The Twilight Zone, Vol. 39
Three single-minded characters receive their comeuppance courtesy of series creator Rod Serling, who penned all of the episodes included in this volume."Mr. Bevis": Good-natured, eccentric Bevis (Orson Bean) is allowed to "do over" a disastrous day by his guardian angel (Henry Jones)--but at the cost of his personality. Bean and Jones are first class, but like all of Serling's  comedic efforts ("Mr. Dingle, The Strong"), the humor is badly forced. "Bevis" was originally intended as a pilot, but was scrapped when star Burgess Meredith refused to commit to a series. Serling rewrote the episode as the third season's "Cavendar Is Coming," but it too suffered from a lack of laughs."The Silence": Annoyed by the ceaseless chatter of wastrel Jamie Tennyson (Liam Sullivan), Colonel Archie Taylor (Franchot Tone) bets half a million dollars that Tennyson cannot remain silent for one year. However, Taylor is unprepared for the extremes the younger man undergoes in order to win. Reportedly based on a story by Anton Chekhov, "The Silence" is a memorable shocker, with a conclusion worthy of E.C. Comics, and one of the few episodes with no fantasy elements whatsoever."On Thursday We Leave for Home": For 30 years William Benteen (James Whitmore) has kept alive a small colony on a barren planet with the hope that a spaceship will arrive to return them to Earth. But when the ship actually arrives, Benteen is unwilling to relinquish his father-protector status. Buoyed by Whitmore's powerful turn, this is the fourth's season's finest moment.--Paul Gaita