don't think there's ever been a more chilling (or perversely lyrical) exposition concerning an alien monster's origin. It's couched in phraseology normally reserved for some sublime love.<br /><br />The Invisibles' growling sound (and yes, I hear it and can only think of a T. Rex battling a steam shovel) had to be a real problem while in transit, eh? <br /><br />Indigestion?!Ted Rypelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8535833613343533564.post-32282294807700231712011-01-28T14:34:23.938-08:002011-01-28T14:34:23.938-08:00Bravo Larry B.! I couldn't have said it bette...Bravo Larry B.! I couldn't have said it better myself in a million years. <br /><br />Now tell me how cool it would have been if the episode had an extra two minute montage, in the middle, showing the other Invisibles going about their own dastardly missions, right before Don Jordan does his?Jockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16292833295819266389noreply@blogger.com