This episode reminds me of an old quote about women's roles in Hollywood. "There are three types of roles for women, cheerleader, assistant DA and Driving Miss Daisy".
lol! That's perfect :D I got to thinking about this episode afterwards....she's a recluse and has been for some time in this story - if she's 41 now, how old was she when she became an ageing recluse, 30? 35?
This is a devastating episode. The loss of youth, the reliance on nostalgia creating shut-ins...it's a fabulous episode and makes me wonder who Serling based Lupino's character on. Or perhaps multiple people...
Could this be one of many instances of the age-old 'careful what you wish for?' I'll bet there are a few or more people out who actually wish they could do what this lady did - disappear into the past, forever. The one thing that I myself can relate to a little is yearning for the past, only because I am somewhat at a standstill at present and need to climb out of a pit I'm stuck in now. But would I do what she did, if that were somehow possible? Probably not! I think you nailed it when you gave not one, but at least two possible scenarios about her decision, and result, to re-enter her past, via movie screen. You show some real intellect and thoughtfulness concerning this story and it's characters. Your interpretations are spot-on! Perhaps Barbara would have been better off if those 'ghosts' of her past sent her packing back to reality, instead of welcoming her. I refer to the episode 'The Trouble With Templeton', where he was not welcome, by his long-dead wife or the others, but was repelled in every way until he took the hint and returned - for his own good. I would love to see your review/analysis of that great episode! As for me, I think I'd relate to Templeton's fate rather than Barbara's!! See ya again!
This also makes me think of the Columbo episode "The Forgotten Lady" guest starring Janet Leigh. Have you ever seen it? Jerry's smile and Serling's closing narration about "wishes that come true" and "the strange, mystic strength of the human animal" make me believe that Barbara did indeed escape into that world of past glory that she longed for, and I have very mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, because I empathize with Barbara, I'm mostly glad she got what she wanted and that she vindicated herself, her conviction, and her desire to the "accept your lot in life" naysayers by doing so. On the other hand, I feel that running away from reality PERMANENTLY (even if you could literally escape into a magically different reality) isn't emotionally healthy. I have a similar ambivalence (but leaning in the opposite direction) toward the Twilight Zone episode "The Big Tall Wish" starring Ivan Dixon.
I haven't seen that Columbo ep, although a few people have mentioned it here. Sounds intriguing... Even if the ending is happy for Barbara, it's really sad and cruel that anyone is made to feel worthless just because they are no longer young. These are important and difficult issues that Serling raises.
Again a brilliant appraisal by Tengy! "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine" is such a sad tale. Barbara's rejection of her aged costar (who, we are told, loves her irrespective of how she looks) because he is no longer a dashing young man is sad for both of them, as it forecloses the possibility of fostering a new, mature relationship. Barbara reminds me a bit of Jimmy Stewart's character in _Vertigo,_ who insists on reconstructing his lover as an idealized fantasy rather than accepting the real person she is. I thought Martin Balsam was excellent as Barbara's caring friend who is trying to save her from what seems to be encroaching madness. I found it touching that he ardently sprang to her defense in the producer's office, despite the fact that Barbara's narcissistic behavior precipitating the fight was not really defensible. The ending is tragic. Barbara will remain forever young, but will never experience the many joys of later stages of life.
