Living Doll - Twilight Zone Episode REVIEW
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- The OG of creepy dolls has arrived and you'd better be nice to her. Our #TwilightZone REVIEW Marathon continues with 'Living Doll' starring Telly Savalas. Who loves ya baby?
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#LivingDoll #TalkyTina #TellySavalas
At first I disliked that Eric was a stepfather. Playing into the "evil stepparent" trope (even though those are mostly mothers) seemed to be merely censorship so they wouldn't have to illustrate how the 50s nuclear family can fail. But the infertility conflict was an interesting (if brief) exploration of a topic that is still somewhat taboo today and certainly back then even more so.
I tend to dislike the Twilight Zone episodes that are pure morality tales, but Telly Savales brings enough to the role to make this a wholly engaging watch despite the black and white morals and the (nowadays) clichee storyline. Not one of my favorites, but still a solid episode
Hi Julia! Savales really brought this one to life. What perfect casting. And the infertility subplot was surprising to me as well. I know these shows always had to deal with sponsors and censorship. So when these sort of elements appear in the classic episodes it is pretty interesting. Thanks for watching these reviews and commenting btw, I appreciate it! Always great hearing from fellow TZ fans. 😃
Anyone else pick up on the fact that both "Christie" and "Tina" are nicknames for Christina? Raises the question of whether Tina is the part of Christie that rebels against/hates her stepfather...
Yeah I’ve heard that theory, and I love it!
The mother's name is Annabelle? How ironic.
Okay, now this was my family's favorite episode of "The Twilight Zone"📺
Oh, I particularly enjoyed Telly savalas's performance as the dad.
Tina is so sweet looking and isn't wielding a knife like Chucky. Somehow that makes her even more terrifying. I think the mother's reaction to the doll at the end of the episode is great, and Telly Savales performance on this is epic.
This one...this one hits a little too close to home for me, thanks to my own junkie abusive asshole father. You're amazed they're talking about infertility while I'm amazed that they even MENTIONED domestic abuse (BIG no-no on TV of that era).
And Tina frightens me. Yeah, she saved her human. But that warning to her mom...it makes me wonder if they've just traded one domestic tyrant for another.
Hey Johnathon, very sorry to hear that. I get where you are coming from though. As for the Tina doll, I agree, trading in one tyrant for another is not what this mother and daughter would need. Be well.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Hey, was a time when I was scared to tell anybody about all that. So things have gotten better in that respect. Take care of yourself!
I believe in these stories about dolls and this tina is a matter of fact they have Annabelle in Connecticut i forget where ill have to look it up 😆 u wont see me getting no dam doll 😂
Oh I seen Dexter Morgan and let me tell you he was enjoying what he was doing. 😳
Tracy Stratford voiced Lucy in the 1965 Peanuts classic "a Charlie Brown Christmas"
Miss June Foray's voice as Talking Tina still scares hell out of me
It is really creepy. She managed to be friendly and eerie at the same time.
As a child of divorced parents, I used to put a lot of my issues growing up into the imaginative play of my toys. My Masters of the Universe action figures were often my comfort, even though I had a brother we sort’ve had an understanding that we didn’t talk about our issues, we just played with our toys to get out our frustrations with what was happening in the real world. I connect to the episodes message about toys taking on a lot of roles for children for that alone.
Hey Nick, I totally hear you. Went through the same thing as a kid, as did most everyone I knew in terms of parents getting divorced. Sounds like we're from about the same generation.Thanks as always for watching & commenting, be well & have a good week.
Most of my favourite TZ episodes are the dark and creepy ones like this one. So much fun. Excellent video 💪.
One of the best episodes - an absolute classic!
Another great review of another great episode! I really enjoy your breakdown of these man. I love how you mentioned this one could've been summed up in a mere sentence, but it was fun to hear you go through it. I like this particular spin on the evil doll story. Like you brought up with the Dexter analogy, she isn't straight up evil and that adds a nice element that we don't get in Chucky and the others. Plus, that was a pretty smart way for her to take the guy out as opposed to managing to get her hands on a knife and try shanking his calves or somethin 😅
Exactly, Talky Tina was a neat and careful little monster. 😅Thanks for the watch & the comment man.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater no problem man. Easy to do when you're continuously dropping solid content over here! Looking forward to checking out more.
The way Erich was killed by Tina is definitely realistic. She made it look like an accident which makes her more sinister than Chucky or any other killer dolls after her!
This makes me wonder how sales for Chatty Cathy were after the episode aired. Heck some of the talking dolls we have nowadays are creepy.
