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The Dummy - Twilight Zone Episode REVIEW
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- čas přidán 4. 01. 2021
- The #TwilightZoneMarathon of REVIEWS continues with an unnerving tale about a sinister living dummy. What's the meaning behind this episode? Is it about alcohol abuse, is it about Rod Serling's inner demons or is it about something else?
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Such a underrated episode that no one ever talks about or ever makes anyone’s top ten list..this episode creeped me out as a kid.
Agreed. Gets better on rewatches too. Thanks for watching!
I'm a doll collector and have 63 baby dolls all around my house and have friends that tells me they are afraid of them when they visit me so I'm considered of their feelings and know not everybody likes dolls and cover them when they come to visit me .
@@vielkadenerson2534 are they creepy looking?
“The Dummy” episode from The Twilight Zone is a captivating tale that combines eerie elements with impressive craftsmanship. Let’s delve into the specifics:
Stage Sets and Lighting:
The episode’s stage sets create an intimate, dark atmosphere, fitting for the mysterious events unfolding. The small club in New York City, where ventriloquist Jerry Etherson performs, adds to the sense of confinement and tension.
Lighting plays a crucial role. Shadows cast by the ventriloquist dummy, Willy, enhance the eerie vibe. The interplay of light and darkness underscores the psychological struggle between Jerry and his alter ego.
Sound Design and Voices:
The sound design heightens suspense. Listen closely to the whispers of Willy’s voice-faint yet haunting-as Jerry grapples with his delusions.
Cliff Robertson’s voice acting for both Jerry and Willy adds depth. His portrayal of Willy’s sinister tone and Jerry’s desperation contributes to the episode’s impact.
Chorus Girls:
The chorus girls, glimpsed briefly, add to the nightclub ambiance. Their presence contrasts with the eerie events, emphasizing the normalcy disrupted by Willy’s malevolence.
In summary, “The Dummy” masterfully weaves together stagecraft, lighting, sound, and performances to create a memorable Twilight Zone experience
Lots of people talk about Living Doll being scary, but I always found this one scarier.
Hey wassup joyunicycle. I think I may agree. In terms of being scary this one may rank higher on that scale. Coincidentally, the next episode I'm covering is The Living Doll which I'm editing right now. Thanks for watching and commenting, I appreciate it.
This episode actually immediately cured me of my depression. I'm grateful to just even be alive after watching The Dummy. Some people with Schizophrenia live with scenarios like this and I think thats what the "villian" of the story is not Alcohol.
Hey Burning Coal, wow - that's incredible. It's great to hear your depression was cured. That is something so many of us struggle with. Your take on the show and the villain is fascinating as well. Glad to hear from you, feel free to chime in anytime and thanks for watching.
I dunno. Alcohol induced paranoid delusions mirror schizophrenia. A lot.
One of the things that really freaked me out on first viewing was Willy's nutcase laughter while Jerry runs through the alleyway
YES! What a laugh, totally diabolical. 😂 Thanks for watching & commenting NERD_561. Be well.
You have some very interesting hypothesis for this episode. Especially your hypothesis on alcohol, I think you may be spot-on. good eye.
Hey vladimir, thanks for watching, I appreciate it. This episode was well worth looking into.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater One of my college professors served with Sterling in the Pacific theater, WWII. Someone asked him what was Sterling like. Prof answered, "He was just one of the guys; got drunk like the rest of us."
Sterling said that he had flashbacks and nightmares about his experiences. I think it's likely he had PTSD and possibly alcohol addiction. The battles in the Pacific were brutal business and he was in his fair share. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Those aren't awarded for having the shiniest boots in the platoon.
Fortunately he seems to been able to get clear channeling his amazing talent for story telling. Someone said that one of the ways to deal with post trauma is by learning to remember the experience without having to relive it.
Living dolls always creep me out! :)
I first saw this episode at four years old (January 1967) and although I couldn't understand everything, I remember feeling like something amiss WAS taking center stage. In 1974, I saw it again, and this time got the lay of the land. Everything is amiss in Jerry Etherson's life; incessant alcohol binges, Schizophrenia, Jerry's denial of suffering it, and his eerie insistence that Willie is alive, and driving Jerry through the extremely vicious cycle that's feasting on his psychological health. The episode is at least as creepy as Perchance To Dream, and features all the dutch angle camera work of the previous episode to build a nightmare on, and just about everything else to keep you awake. In a toss-up, Living Doll, and The Dummy are my two all-time favorites. Perchance To Dream had its own' menacing ghoul props as seen in that gruesome funhouse. With The After Hours, we had another creep-out in the dark cave of a closed department store. Dolls and dummies, less so for Caesar and Me, always have hit the spinal cord in the Twilight Zone, and frozen our nerves, and blackened our distinctions between fantasy and reality. The Dummy is a stellar example of this, placing this episode amongst the renown Zone classics.
