★★★ May 13, 1960 Season 1 Episode 31
If you want to see where we are…HERE is a list of the episodes.
This is another “be careful what you wish for” episode. This one starts off as one of the light hearted episodes but it’s the Twilight Zone… it turns dark near the end. The real star of this episode is John McIntire as Professor A. Daemon…the man who has any powder, liquid, or potion that you will need. When you are done with your need…he has an answer for that also. I love the warning that he gives Roger about the love potion and how Roger blissfully ignores the wise man.
This episode gives “glove cleaner” a whole new meaning.
The episode is not without it’s charm but it doesn’t cross over to a great one. The twist at the end is interesting.
This was the only first season episode that was not written by one of the Big Three (Rod Serling, Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson).
The professor is named A. Daemon, a play on words for A Demon as evidenced by the outcome.
George Grizzard (Roger Shackleforth) wears the same smoking jacket worn by Rod Taylor (H. George Wells) in The Time Machine.
This show was written by Robert Presnell Jr. and John Collier
Rod Serling’s Opening Narration:
Mr. Roger Shackelforth. Age: youthful twenties. Occupation: being in love. Not just in love, but madly, passionately, illogically, miserably, all-consumingly in love – with a young woman named Leila, who has a vague recollection of his face and even less than a passing interest. In a moment, you’ll see a switch, because Mr. Roger Shackelforth, the young gentleman so much in love, will take a short, but very meaningful journey into the Twilight Zone.
Summary
Roger Shackleforth’s infatuated with Leila, a young woman who wants nothing to do with him. Whilst monopolizing a pay phone, someone waiting to make a call refers him to Professor A. Dæmon, a seller of books, notions and potions, who – the man says – can help Roger with his love problem.. Though the Professor tries to dissuade him, Roger happily buys the potion for $1, anyways. It most certainly works. But 6 months later, Roger returns to the Professor – to find a solution to his new problem…
Rod Serling’s Closing Narration:
Mr. Roger Shackelforth, who has discovered at this late date that love can be as sticky as a vat of molasses, as unpalatable as a hunk of spoiled yeast, and as all-consuming as a six-alarm fire in a bamboo and canvas tent. Case history of a lover boy, who should never have entered the Twilight Zone.
CAST
John McIntire … Prof. A. Daemon
Patricia Barry … Leila
George Grizzard … Roger Shackleforth
J. Pat O’Malley … Homburg
Marjorie Bennett… Old Woman
Barbara Perry … Blonde Woman
Rusty Wescoatt … Tall Man
Duane Grey … Bartender (uncredited)
Rod Serling … Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
…
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It would have been great if this episode closed with the Beatles song Can’t Buy Me Love.
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That would have taken some doing lol
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I agree with your evaluation on this one… as season 1 closes they had some episodes that were a little lighter.
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Watching these with a critical eye…sometimes helps their cause…I like this one a bit better now than I did…but yes…it is on the light side.
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light is ok for a change up– the season ends on a light note
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Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it…in your face and up your butt. 😂😂😂
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LOL
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😁
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sounds quite interesting….theme sounds similar to a number of other TZs though
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They do different things with the same theme but man… it does get dark at the end
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it’s a great, simple theme that bears repeating. Whole “Monkey’s Paw” thing – I remember having to read that story in school, thought it was great, the guy who got (stole I think) a magical monkey paw that granted wishes, but of course, there was always a catch or caveat. You want a million dollars, maybe you get that in insurance after a truck hits you and leaves you paralyzed sort of thing.
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Oh yes…the Monkey’s Paw…I do remember that. I loved that one.
Do you remember “The Bottle Imp?” It would grant you every wish but with a catch…you have to sell it for a loss when you are done…in other words the last one in line to owned it… If you bought it for a penny…would go to hell owning it and unable to sell it.
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Yes agree a good middle of the road episode and another be careful what you wish for one – seems like a favorite theme of Serling. Love the ending narration – as as all consuming as a six alarm fire in a bamboo and canvass tent. 😀
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LOL….never heard that before! I must remember that.
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I just re-watched this again the other night (I’m trying to catch as many as possible before Netflix stops running them). It’s not a great episode, but I do like this take on ‘be careful what you wish for’. Funny how the object of one’s desires can turn into a cloying pest!
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Oh yes it can. It’s funny Jeff…I never thought much of this one but I do like it better since I’ve looked at it a bit more critical…its still not a great one but yea… I’ve lived that a few times on different things…there is always a price.
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Love Potion #9 might have worked better it seems.
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Yes it would have.
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