Great comments, Lindsay! I love that Vertigo parallel - makes a lot of sense. Martin Balsam really is great here - so kind and sensitive to Barbara's issues, even when she's being unreasonable. And his reaction at the end, he's happy for her that she got what she wanted, even though it's kind of disturbing to everyone else....fascinating stuff... :)
Many of us "Twilight Zone" lovers definitely go for the sci-fi aspect of the series; however, when I started to view the entire TZ series from beginning to end of each season, I really did enjoy the episodes that were not 'sceince-fictiony'. Ida Lupino is one of my top 20 favorite actors and I appreciated her even more for her capabilities as a director. I definitely got the "Sunset Blvd." vibes right from the start and a sense of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" feel as well. I noticed in the office scene when she lifted her veil that the makeup accentuated the darkness under her eyes with dominant crows feet lines to give her a bolder, older look. Lupino was lovely at 41 y/o. Claps to the makeup person!👏 The two scenes that jutted out to me were the ones where she met her former co-star and the scream and horror of her maid/servant. THAT was acting at its best! It does pain me to know how female actors were perceived as 'old', not only in the early days of film but even in this century. You read and hear about it everywhere and you see it portrayed in movies so many times. Although this isn't one of my top Zone episodes, I did like it. Thanks for such a detailed review Tengy. You and I are very much in sync in catching things that other movie lovers may not be aware of when viewing films and shows. I love the details in things, even minute ones. Looking forward to the next episode review! 📽❤️
Thanks for your great comments, John! I love details too, and I try to share the things I appreciate in shows like this and spread some love for these stories and the people who made them with others. Sally Frost's performance really knocked me out in this one. She sells the horror dimensions in a realistic way right from the start.
Another excellent episode that as with some others I have grown to appreciate more as I have gotten older. I liked how her former leading man was able to hop to a completely different profession after his star began to dim. It likely would have been extremely difficult for Barbara Jean to make a similar jump at the time. As for a male equivalent, the closest I can come up with is the jock type who peaked in high school and never moved passed it. Al Bundy from Married With Children or Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite are the examples that spring to my mind.
I like those examples Daniel - very interesting. And it's a good point about how difficult it would have been for Barbara Jean to transition into a different career. Women having any sort of career back then was hard - to start something new at 40 back then....I don't know what she might have done.
The contrasting career-clock for (early) mid-years actress and even older director is pointedly ironic considering that Lupino was one of the more prominent woman directors of her time [as Tengy notes, 10:18].
Yeah, it can't be accidental that Rod Serling positioned the characters this way in terms of their power and status at this point in each of their lives.
😎An interesting coincidence Cool Chick is that in a later episode entitled A World of Difference Lupino's husband Howard Duff also plays a character seeking escape from modern society. The same office set used here in 16 Millimeter is the one used in World of Difference. What's also interesting is that in "16 Millimeter" the films are completed productions while in " World" the film is in the process of creation. The idea of identity is also interesting here because the film she concerns herself with is a costume drama ; a masquerade from the Depression era reality she spent her youth in. That Ida Lupino not only performs in an episode involving masks of identity but also directs one is perhaps intentional on her part? Adding her touch to the social content many TZ episodes explored in the 60s. Serling was undoubtedly responding to the Hollywood culture he experienced as a writer and quite possibly identified with the character of Joe Gillis that Wilder created in Sunset Boulevard. Maybe some scenes were actual recreations of exchanges between performers and studio executives he witnessed first hand or had heard about from others. The horror we are viewing from the assistants perspective is possibly.the transformation from flesh to film image that our protagonist undergoes ; not truly escaping reality but being trapped in a false one that can now be easily erased or destroyed should the "projector" and " film real (reel)" ever be mishandled. Ironic if yet another scene from a classic film be added to this story ; 🤔what if by some oversight the estate is sold and the possessions within are either sold or trashed and we witness a recreation of the ending of Citizen Kane with the film projector and its reel being thrown into a furnace and with all the noise surrounding the active process the screams emanating from those items are completely unheard!
Whoa! I love that they reused the set in her husband's episode! How fun! I wouldn't be at all surprised if parts of this were based on things he had heard - and let's face, I bet lots of stuff happened in studios that was far worse than what we see here, where women were concerned. I love your idea of what happens to the film after this story ends. Does she only "live" when the film is screened? Is she only "alive" when being watched and admired? All very fascinating questions....
Ida Lupino ends up being worthy of college degree researchers for decades, and that supporting cast - always so important in the rewatchability index for films or TV - is superb as you noted.
There's a pretty good COLUMBO episode (Season 5 #1) called THE FORGOTTEN LADY with Janet Leigh being the forgotten actress/dancer who just KNOWS she's still got more glory left in her. She's also sure an extra bullets in someone else might help her cause, hence the LA homicide detective arrives at this mystery.