Agreed totally Yukimi. Of all the episodes I've looked at so far on the channel, this one still stands out in terms of the pure psychological horror. Thanks for commenting & sharing btw. It is always great to hear from a fellow Twilight Zone fan. 😀
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1x9 _The Puppet Show_ plays against the ventriloquist dummy trope.
When I was a kid, I took it at face value that the dummy was alive and switched places with Jerry. Now, I also can see it as a message about mental health and addiction. Even to the point of Jerry changing his appearance. And yes, the twist at the end scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. Especially when Willy stares RIGHT AT THE VIEWER.
That's what is so great about so many of these episodes. I think they work at face value and they also work if we want to read into them more. Thanks Paddy!
Excellent camera angles ! Black and white makes it even more scary.
Agreed, I loved the look and atmosphere in this one. Thanks Brian, have a good one!
Excellent analysis! This is by far my favorite Twilight Zone episode and I still learned some awesome bits. Also, your ending is **finger snaps** 🔥
Hey Katie. Thanks for watching & I'm glad you enjoyed it! And finally someone noticed the ending, ha ha, be well!
I think metaphorically, Willie represents creativity and losing oneself in ones passions.
The episode focuses a lot on being a performer and putting a "face" on. The night club owner wants him to play with the crowd, women want him to do the dummy stick, and Willie is the focus of every conversation. Willie is creativity, the art the main character brings to life and at this point drives his life.
When Willie is replaced his act suffers, when the main character fights for some creative control not to entertain guests his agent quits, his art has consumed his life to the point that he is trying to escape with alcohol and therapy.
I think its meant to be ambiguous if the dummy is real or not but the ending means the same, the art consumes the artist and now he is the dummy being controlled
That metaphor works brilliantly and it fits considering Serling battled with tv execs & could relate to fighting for creative control and the art consuming the artist. Very solid interpretation notaraven. As I work through these, some episodes such as this one, really get me thinking. But all the better when I hear what you guys think as well. Much thanks & have a good one!
I honestly never understood the ending. I thought it was a Slappy thing where he turned Cliff into a dummy and Willy became human.
Cliff Robertson's greatest performance is his 1968 movie Charly. It is the film adaptation of Flowers for Algernon. It is my pick as the best performance put on film.
This episode was on MeTV, today, 4-2-24. The ending still sends a chill down my spine!
That ending really sticks with me too. Glad to have MeTV around so fans have another way to enjoy TZ.
I think this was the episode that was the inspiration for Slappy from goosebumps.
I always wondered what happened to the props from the twilight zone the dummy the masks from the masks talky tina etc..
Great episode
Good question. I know in the case of the dummy prop....David Copperfield owns it. He let them use it in the reboot series in the background of a scene from 'The Comedian'.
Great episode! It’s definitely one of the creepy ones. The commercial for Magic scared the hell out of me as a kid.
Agreed, this was a great one & yes, that was a pretty creepy commercial. ha ha thanks for watching Mr. Dan.
The nightclub was located in Sioux City, Iowa. It's revealed when Jerry lists off other locations he thought of going, in hopes of escaping Willy. Frank ends the locations with Sioux City, the very club they are in. Frank believes Jerry will only get better when he gets over the idea that Willy is alive.
I gotta add, yes the end the announcer of the club states that Jerry and Willy are from New York, but I always thought their origin was switched by they themselves to hide the similarities.
Just my theory though. NY may be correct, and your thoughts on Willy being a metaphor for Jerry's alcohol, which I never even thought of, may be spot-on! Great connection!
Hey Corey, I dig your observation and glad to hear our thoughts on this classic. I never know which classic episode will get me & fellow fans thinking. This was certainly one that sparked some thoughts. Thanks for watching & commenting - be well & have a good day ahead!
Maybe you need glasses! I love the voice of that dummy!! This is my favorite video in your channel so far!
