Old School TV: One Step Beyond- 'The Sacred Mushroom'

In what is basically a one-off, the Show breaks from the norm and goes Documentary.  It's about, well, no SPOILERS just yet...

This one is all about Magic Mushrooms.

Back in 1961, you were allowed to ingest possibly-drug-laced plants.
In 2020, I get Truth Ads every 5 minutes.

Our Host John Newland shows up as himself and tells us that he's going to Mexico to try said Mushrooms, since they allegedly grant you ESP.

He brings the best and the brightest.

It's like Grey Gardens Goes to Mexico.

He's brought the Author of a real Book about how this all supposedly works.

At least one thing is real here.

After returning from Mexico, Newland sits down with the Author and takes said Magic Mushrooms.

Rod Sterling stuck to cigarettes.

Will the Mushrooms give him ESP?

No.

This is an interesting Episode for many reasons.  Every other Episode of the Show- as far as I know- is a narrative.  Newland appears to intro the Story, sometimes shows up in the middle and then wraps up at the end.  Here he is now himself and he's just kind of in the whole thing.  The only made-up story here is the one people choose to believe about the mushrooms.  For the record, they are delicious and good for you, but that's it.  I just pretend to be responding to what you are going to say- it is not a special power.  Given that this was made in 1961 and a good transfer isn't available- for some reasons-, it isn't the easiest watch.  It still is neat to see Newland and company just being themselves for once.  As always, Newland is great.  Can you imagine other Hosts from this Period being willing to ingest Magic Mushrooms AND to let you Film them doing it?  Hell, can you imagine Hosts NOW being willing to do it?  Props to you, Newland.  The Episode is a fun outlier and gives me less intentional laughs than other Episodes that hinge so much on ESP and the like to drive them.  I have The Very Best of One Step Beyond, which contains 50 out of the Show's 96 Episodes.  This one is not on it.  Sad.  At least this bit of historical record still survives... 

A very different, very interesting Episode.  Given quality available, just be content to get lots of audio fuzz and buzzing.

Old School TV: One Step Beyond- 'The Executioner'

As an experiment in randomness, I let a man and a set of virtual dice decide what Horror/Sci-Fi Anthology Show and Episode I'd review.

The lucky winner is an old favorite of mine...

In 'The Executioner,' a young man is found sneaking around near a Union Camp during the Civil War.

They check his pockets and find a list of supplies to be shipped out that night.  Well, he's boned.

He's sentenced to be killed the next day via firing squad.

He asks to see his dog before he's killed, but he learns that it is dead.  It had been whining all night and got killed 'by accident.'

The next morning, it is his time and they want him blindfolded.

It is at this point that he starts hearing his dog and telling him to stay away for its own safety...but only he 'sees' it.

The Commander shows up and is apparently attacked by the dog...but still nobody sees it.  He dies.

Our Host shows up and says that nobody confirms or denies the story.  Insightful.

An interesting ending, but not much else.  This thing is pretty much all build-up.  Other Episodes have had some intrigue throughout or something at least to keep the tension high.  This one just has an attempt at human drama before the odd ending.  To sort of steal a comparison from myself, imagine the classic Twilight Zone Episode involving a thing...on the...wing of a plane was just a big build-up to him actually getting on the plane.  It wouldn't be nearly as good, right?  I get that maybe the idea is that you're watching to see if they will execute the guy.  I just don't see it as interesting of a hook as other Episodes here or from other Series'.  That said, the Production Values are nice for early TV and the Acting is good.  I don't think that I've noted this before but every Episode was apparently Directed by our Host John Newland.  He had a pretty prolific Career as a Director too, doing shows like Wonder Woman and even one Episode of the original Star Trek!  Good for you.  I can see the appeal of this Episode, but I just don't think they nailed it here.  Newland can take my criticism well though, since he apparently lives in the dark void of space...

A decent Episode that really only has the ending being all that interesting.  You also have to deal with the constant 'whining dog' soundtrack for the middle part, so mixed results.

Old-School TV: One Step Beyond- 'The Devil's Laughter'

As we're halfway through October, it is time to take...

In 'Laughter,' a convicted Felon in London is facing an appointment with the Gallows.

Thankfully, it is not the Film of the same name- that's worse!

His time finally comes and...the rope snaps, sparing his life.

After he recovers, they vow to do it again...but more problems come up.

They literally test the trap door before trying to use it with him.  When they do, it won't open.