@@TengyTalksTVMovies For the longest time I had a VHS tape of "TZ2K" which was a marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel the day of December 31, 1999 to ring in the year 2000. It had the famous Mars vs Venus episode if you ever get to that one lol
Obvious male equivalent I suppose is The Picture of Dorian Grey - well, in the same sort of area. And an opposite, perhaps, is a book that truly shook me up as a young woman: Singularity by William Sleator. I can't tell you the plot at all without spoiling it.
Dorian Grey is an interesting comparison. He isn't denying the passage of time so much as actively suppressing it which is an interesting distinction. If I was still in the academic world, I think this is a subject I'd happily spend some time exploring, because it is fascinating.
Another great review Tengy. Ida Lupino certainly brought a touch of sultriness to the screen in quite a lot of classic film noirs. Highly recommend watching either, "Beware, My Lovely" or "The Big Knife" amongst many others. And who can forget Martin Balsam's staircase scene from "Psycho"!🚿
I just watched it (first time in years) and there's so much to admire about it. Well staged, beautifully shot, strong performances and a haunting score by the great Franz Waxman no less. Watching it now as a person well into the middle age bracket I found it quite easy to empathise with Lupino's character (to a degree). And yet I think "oh, to be 41 again!" Sadly, we cannot stop the sands of time. The ambiguous ending is great. We're left to interpret her fate in which ever way we choose. Looking forward to your next TZ review!
This episode reminds me of an old quote about women's roles in Hollywood. "There are three types of roles for women, cheerleader, assistant DA and Driving Miss Daisy".
lol! That's perfect :D I got to thinking about this episode afterwards....she's a recluse and has been for some time in this story - if she's 41 now, how old was she when she became an ageing recluse, 30? 35?
This is a devastating episode. The loss of youth, the reliance on nostalgia creating shut-ins...it's a fabulous episode and makes me wonder who Serling based Lupino's character on. Or perhaps multiple people...
Could this be one of many instances of the age-old 'careful what you wish for?' I'll bet there are a few or more people out who actually wish they could do what this lady did - disappear into the past, forever. The one thing that I myself can relate to a little is yearning for the past, only because I am somewhat at a standstill at present and need to climb out of a pit I'm stuck in now. But would I do what she did, if that were somehow possible? Probably not! I think you nailed it when you gave not one, but at least two possible scenarios about her decision, and result, to re-enter her past, via movie screen. You show some real intellect and thoughtfulness concerning this story and it's characters. Your interpretations are spot-on! Perhaps Barbara would have been better off if those 'ghosts' of her past sent her packing back to reality, instead of welcoming her. I refer to the episode 'The Trouble With Templeton', where he was not welcome, by his long-dead wife or the others, but was repelled in every way until he took the hint and returned - for his own good. I would love to see your review/analysis of that great episode! As for me, I think I'd relate to Templeton's fate rather than Barbara's!! See ya again!
This also makes me think of the Columbo episode "The Forgotten Lady" guest starring Janet Leigh. Have you ever seen it?
Jerry's smile and Serling's closing narration about "wishes that come true" and "the strange, mystic strength of the human animal" make me believe that Barbara did indeed escape into that world of past glory that she longed for, and I have very mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, because I empathize with Barbara, I'm mostly glad she got what she wanted and that she vindicated herself, her conviction, and her desire to the "accept your lot in life" naysayers by doing so. On the other hand, I feel that running away from reality PERMANENTLY (even if you could literally escape into a magically different reality) isn't emotionally healthy. I have a similar ambivalence (but leaning in the opposite direction) toward the Twilight Zone episode "The Big Tall Wish" starring Ivan Dixon.
I haven't seen that Columbo ep, although a few people have mentioned it here. Sounds intriguing... Even if the ending is happy for Barbara, it's really sad and cruel that anyone is made to feel worthless just because they are no longer young. These are important and difficult issues that Serling raises.
Again a brilliant appraisal by Tengy!