Thanks! :)
I've always been freaked out by ventriloquist dolls. I've never seen this episode and it looks interesting. My fear of ventriloquist dolls came after watching the movie, "Magic" with Anthony Hopkins. Alcohol abuse I can definitely see the reference as too much alcohol for many it changes them, and they become a different person, so the doll in my view with what I've seen so far here, it represents who you are when you've engaged into much and take on a bit of liquid courage, displaying a side of you that isn't normally who you are. Maybe an alternate ego. Just my opinion anyway. This video of yours on the Twilight Zone episode just gave me an idea for an idea for a different type of video to create on scary dolls, lol. thank you!
Hey good to hear this one sparked an idea for you. : ) Looking forward to what you come up with. Also, Magic is great, love it! Thanks Mojosfire!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I made my video on the creepy side of ventriloquism and posted it on youtube, tictok, ext. Your videos are awesome! I'm glad to be a subscriber of your youtube channel. 😁😁
Hey enjoyed this alot...
now I want a Rod Serling Vent Doll..
Hey Ron, I hear you on that, thanks for watching. Be well & happy holidays!
😍 Great video, this one of my showcase episodes when I'm trying to create new Twighlight Zones fans. Some people are so 🙄 dismissive because it's in black and white.
Hey DS, thanks for watching man, I do appreciate it. To me, a good story is a good story no matter what era. The Dummy is great recommendation if you want to introduce some to the series. Be well.
WOAH! I didn't know that was Uncle Ben!
Yup, pretty cool. That actor was in another Twilight Zone episode as well. '100 Yards Over the Rim', which I'm looking forward to reviewing as well. Thanks for watching Flynn.
"The Dummy" is definitely one of my favorite _TZ_ episodes. While I agree that different interpretations of this can all work, I strongly prefer the most horrific, and that's that Willie is in some way real. Consider that if he's just a manifestation of Jerry's alcoholism or psychiatric condition, then there's still hope that Jerry has a chance of being helped, and the episode could play out like the plot or subsidiary plot of any number of other TV shows of the era that were firmly rooted in real-world issues, running the gamut from _Columbo_ to _Mission: Impossible_ to _Dragnet_ to _Marcus Welby, M.D._ to _Wagon Train_ and _The Fugitive._ (Even such sci-fi as _Star Trek_ could have such plot elements not venturing into those particular supernatural neighborhoods found in the _TZ_ ).
Don't get me wrong, Jerry's neuroses and substance abuse are relevant, and his manager Frank sees the correlation with the ventriloquist's Willie issues. Jerry, however, sees it as more than that, and a matter of causation,. He disputes Frank's as to which is the cause and effect with a quote I hold to be the linchpin of what's really going on in the episode, and I hold Jerry's analysis to be the correct one:: _"No, you've got the chronology wrong, Frank; first the nightmares, then the hooch..."_
You bring up in passing that we don't see how the dummy became evil. That's like those who point out that we don't get enough character development of Jerry. True, but again, this is a half-hour show. I think there's a sufficient amount of character development, but maybe that's just me. His issues are so profound that he can't even establish meaningful relations with women, as his aberrant behavior makes the chorus girls find him a little weird at times and he scares off one of them when he's trying to get companionship to shield his fragile psyche from Willie.
As for your point about why Willie, I have an opening sequence that could be one plausible explanation it if we were to have an expanded episode. Down on his luck entertainer Jerry Etherson happens to be passing by an out-of-the-way secondhand store when he sees Willie among other merchandise in the window. Nearby it is a copy of some old dusty tomes, such as the _Necronomion_ and other grimoires that someone had brought in for sale along with the Willie dummy. Naturally, Jerry has no knowledge of that disturbing fact.
There are scenes in "The Dummy" that lead me to believe Serling definitely meant what he referred to as "the old switcheroo" ending is meant to show some sort of real monstrous transferrence of the consciousnesses of Willie into a human body, while Jerry into a "brash stick of kindling" (I enjoy Rod's opening and closing for this episode). Such instances include Willie winking or changing head position in the mirror, the shadow of a seated Willie cast upon one of the outside walls of the nightclub after we saw him locked into a trunk by Jerry just prior to that. And this was followed up by the great shocker, when a thoroughly unhinged Jerry races back into the club, unlocks the trunk and smashes the dummy to bits. This is one of my favorite scenes as Jerry sees the shattered spectacles of Goofy Goggles, and realizes that somehow _per impossible_ he destroyed the wrong dummy, then finds Willie seated on a sofa and declaring, "What do you say...we get down to business?"