That's a good observation joyunicycle. No matter what the era is, dolls tend to fall into an off putting / uncanny valley territory. The more 'life-like' they make them, the worse it gets. 😂
I absolutely love this episode. The living doll trope is very common, but depending how it's handled, it can very scary and the Twilight Zone is no exception. Something that isn't human, but imitates to be is just unsettling.
Hey thanks for the watch, this is a fan favorite for sure. There's another TZ which features wax figures I'll review eventually. I noted it in the top 10 underrated episodes. 'The New Exhibit' also plays up the idea of something which isn't human, imitating us in a very creepy fashion.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Oh yes I love that episode! I can't wait to see your review on it.
Savalas is a great actor, anything with him as going to be good, but I don't do well with creepy dolls, may be one I will probably never watch.. But sounds interesting enough.. Who knows 😬
Hey awkward reviewer. Yeah, I hear you about the killer doll thing, it isn't for everyone that is for sure. Thanks for the watch though. Be well!
Heyyyyy bro you always sharing great videos much love to u
Hey wasssssup, hope you are doing well this weekend. Thank you for checking in. : )
My all-time favorite Twi-Zone episode!
Hokey Smokes, let's hear it for the great June Foray
The music score by Bernard Herrmann was written for two harps, celesta and bass clarinet.
Wow! I haven't seen this since I was very little. Don't mess with Talking Tina! Thanks for refreshing my memory. And thanks for the kind comments you've left on my channel. Have a great day my friend.
Wassup VIG. Thanks for the checking in man.
I kind of think of Talky Tina could be almost a protector to Christy, sensing how toxic the household (particularly her stepfather) was. I like the idea of dolls/toys in general being protectors of the children they're given to.
This is in point of fact my all time favorite Twilight Zone Episode.
Very nice breakdown mate 👌 👍 you explained this very well. Imagine getting a phone call from a doll you just threw away lol.. I'm sure I wouldn't just hand it back to my daughter great review mate hope you are safe 🤘 👍
Hope you are safe & well too. Not sure what is worse, calls from a killer doll or 'Scam Likely' calls.
The first time I heard that phone message was part of an opening video/audio montage for a Twilight Zone VHS. After hearing it, I quoted the old Arnie flick End Of Days: "Alright, it's official. I'm never sleeping again."
The dill served as an alter ego for the daughter… that’s why it ended with “you better be nice to me.”
That looks creepy but good
Great review, so detailed and spot on. Talking Tina is one scary looking doll.
Heeey Ariel, thanks!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater You’re welcome 😬
I just realized you could talk about the episode The New Exhibit.
The twin beds come courtesy of the prudish Hays Code.
Love this type of video man :D awesome channel!!
Hey wassup Everything Nerd Reviews. Thanks! I appreciate that.
this is definitely creepy. But in a fun way, and I kind of root for Tina because she does away with Eric and in her own creepy way protects the daughter. And I wonder why she threatens the mom too. Just to cover her bases?
Ha ha, I like that, 'just to cover her bases' it's like she is just giving the mom the heads up to keep cool.
Savalas had a diverse career before starting his acting profession. A deep and resonant voice, he co-starred in The Birdman of Alcatraz. Your observation on sleeping in separate beds? Networks had a ridiculously puritanical outlook on marriage. Dick Van Dyke and Laura slept in separate beds although wed. Sex and the inhibited morality of TV shows was eventually eased.
As great as I'm sure the episode is Anthony, I just enjoy hearing you break it down 😝 this fu*king Talking Tina is way scarier than Annabelle the doll! I would not want to mess with her! I'm also surprised they had that infertility twist, I wonder if that would've been taboo subject matter back in the day... I would think so! Another great break down Ant, always enjoy these 😄
Shawn! Thanks for watching. Well on the good side, as far as we know, Talky Tina only went after nasty stepdads. 😄
@@FeverDreamlandTheater she probably would've went after Annabelle next. Because she did say to Annabelle, "My name is Talky Tina. And you better be nice to me!"
I hated the way Erich treated his step-daughter Christy in this episode. Although I felt sorry for his predicament I just wish that he would've been nicer to her.
Hey Melissa, I agree, Erich snapping at the little girl especially was tough to watch. Thanks for watching.
single beds were normal in 60s tv
ricky/lucy rob/laura and a lot more
wow, good job my friend
Thank you!