They decide that he has 'suffered enough' and let him go, which he brags about.

Oh no- did they just inspire the Uwe Boll Film Seed?

Now free, he brags about how he made a bargain with the devil and can only die in one way.  This is proven when a man comes for revenge and his gun misfires...five times.

However, fate is fickle and he taunts it so much until he dies in a way that fulfills his devil's bargain.  The End.

An interesting, if wholly-unverified story.  Unlike most of the ones I've seen, they don't do much to convince you that this happened to a real guy.  They give you very few names and dates to 'verify' it.  This is more like what you get from a Twilight Zone Episode.  Is that a bad thing?  Nope.  This is a solid, if somewhat-one-note Story.  The Criminal is portrayed quite well, going from scared to calm to cocky over 20+ minutes.  He thinks that he is above any and all things by the end and it costs him.  His whole Arc- from scared of death to laughing at it- is neat to see.  Outside of this Arc, there's not much here.  We briefly see some law enforcement befuddled by this and a Reporter who rebuffs an offer to pay for his secret.  If you're expecting follow-up, you don't get it.  The hook of the Story- that he's obviously going to set up his death via hubris- is obvious, but enjoyable.  Remember- this and Radio were all you had in 1959!  It's a good Episode and I don't have to point how none of this makes sense.  I mean, I just did, but I didn't have to.  Speaking of making sense, why did that collar ever make sense to wear?

Next time, another tale of mystery and possibly-ESP.  Will it ever convince me?  See you then...

Old-School TV: One Step Beyond- 'The Trap'

A return to this silly, dramatic Show.  This one is just plain weird until the end...and then it gets weirder.

In 'The Trap,' a man wakes up one morning and starts to feel weird.  They both blame it on 'the pizza with everything on it' from last night.

Unfortunately, it doesn't stop.  He keeps feeling suddenly in pain and even parched.

He goes to work, only to freak out in an Elevator and feel 'trapped.'  This feeling continues, even in his own Apartment!

The Doctor can find nothing wrong with him.  Thanks for that.

Finally, his symptoms stack up as his condition worsens.  Among the effects, he is now dehydrated, speaking in a more Western voice, calling out to a 'Brenda' and using expressions only used in the Western U.S.

What's the answer?

Well, so brace yourself for this...

The man has a twin brother that he didn't know about who was trapped in a Mine Shaft.  He was feeling what he was feeling across the country.  That's...sure, alright.  The End.

A weird twist for an equally-weird Story.  I knew that something weird was going to happen.  Remember, this is the Show where Ghosts can turn off your gas, pregnant women predict plane crashes and comatose Dads can make ghost hands to save you.  It's all quite weird.  It's all quite silly.  If you buy into this stuff, more power to you.  Putting actual belief aside, it's still a kind of interesting Episode.  The Lead basically freaks out the whole time to some degree.  That must have been both fun and terrifying.  Am I playing this too big?  Am I playing this too small?  I'd be both happy and terrified to play a part like this.  If nothing else, the Episode is a neat acting exercise.  Like I said, I don't buy the actual Story as true, but I can appreciate the conceit and the work this guy put in.

Next time, another strange mystery with a surely-strange resolution.  Will I ever believe any of this?  See you then...

Old-School TV: One Step Beyond- 'Doomsday'

After a short break from these, I'm back.  Technical issues with the Discs are a problem, but I found a good one nonetheless...

This is one of the few I've seen with a Title Card, so I'm adding it...

Our Host explains to us that this Castle is tied to two things- beauty and a curse.  Are either real?

A rich man's eldest son dies and it is blamed on a Romani Girl.  She is sentenced to death for her 'crime' and curses the man's family.

On the plus side, she doesn't come back as a brain-eating monster!

In the present (of 1951), an ancestor (played by the same guy) is dying in the Castle.  How can this get worse?

Well, his eldest Son is freaking out- since the curse says that the eldest Son will die before the father.

He keeps freaking out so much that his Wife and Doctor trick him by saying that his Dad died.  They go to prepare his sedative (which isn't just a pill?)...

...but don't realize that he wants to say his good-byes.  He says his peace and walks away, only for the not-dead Father to stir.

He takes this well.

...and falls out the window to his death.

The moral: curses are real and don't lie to people!