"The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine" is such a sad tale. Barbara's rejection of her aged costar (who, we are told, loves her irrespective of how she looks) because he is no longer a dashing young man is sad for both of them, as it forecloses the possibility of fostering a new, mature relationship. Barbara reminds me a bit of Jimmy Stewart's character in _Vertigo,_ who insists on reconstructing his lover as an idealized fantasy rather than accepting the real person she is.
I thought Martin Balsam was excellent as Barbara's caring friend who is trying to save her from what seems to be encroaching madness. I found it touching that he ardently sprang to her defense in the producer's office, despite the fact that Barbara's narcissistic behavior precipitating the fight was not really defensible.
The ending is tragic. Barbara will remain forever young, but will never experience the many joys of later stages of life.
Great comments, Lindsay! I love that Vertigo parallel - makes a lot of sense.
Martin Balsam really is great here - so kind and sensitive to Barbara's issues, even when she's being unreasonable. And his reaction at the end, he's happy for her that she got what she wanted, even though it's kind of disturbing to everyone else....fascinating stuff... :)
Many of us "Twilight Zone" lovers definitely go for the sci-fi aspect of the series; however, when I started to view the entire TZ series from beginning to end of each season, I really did enjoy the episodes that were not 'sceince-fictiony'. Ida Lupino is one of my top 20 favorite actors and I appreciated her even more for her capabilities as a director. I definitely got the "Sunset Blvd." vibes right from the start and a sense of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" feel as well. I noticed in the office scene when she lifted her veil that the makeup accentuated the darkness under her eyes with dominant crows feet lines to give her a bolder, older look. Lupino was lovely at 41 y/o. Claps to the makeup person!👏 The two scenes that jutted out to me were the ones where she met her former co-star and the scream and horror of her maid/servant. THAT was acting at its best! It does pain me to know how female actors were perceived as 'old', not only in the early days of film but even in this century. You read and hear about it everywhere and you see it portrayed in movies so many times. Although this isn't one of my top Zone episodes, I did like it. Thanks for such a detailed review Tengy. You and I are very much in sync in catching things that other movie lovers may not be aware of when viewing films and shows. I love the details in things, even minute ones. Looking forward to the next episode review! 📽❤️
Thanks for your great comments, John! I love details too, and I try to share the things I appreciate in shows like this and spread some love for these stories and the people who made them with others. Sally Frost's performance really knocked me out in this one. She sells the horror dimensions in a realistic way right from the start.
Another excellent episode that as with some others I have grown to appreciate more as I have gotten older. I liked how her former leading man was able to hop to a completely different profession after his star began to dim. It likely would have been extremely difficult for Barbara Jean to make a similar jump at the time.
As for a male equivalent, the closest I can come up with is the jock type who peaked in high school and never moved passed it. Al Bundy from Married With Children or Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite are the examples that spring to my mind.
I like those examples Daniel - very interesting.
And it's a good point about how difficult it would have been for Barbara Jean to transition into a different career. Women having any sort of career back then was hard - to start something new at 40 back then....I don't know what she might have done.
The contrasting career-clock for (early) mid-years actress and even older director is pointedly ironic considering that Lupino was one of the more prominent woman directors of her time [as Tengy notes, 10:18].
Yeah, it can't be accidental that Rod Serling positioned the characters this way in terms of their power and status at this point in each of their lives.