Telly oh telly
Sir I am also a RUclipsr and I am your biggest fan
This episode would definately creep me out for sure!! Looks about the scariest you have reviewed to date - or at least the creepiest! Awesome review! :)
Heeeey thanks for watching, I appreciate you going through these when you can. Have a good weekend.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater You`re very welcome! Finding it interesting to hear your thoughts on these episodes - even if I haven't seen them I can judge what I will be letting myself in for later when I do! :)
Great review, this episode always creeped me out for some reason
I know Eric is humanized, but…I just can’t find myself feeling bad for him. Anyone who hurts their kids deserves whatever happens to them, in my opinion.
“I’m not your daddy!” That’s right, you’re not!
Ever heard the theory that Tina is like a split-off of Christie? Like Tina is doing what Christie wants to do? (Christie + Tina = Christina)
Hey Miss Mint, I don't recall hearing that theory (Christie + Tina = Christina) but it's interesting and I think it can fit in this case.
I think you're right about the infertility topic in those days! They never actually came out and said either Barney or Betty Rubble were infertile - just that "they'd been trying unsuccessfully"!
Yeah that aspect stood out to me. It's a totally normal subject but as I understand it, in those days certain topics were off limits for tv. For example, in the Mike Wallace interview with Serling, he famously mentioned an episode of Lassie where the collie had puppies. Some apparently thought the episode "promoted sexuality" and their letters / complaints forced the station to shy away from showing the birth of puppies in future episodes.
Great episode very scary
I remember when the Simpson’s parodied this and I didn’t actually see this until far later on. I really like they way they designed the doll. It’s unsettling but you’re hard pressed to say exactly WHY
For me, it's that cold, dead, vacant stare that makes it creepy. But creepy in a different way than other killer dolls that are scarred / purposely made to look scary. Thanks for watching Stillmore.
The voice helps. June Foray used her voice the same way Mark Hamill used the Joker's laugh, like it was a musical instrument to convey mood.
To me what makes the Talky Tina doll creepy is the fact that she doesn't look creepy!
This was the first Twilight Zone episode I ever saw. I found it creepy but enjoyable. It got me curious about the entire show
Same here.
Leeeeetttttssss goooooo! One of my all time favorite episodes that still gives me goosebumps to this day as a 24 year old man child
Hey wassup fellow night owl. Thanks for watching man.
I didnt see a contact on your page but I’d love to have you on my channel to talk about twilight zone if you would be interested in that? My email is PierceProductions1@gmail.com
HEEEE’S BACK! Anthony I was so excited when I saw this video on my feed and immediately clicked on it! I have never seen the Twilight Zone through and through but your analysis IS SPOT ON and so insightful! This is one of the more well known episodes and it’s truly terrifying. I was sweeping the floors and my wife’s like “turn that video off! It’s scaring me” lol great video my friend! Can’t wait for more!
OMG dude, that's hilarious. I had a few more clips than usual in this review and most featured creepy Talky Tina. I've been rewatching 'The Boys' with my wife and the gore/violence in the show is bothering her...so I hear you. Anyway, thanks for watching, or at least trying to watch. ; )
🖐️ dolls
Love the depth of the stories you go through with your videos. Great job!
Thank you man, I appreciate it.
My mom told me a fun story about how watching this episode for the first time with her three sisters. They were so scared by the episode that when they were sent to bed, Mom and her sisters grabbed all of their dolls, put them in the closet of one bedroom (two slept in one room and two slept in the other room) and all four of them slept in the other bedroom for two nights.
Now that is a fun story. As a kid I saw this on a new years eve marathon for the first time and it creeped me out....especially the final line "and you better be nice to me"
@@FeverDreamlandTheater lol…I actually knew the gist of the story from the various parodies but when I first saw this for real, I was pretty unnerved
I feel totally sorry for the Dad at the end and we see that Talky Tina will be equally mean to Annabelle now that the dad is dead.
Not in my top 20, but I see its merits and know it's very popular with horror-fans. I have no qualm with your rating (4/5).
Hey Hop, glad you are going through these...I'm aiming to have a new one out this week.
@@pnutbutrncrackers Hey Hop, I think I may have seen 'Carnival of Souls' many years ago. I'd have to rewatch it again for a review which I will happily do because it sounds really interesting going by your description. Sounds right up my alley. Plus, I've been meaning to branch out as much as possible. Thank you for the recommendation! Be well!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater If you do eventually give it a thoughtful viewing, I'm sure we could have an interesting exchange about it afterwards. FWIW, I have a personal interpretation of it that works for me and gives the film a more coherent and satisfying meaning. (My theory reflects my Christian perspective, however, so obviously wouldn't be preferred by some.)