And then there is that great moment where Frank grabs Willie, then holds him up in front of Jerry, asking if the dummy looks alive. (Well, yeah, he does, Frank.) You're the only person other than myself I know who caught the way Willie _does_ look creepily alive and seems to stare back at Frank. (great minds think alike?😏) I don't know if the effect was intentional or not, but it should have been because it's a brilliant effect. (Notice in the linked clip that at around two minutes and twenty-seven/eight, Willies head turns slightly more towards Frank, as if he's trying to get a better look at him. -- 2:23)
BTW, you mention the "maniacal voice work"--and I would even focus specifically on the maniacal laughter, which is indeed terrifying--as a key to Willie as a horror icon of sorts. You might be interested to know that all the voice work for Willie and Goofy Goggles came from Cliff Robertson, which helps bring some realism to Jerry as a ventriloquist. Robertson also took some time to study with Edgar Bergen, one of the top ventriloquists of the day.
I give "The Dummy" a score of *five out of five knotty-pine partners* as I was unable to detect any flaws in this well-crafted and nightmare-inducing episode.
twilightzonevortex.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-dummy.html
Hey Galantski, thanks for your well thought out and detailed comment. I appreciate you taking the time to offer your insight. There's something really special about this episode that sparks thought and discussion. Of all the reviews I've done so far, 'The Dummy', Five Characters in Search of an Exit' & 'Whats in the Box' all stand out as stories that sent me down the rabbit hole. To me, those stories really explore some deep concepts and they're fairly open to interpretation. Glad I'm not alone on the idea of Frank getting the side-eye from Willie, lol.
" There are scenes in "The Dummy" that lead me to believe Serling definitely meant what he referred to as "the old switcheroo" ending is meant to show some sort of real monstrous transferrence of the consciousnesses of Willie into a human body, while Jerry into a "brash stick of kindling"
Excellent observation, and if that's the case I feel like this story may be another malevolent entity causing harm, sort of like the repairman.
Thanks again for the comment, be well.
Thank you! I was wondering who did the voice work for Willie.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater if you ever edit either the video or add more to the comments, please let people know that Cliff Robertson did Willie's voice too!
Knotty Pine partner. He was a genius. You do an excellent job here. That is the ending I believe.
Thanks Robert!
This is one of the most memorable and creepy episodes in my opinion. I like your second theory the most.
That maniacal laugh alone...it's truly creepy. 2nd theory, a metaphor! I hear you, it's so much fun to speculate about this stuff. Much thanks for watching sheenaqr! : )
Binging this series.
I think it’s cuz of my own experience with heavy anxiety, but I see the real villain being the anxiety driving Jerry to drink. A critical and seemingly forever present voice that sometimes seems to run the shots. The worst part is that it feels like you “made” it, when the truth is that it often comes from other people being unkind to you.
I'm kinda late for this one but here's my drop for this episode.
This episode felt more creepy than the Living Doll imo the sight of Willie feels unsettling and his sinister laughs make it all the more scary. Talky Tina was comfort for the little girl even if she looked kinda spooky.
This episode is pretty scary because it tells the dark truth that sometimes people truly succumb to their struggles, even if they tried to get help. Personally, I knew people who had alcohol issues and never overcame it to live a healthier life. That scene at the end when Willy laughs(probably the creepiest part of the episode) as Jerry hangs his head is an image of defeat. It's a tragic conclusion.
The way Rod Serling comes into the episode as he narrates at the beginning is one of my favorite intros. He really looks like he's part of the audience in that club.
Also props to Cliff Robertson, he did a great job.
What movie or show is this at 9:52 especially the dummy on the far right? Continue below ....
“The Dummy” episode from The Twilight Zone is a captivating tale that combines eerie elements with impressive craftsmanship. Let’s delve into the specifics:
Stage Sets and Lighting:
The episode’s stage sets create an intimate, dark atmosphere, fitting for the mysterious events unfolding. The small club in New York City, where ventriloquist Jerry Etherson performs, adds to the sense of confinement and tension.
Lighting plays a crucial role. Shadows cast by the ventriloquist dummy, Willy, enhance the eerie vibe. The interplay of light and darkness underscores the psychological struggle between Jerry and his alter ego. Superb job abd makes you feel you ARE REALLY there! Vlack and White does it for sure not color.
Sound Design and Voices:
The sound design heightens suspense. Listen closely to the whispers of Willy’s voice-faint yet haunting-as Jerry grapples with his delusions.