😎An interesting coincidence Cool Chick is that in a later episode entitled A World of Difference Lupino's husband Howard Duff also plays a character seeking escape from modern society. The same office set used here in 16 Millimeter is the one used in World of Difference. What's also interesting is that in "16 Millimeter" the films are completed productions while in " World" the film is in the process of creation. The idea of identity is also interesting here because the film she concerns herself with is a costume drama ; a masquerade from the Depression era reality she spent her youth in. That Ida Lupino not only performs in an episode involving masks of identity but also directs one is perhaps intentional on her part? Adding her touch to the social content many TZ episodes explored in the 60s. Serling was undoubtedly responding to the Hollywood culture he experienced as a writer and quite possibly identified with the character of Joe Gillis that Wilder created in Sunset Boulevard. Maybe some scenes were actual recreations of exchanges between performers and studio executives he witnessed first hand or had heard about from others. The horror we are viewing from the assistants perspective is possibly.the transformation from flesh to film image that our protagonist undergoes ; not truly escaping reality but being trapped in a false one that can now be easily erased or destroyed should the "projector" and " film real (reel)" ever be mishandled. Ironic if yet another scene from a classic film be added to this story ; 🤔what if by some oversight the estate is sold and the possessions within are either sold or trashed and we witness a recreation of the ending of Citizen Kane with the film projector and its reel being thrown into a furnace and with all the noise surrounding the active process the screams emanating from those items are completely unheard!
Whoa! I love that they reused the set in her husband's episode! How fun! I wouldn't be at all surprised if parts of this were based on things he had heard - and let's face, I bet lots of stuff happened in studios that was far worse than what we see here, where women were concerned. I love your idea of what happens to the film after this story ends. Does she only "live" when the film is screened? Is she only "alive" when being watched and admired? All very fascinating questions....
A sort of time travel story.
My favorite is static by Charles Beaumont.
Charles Beaumont's stories were always so interesting.
@@TengyTalksTVMovies 👍
That sounds good. I see there is an audio version.
Ida Lupino ends up being worthy of college degree researchers for decades, and that supporting cast - always so important in the rewatchability index for films or TV - is superb as you noted.
There's a pretty good COLUMBO episode (Season 5 #1) called THE FORGOTTEN LADY with Janet Leigh being the forgotten actress/dancer who just KNOWS she's still got more glory left in her. She's also sure an extra bullets in someone else might help her cause, hence the LA homicide detective arrives at this mystery.
Ida really is phenomenal. Imagine the opposition and difficulties she had to overcome to direct back then? A real trailblazer.
Someone else just mentioned that very episode - Janet Leigh at 48 in that one. :)
Me and my friend used to watch this together before she moved across the country, I miss those times Iol
I used to watch it as a kid on school holidays and I loved it so much. Funny how a tv show can take you back to another time in your life.
@@TengyTalksTVMovies For the longest time I had a VHS tape of "TZ2K" which was a marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel the day of December 31, 1999 to ring in the year 2000. It had the famous Mars vs Venus episode if you ever get to that one lol
Obvious male equivalent I suppose is The Picture of Dorian Grey - well, in the same sort of area. And an opposite, perhaps, is a book that truly shook me up as a young woman: Singularity by William Sleator. I can't tell you the plot at all without spoiling it.
Dorian Grey is an interesting comparison. He isn't denying the passage of time so much as actively suppressing it which is an interesting distinction. If I was still in the academic world, I think this is a subject I'd happily spend some time exploring, because it is fascinating.
Another great review Tengy. Ida Lupino certainly brought a touch of sultriness to the screen in quite a lot of classic film noirs. Highly recommend watching either, "Beware, My Lovely" or "The Big Knife" amongst many others. And who can forget Martin Balsam's staircase scene from "Psycho"!🚿
Great stars in this one! I'd love to see more of Ida's work both as an actress and a director.
I must watch this one again. There are so many facets to this episode. And you pointed them out so well Tengy. Terrific review!
Let me know if you have thoughts when you watch it again. :)
I just watched it (first time in years) and there's so much to admire about it. Well staged, beautifully shot, strong performances and a haunting score by the great Franz Waxman no less. Watching it now as a person well into the middle age bracket I found it quite easy to empathise with Lupino's character (to a degree). And yet I think "oh, to be 41 again!" Sadly, we cannot stop the sands of time. The ambiguous ending is great. We're left to interpret her fate in which ever way we choose. Looking forward to your next TZ review!
Love it Tengy, there should be more people like you ☺️. Great review.
I appreciate that, Matthew! Thanks :)
great episode 😎
I love how different all the stories are and you never know what you'll get next time :)
👍
I'm so impressed by the caliber of the actors in these shows.The standards across the whole production are so high.
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