Totally forgot about this episode. Thank you for the gripping reminder
LoL! That's what I'm here for!
Dolls, clowns = creepy!
ha ha agreed 100% thanks for the watch Peter!
Talky Tina kicked ass!
That was one doll you did not want to mess with.
You really make me want to go give these episodes a watch myself. Nice review and breakdown, keep up the grind
Hey wassup Chubbs, thanks as always for watching. If you ever get a chance to check out a few episodes, let me know what you think. Be well.
I don't know if I can pick out an absolute favorite _TZ_ episode, but I can say there aren't any of them I love more than "Living Doll", and that's primarily due to the wonderful scenes of confrontation between Erich Streator and Talky Tins, especially the one that takes place in the dining room, which I think is genius dialogue. After he sticks a lit match close to the doll's face, causing it to react with a startled "Oh!", we get this choice exchange:
*Erich* _So, you have feelings?_
*Tina* _Doesn't everything?_
*Erich* _Then, I can hurt you._
*Tina* _Not really, but I could hurt you._
*Erich* (chuckling with amusement) _Threats from a doll._
ruclips.net/video/6Z0bdJPvDaw/видео.html&ab_channel=TheTwilightZone
This is another of those episodes that lends itself to natural and supernatural interpretations. Of course, while I prefer the latter, I've heard a guy on a podcast who defended then naturalistic view to the point of denouncing the warning the doll gives to Annabelle at the end ("I'm Talky Tina, and you'd better be nice to me.") as weakening the episode by placing it firmly in the realm of the supernatural, and it does pretty much close off the possibility of other interpretations.
My, bias aside, the other explanations have their merits and boil down to three: 1) Erich has a screw loose and is hallucinating the whole episode, 2) Christie is projecting her fears upon the doll (Rod's closing narration includes something that would support this to an extent -- "to a child caught in the middle of turmoil and conflict, a doll can become many things: friend, defender, guardian"), and 3) the one that resonates most with me is that Tina is sort of Annabelle's alter ego.
While Annabelle isn't as overtly nasty as Erich, I regard much of her behavior as passive-aggressive and see Christie as the only true innocent in the household. And we get some of this from the very first scene. we see her instructing Christie to take the doll upstairs so her stepdad won't see it. Now, I know you said Erich Streator was making enough money that he could have afforded the doll, and that's no doubt true, but in the context of 1960s America there were cultural dynamics that have to be factored into the equation, foremost among them, the Great Depression, Telly Savalas was born in 1922, and we should presume Streator being more or less the same age. Many people who grew up during the Depression were taught to be frugal with their money, even if they were well off later in life.
When Annabelle and Christie get home, we see Erich doing what looks like the household budget. He says the girl didn't need another doll, and from the substance of the exchange, it appears that this is something the couple had discussed in the past, and I get the sense that Erich wasn't saying Christie would never get another doll, but just not at the moment. Annabelle ignores his attempts to engage her in some sensible talk about the situation, repeatedly refusing to answer how much she paid for the doll. At one point, he even says "I thought we agreed...", but she cuts him off midsentence when it sounds as though he was going to remind her that she had agreed that they needed to tighten the purse strings for the moment.
Later, when Annabelle defends the purchase by saying Tina would be "a good playmate for Christie," and Erich takes that to be a swipe at his manhood, I believe that despite her protestation to the contrary, I believe that even if it wasn't intended as a jab in that particular occasion, she's brought it up in myriad ways to him, and he may not be entirely thin-skinned about the subject. While this wouldn't excuse Erich's boorish, even hateful behavior, it does mean Annabelle would be contributing to the mess with her attempts to undermine his authority with Christie and her discreet, ongoing mocking of his infertility (or impotence). She feigns love, but I think that's something that flew the coop in that marriage quite some time ago, and now only a shadow of it remains. Tina embodies this passive aggression quite well, her threats always come in the same sweet "I love you very much" voices as when she's talking to Christie, she takes all the abuse Erich can dish out in the wonderful scene in his workshop, and even when she kills, it's by allowing the victim to precipitate his own demise by stepping on he passively lying in wait.