Cliff Robertson’s voice acting for both Jerry and Willy adds depth. His portrayal of Willy’s sinister tone and Jerry’s desperation contributes to the episode’s impact.
Chorus Girls:
The chorus girls Edy Williams and others, glimpsed briefly, add to the nightclub ambiance. Their presence contrasts with the eerie events, emphasizing the normalcy disrupted by Willy’s malevolence.
In summary, “The Dummy” masterfully weaves together stagecraft, lighting, sound, and performances to create a memorable Twilight Zone experience
Great vid :) one of my personal fave eps
Always been a fascination with the schizoid relationship between a dummy and a ventriloquist. A British film called " Dead of Night " had a doozy of a tale. This episode is great with Robertson as the pro- and antagonist. Creepy.
I didn’t know uncle ben was a ventriloquist
😁😆😆
Yooo UNCLE BEN!! That makes me love the character more
Caesar and Me is pretty good but this one is scary.
Agreed, this one is more chilling. Thanks for the watch Susan! Have a good day ahead.
Creepy factor of 100
I really like that take on alcohol abuse. Deep. I like it bro
Hey thanks Good Vibes! Have a good weekend man. : )
@@FeverDreamlandTheater you too brotha 🤙👍🔥✌️
This twilight zone The dummy spook the shit out off me when I was a boy ,still today creepy as hell .😮
He is legit creepy and the laugh is terrifying too.
Who did the voice for the dummy? Was it Robertson's voice or was it somebody else?
Hey Sergio, yes, Robertson did the voice for Goofy Goggles and Willy. This review is a little old now but I think I had that in my notes from back then. Thanks for watching, have a good one.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Ok thanks!
If this episode creeped you out, you must watch a film called 'Magic' with Anthony Hopkins. Another killer dummy Twilight Zone episode was one with Jackie Coogan.
I loved Magic, it's another a great horror pick. Hopkins was great. I'll be covering the one with Jackie Coogan as well. Thanks Jack, be well man.
"Abracadabra, I sit on his knee, Presto! Change-o! and now he is ME! Hocus Pocus we take her to bed. Magic is FUN! We're dead."
@@deerfish3000 Yeah I know. I don't know what-it-is, - there's just something about wack-o's that I really like 🤪 - 🥴 - 👌👍.
This is so old i remember this. Lol hey friend here watching
Wassup, thanks for checking. Yeah I grew up watching these classics.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater thanks for sharing 🤓
The beginnings of ai
Please tell me if you have. The ufo and people are the meals on. Their
Flight the people get eaten ending in a great line .. doesn't come to mind. But excellent for the generation of the fig tree.
Oh please play it a classic 1 of my favorite and the guy who worked at the bank with his glasses issue.
Thank you so much. Love the dummies. 😮
Yeah, I like Cliff, but to be honest this episode just doesn't do it for me. Rather predictable and slow, I felt. "Living Doll", while not a top 10'er for me, is markedly better.
I know it's an apples and oranges comparison but speaking of the actor Cliff Robertson, did you prefer him more in this or 'A Hundred Yards Over the Rim'?
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I actually don't ever remember NOT liking Cliff Robertson's acting, but I thought "A Hundred Yards" gave him a role he played well. Never really loses his bewilderment at the time-travel aspect. I'll take that one. :)
@@pnutbutrncrackers Ha ha, gotcha. I'd have to check but I think he was only in those two.
Love these original episodes. Too bad they butchered the new ones
Hey lulu, same here. Love them. Interestingly, I've really only seen the 60's episodes. I haven't seen many from the 80's reboot or the other two reboots. Thanks for watching & commenting, I appreciate it. Be well.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater yea don't bother. It would have been better if they just remade the episodes exactly, just during modern times.
Could i add you on fb please
Hey Barry, I still have to sort out my old FB page and create an updated FB page dedicated to this channel. I've been procrastinating because I'm not a big fan of FB anymore - but I do want to use it to promote the channel and reach more people. In the meantime, I'm on instagram and twitter though. So feel free to follow me there and I'll follow you back. The links for both are in the main page banner.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater thanks a lot mate . I will be sure to follow you on there:) sorry for the delayed response , ive only just seen your message
great episode scared hell out of me as a kid lmao side note 2nd dummy looks like a slightly modified Mortimer Snerd
😆Mortimer Snerd. YES, good catch Jeffrey. I just googled it to refresh my memory and you are right. 👍 I see the resemblance.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater thanks, I have a full size custom wood Charlie McCarthy dummy