A simple tale with a twist that even Helen Keller saw coming.  The set-up here is pretty good: rich guy plays Romani Girl (I won't say what they actually call her) for death and curse is made.  We skip past generations of deaths, some of which can be blamed on a curse, while some must be a coincidence.  Yes, he calls out what the odds of this being a coincidence are- touché.  The Acting here is actually quite good, with the main guy- the Son fearing his death- playing his part with the right amount of gravitas and fear.  He 'knows' that his death is coming shortly.  To be fair, he's proven right, but only through an elaborate bit of circumstances.  Why not watch him the whole time until you knock him out?  Why not at least lock the door to the Dad's Room?  It's a classic example of 'create the situation by trying to avoid it.'  Unlike other ones, he doesn't try to tell us that this really happened- which is odd.  He's usually more overt, even trying to back it up with Books and such.  While the twist is obvious, the whole thing is played out well, making this one of the less cheesy and/or melodramatic Episodes (mostly).  My copy also ends with a general pitch for the Show, rather than an Episode Teaser.  Odd.

Next time, more old-school suspense and morality.  Will I ever believe in any of this?  See you then...

Old School TV: One Step Beyond- Tonight at 12:17

A return of a classic Show.  I've got like 40 more Episodes on DVD now, so I can do this forever!

In this Episode, a pregnant woman keeps hearing the sounds of a plane flying overhead at the same time every night.

When nobody sees it, they naturally think that she's crazy.

Even for this time period, the misogyny here is...just, wow.

She continues to be worried about this seemingly-invisible plane and her husband tries to calm her down.

Her Doctor insists that she will stress herself out and possibly lose the baby.

It makes you wonder what Donnie Darko would be like if he was a pregnant woman now, doesn't it?

He investigates the plane and sees that it is not going to be flown that night.  Later on, that changes.

In spite of him trying to calm her again, they go to a Motel and...the wing crashes down there!

Don't worry- they survived.

Is it fate?  Is it ESP?  The Show posits the idea that her pregnancy amplified all of her senses- including her 6th one.  Yeah, no.  'No' to all of that.  Accepting all of this as bull crap, it is still a good Episode.  Is it mostly just a woman being called crazy when she hears noises that nobody else does?  Yes.  It is still well-acted, well-shot and has a decent enough twist.  You have to know that *something* is going to happen with the plane, but it seemingly-following them was still good.  You really feel for all of the people involved.  Well, except for that Doctor- he's kind of an asshole.  Seriously though, it's a good Episode and all that.  See us out, Mr. Newland...

Next time, more old-school scares and/or drama.  Will I find any future Stars in the set?  See you then...

Old-School TV: One Step Beyond- 'Message From Clara'

At long last, I'm done with the Disc.  Will the final Review (most likely for quite a while) deliver the goods?  To see, let's take...

Mr. Newland appears to tell us the Tale of a woman teaching an English Class for Immigrants.  She ends up having a strange experience.

One of the Students- who has a thing for her- gives her a present...

A cameo pin that belonged to his dead wife.  What could go wrong?

While doing her lesson, the woman seems to go into a trance and starts writing in Swedish.

She can't explain it and it all seems to bother her quite a bit.

Being checked out by a Doctor the next day proves to be no help.  Curse you, Science!

After talking to another person who reads/speaks Swedish, she gets one more thing written and translated in a trance.  The message- don't trust this man- he'll kill you like he killed me.

Said man shows up and breaks down at the sight of it all, seemingly to be arrested.  The End.

An odd bit of Melodrama for sure.  Can I explain how someone can spontaneously-write in a Language they don't speak?  Other than the fact that Trump can sign his name, but thinks that 'convefe' is a word, no.  That said, I don't put a lot of 'stock' into this whole thing.  Like so much of this, it is nearly impossible to prove.  With that said, the Episode is still pretty good.  It is *very* melodramatic, which is something that you will see a lot in older Shows.  As I mentioned in covering Tales of Tomorrow (cheap plug), this is the *very* early days of TV.  People weren't sure whether TV Shows should be short Films or filmed Plays.  As such, the Acting and Production Values are all over the map.  Plus, nearly every Show aired live!  Could you imagine if they had to do that today!  The actual Story here is kind of interesting, even if I don't buy into it.  It makes for an interesting idea, if nothing else.  At the end of the Episode, Newland tries to sell the idea by mentioning some Books that were supposedly written by 'spirits from 300 years in the past.  While I don't buy it, I apparently can buy the Book he mentioned nearly 60 years ago...

Well, that is the last Step Beyond for a while.  Unless there's some massive demand, I'll move on to the 6,000,004 other Shows I need to cover.