Telly Savalas is terrific as the malevolent Erich, yet the script is nuanced enough that it allows some glimpses of humanity to break through for his character from time to time. However, I think that the voice-acting of June Foray may even top Telly. Rather than the behavior of similar characters such as Willie in "The Dummy" and Chucky in _Child's Play,,_ there's nothing maniacal about Tina; she's cold and calculating, and all the scarier for it. I especially enjoy how Foray's voice work is always of a quiet tone as she always speaks with that lovable, friendly talking doll voice, even when threatening to commit murder. Also, Bernard Herrmann's eerie score adds greatly to the overall mood:
ruclips.net/video/TPn0i44egCc/видео.html
I think in a battle with the other two sinister dolls just mentioned, Tina could prevail against either Willie or Chuckie, given that she's more or less indestructible and a ruthless and patient schemer as well.
*5 out of 5 threats from a doll*
Hey Galantski, hope your weekend is going well - always happy to hear your thoughts.This was yet another one that I found really fun to talk about. You bring up good points as far as the doll being indestructible. In a battle of evil dolls she probably would win. We've seen Chucky messed up repeatedly and Willie, I'd assume he could be busted up? LoL, who knows. We've see Darth Vader vs Batman fan-films so maybe one day we'll see a Chucky vs Talky Tina. And you are right Tina is cold and calculating, certainly not maniacal. On that note, if you ever want to see a maniacal killer doll, check out 'Trilogy of Terror' from 1975. Now that doll was crazed.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I'm doing well, and hope it's the same for you. Here's one last point on "Living Doll": I'm not sure if I can say either Foray or Savalas was better because from what I read, they weren't reacting to each other in a typical studio setting. I think how it went is that June was given the script, told the situation in the episode, and gave the proper inflections to fit, while Telly may have heard a recording of her voiceover, yet still had to react as though the doll was saying it. Both are just great. (Btw, I love the dining room scene where Erich wiped the dribble of food off of Tina's mouth. It was a small touch, but a nice one.)
Ah, yes, the Zuni fetish warrior doll! How could I ever forget? He was high octane nightmare fuel, for sure. What that little devil lacked in stature, he more than made up for in sheer relentless maniacal malice. He kind of sounded like a rabid Chihuahua, and similarly attacked for the most part at ankle level. Still, he has to be included high on any list of most frightening cursed dolls/puppets/dummies/etc.
Karen Black's title character in "Amelia", who is tormented and eventually possessed by the devil doll (now all of that rage and fury transferred to a full-sized woman ups the potential for mayhem a hundredfold---scary!), has a fate worse than death, but she's to blame. This isn't one of those stories where it was sent to her by an enemy.
No, she _bought_ the hideous and (literally) damned thing and took it home to an apartment _where she lives alone._ She then goes a step further in sealing her doom by taking the cursed thing from its box, even as she finds a scroll with it saying _the doll has the spirit of an Aborigine hunter "HE WHO KILLS" trapped within it._ Therefore,, I believe Ishe fully warrants inclusion on my "Stupid things done by people in horror movies" list.
Interestingly, I had just watched your review of "The Invaders", another story of a woman bedeviled by little creatures. I agree with Richard Matheson that that _TZ_ episode, benefited by an excellent performance from Agnes Moorehead, but was harmed by the design of the "astronauts", that looked less like menacing figures and more like windup toys that Lew Bookman might have hawked in "One for the Angels".
Most interesting of all, "Amelia" and "The Invaders" turn out to be variations of a Matheson idea:
www.metv.com/stories/that-horrifying-trilogy-of-terror-doll-was-born-from-the-original-rejected-twilight-zone-script-for-the-invaders
Another classic TZ episode, you keep picking bangers! Good look into it, you definitely put some thought into your reviews Anthony.
Thanks man, next up, most likely will be Midnight Sun.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I'll be waiting for it!
Loved the show!! Hey what is your name?
Heeey wassup Scott, thanks for watching. I'm Anthony. 👍Good to meet ya. ; )
@@FeverDreamlandTheater yes Anthony nice to meet you too.
And more or less where is your accent from? : ) by the way i'm from New Mexico. : )
@@thegringoscottproductions1699 Hmm, not sure just a general NY accent I guess. I've been told I sound like someone from BK or Jersey. New Mexico looks beautiful. Sorry to say I'm only familiar with it through Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, but I'd love to visit one day.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater ha ha yea those shows show a lot of it, but just its ugly under belly.
Yet another great video!!
Keep up the fantastic work mate! :)
Hey wassup Barry, thanks for the watch! Hope you've been well.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater im.well thank you.
Hope your good? Keep up the brilliant work my friend.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater would you fancy doing a collab someday . I absolutely love the tz and your my go to guy for it . Without a doubt
@@barrykowalski5071 Thanks Barry.
I love all twilight zones series...
That's awesome. I think between all the different series, there's something for everyone.