Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Twilight Zone: Season 4’ Rocks Classic TV Fans

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CHICAGO – I know that we’re starting to sound like a broken record here. If you check our coverage of the previous three season sets of “The Twilight Zone,” you’ll see that they’re among the highest-praised ever covered on this site. Guess what? The fourth season doesn’t break the pattern.

Blu-ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

I will say this — the fourth season of “The Twilight Zone” was definitely not the program’s best. Oh, there are certainly some highlights but, taken as a whole, it’s not as strong as any of the first three seasons. There’s your bit of criticism. It will end here.

Season four ran from January to May of 1963 and definitely features a few highlights, if not as many as previous seasons. Notable episodes include “He’s Alive,” “Mute,” and “No Time Like the Past.” One may immediately notice that this season features half the episodes of past ones but that’s because it was a mid-season replacement after sponsorship issues delayed it until January and because this is the only season in which the episodes run an hour long.

The Twilight Zone: Season 4 was released on Blu-ray on May 17, 2011
Photo credit: Image Entertainment

As for notable and current-and-future stars of this 18-episode season, you’ll be treated to Dennis Hopper, Ann Jillian, Anne Francis, Robert Duvall, Burgess Meredith, Martin Balsam, Julie Newmar, Pat Hingle, James Whitmore, and Jack Weston.

Each episode of season two of “The Twilight Zone” is presented in its standard 1.33:1 full frame format with an HD transfer that’s pitch-perfect for the show, allowing it to look great but not overly or incorrectly polished. Once again, “The Twilight Zone” looks just right, continuing the fact that these should be the model for what old programs look like in HD.

The shortened length of the season allows for a collection of special features that’s more manageable but still incredibly impressive. Most episodes feature an audio commentary plus there are 13 that are brand-new along with a vintage interview with director of photography George T. Clemens that was previously unavailable.

The collection also features every piece of old bonus material, including promos, radio dramas, video interviews, and even an “SNL” clip.

The fourth season is my least favorite of “The Twilight Zone” program but this is STILL one of the best Blu-ray releases of 2011.

Special Features:
o 13 New Audio Commentaries
o Vintage Audio Interview with DOP George T. Clemens
o Audio Commentaries by Marc Scott Zicree for Death Ship and William Windom for Miniature
o Vintage Audio Recollections
o Video Interviews with Morgan Brittany, Anne Francis, Paul Comi and John Furia, Jr.
o 7 Radio Dramas
o Isolated Scores for all 18 episodes featuring Fred Steiner, Van Cleave, Rene Garriguenc
o Rod Serling Promos for “Next Week’s” Show
o Rod Serling Blooper from He’s Alive
o Saturday Night Live Clip
o The Famous Writers School Promo with Rod Serling
o Genesee Beer Spot
o Sponsor Billboards

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com