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penpusherIf all of the namechecks of famous authors from "Time Enough At Last" weren't enough to convince you of Rod Serling's literary interests, there's this episode, with three words taken from what is arguably the most famous speech written for the stage, William Shakespeare's soliloquy from Hamlet. However, this tale gets slightly more ribald than the Prince of Denmark ever did.
***SPOILERS ABOUT THIS EPISODE MAY BE REVEALED***
Richard Conte, an actor famous for Film Noir roles in the 1940s and 50s, gets to do what he does best, here. He's Edward Hall, a tough guy in a tough spot. He hasn't slept for days, not because he has insomnia, but because he has had a series of dreams where a beautiful woman named Maya (Suzanne Lloyd) haunts, teases and taunts him. He feels certain this woman will kill him if he goes to sleep and encounters her, again.
Conversely, he knows if he doesn't rest, his heart condition will kill him.
Seeking help from a psychiatrist (John Larch) in a skyscraper office, Hall explains the series of dreams and the mysterious woman who keeps appearing, hoping to find an answer.
Hold On My Heart... Hall (Conte) gets a bit too thrilled by Maya (Lloyd)
In a scene that seems incredible to have gotten past the CBS censors in 1959, at an amusement park, the woman dances seductively, then pursues him, getting him to take her into the fun house and later on a wild roller coaster. In each case, Hall is able to awaken before Maya kills him.
As Hall tries to make sense of it, he exits the doctor's office back to the waiting room. That's when he sees the receptionist - she's the woman from his dreams. He races back into the doctor's office and takes a swan dive through his window, shattering the glass and frame as he plummeted to the pavement below.
A moment later, the Doctor calls his receptionist into the room. The window is completely intact. He tells her the man on his leather couch, laid down, went to sleep, then screamed and died. "At least he went peacefully," the doctor commented.
This episode is notable as the first of the series not written by Rod Serling. That was handled by Charles Beaumont, a name that will appear regularly. The story wasn't as developed as the previous episodes and despite it being "noir" often comes off looking a little too dark to be viewed well.
I give "Perchance To Dream" a 7 out of 10.
***SPOILERS ABOUT THIS EPISODE MAY BE REVEALED***
Richard Conte, an actor famous for Film Noir roles in the 1940s and 50s, gets to do what he does best, here. He's Edward Hall, a tough guy in a tough spot. He hasn't slept for days, not because he has insomnia, but because he has had a series of dreams where a beautiful woman named Maya (Suzanne Lloyd) haunts, teases and taunts him. He feels certain this woman will kill him if he goes to sleep and encounters her, again.
Conversely, he knows if he doesn't rest, his heart condition will kill him.
Seeking help from a psychiatrist (John Larch) in a skyscraper office, Hall explains the series of dreams and the mysterious woman who keeps appearing, hoping to find an answer.
Hold On My Heart... Hall (Conte) gets a bit too thrilled by Maya (Lloyd)
In a scene that seems incredible to have gotten past the CBS censors in 1959, at an amusement park, the woman dances seductively, then pursues him, getting him to take her into the fun house and later on a wild roller coaster. In each case, Hall is able to awaken before Maya kills him.
As Hall tries to make sense of it, he exits the doctor's office back to the waiting room. That's when he sees the receptionist - she's the woman from his dreams. He races back into the doctor's office and takes a swan dive through his window, shattering the glass and frame as he plummeted to the pavement below.
A moment later, the Doctor calls his receptionist into the room. The window is completely intact. He tells her the man on his leather couch, laid down, went to sleep, then screamed and died. "At least he went peacefully," the doctor commented.
This episode is notable as the first of the series not written by Rod Serling. That was handled by Charles Beaumont, a name that will appear regularly. The story wasn't as developed as the previous episodes and despite it being "noir" often comes off looking a little too dark to be viewed well.
I give "Perchance To Dream" a 7 out of 10.