The Twilight Zone

A Stop at Willoughby

Season 1, Episode 30, Aired 5/6/60

Episode Summary

Riding home on the train one day, a man falls asleep and dreams it is 1880, and he is entering a small town called Willoughby.

9.3

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Cast & Crew

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Rod Serling

Narrator/Host
James Daly

Gart Williams
Patricia Donahue

Jane Williams

Fan Episode Reviews (10)

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thank you, Mr H G Wells...

7.5

"Good"

By OmarCayenne, Oct 30, 2011 Report Abuse

Another revolt by Serling against the "push push push" world of the 1950s. This one though comes off a little flat and didn't engage me nearly as much as "Walking Distance." Btw this episode is very similar to a story by H G Wells called "The Door in the Wall," even though that fact is not acknowledged in the credits (and even Marc Zicree's Twilight Zone Companion fails to mention the debt).moreless

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0 1
A classic episode from the masterpiece that is the Twilight Zone.

8.5

"Great"

By tzfanatic93, Mar 24, 2010 Report Abuse

One of my all time favorite episodes A Stop at Willoughby stars James Daly as advertising executive Gart Williams who is stressed out from his job and stressed out at his home. Gart takes a train home from work each day and falls asleep and dreams a peaceful, happy little town called Willoughby.

When you first see A Stop at Willoughby it is not easy to predict the twist at the end but after seeing it a few more times you start to realize that you can actually see it coming. Once again the Twilight Zone at it's very best, A Stop at Willoughby is sure to please a true Twilight Zone fanatic.moreless

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Great piece of work!

10

"Perfect"

By StarRazor, Jun 07, 2009 Report Abuse

It is a dream of every one to find their little piece of utopia. To see a man get treated like a work horse and a money hungry wife who just keeps pushing him to be some one he is not made me so angry at her. Oh how I wanted to reach in the screen and strangle her. The icing on it was when he needed her the most and she hung up on him!
That so called boss would have me breaking things to!
This episode will have your emotions pulled every which way. This is a great episode!moreless

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While riding the train home from work, ad executive Gart Williams dreams of a town named Willoughby, where the pressures and difficulties of life do not exist and a person can live the easy life. As things get bad at his job, Gart's dreams continue.moreless

9.2

"Superb"

By meathead704, Aug 15, 2008 Report Abuse

This is an episode of "The Twilight Zone" that I'm sure a great many people can relate to. Which one of us has not wished for a life where our stress levels and sanity are not pushed to the limit? One of the many highlights of this episode is the character development. The viewer does feel for Gart Williams as his demanding and uncaring boss pressures him more and more each day. Having had a boss at a previous job who was just as bad (but obviously did not drive me to suicide) helped me to relate to Gart's situation.moreless

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Utopia,Xanadu,Shangra-la,Brigadoon....and Wiloughby!!

10

"Perfect"

By bigworf, Jul 03, 2008 Report Abuse

I thought this episode was about me personally it speaks so much to the heart. Excellently conceived ,written and executed,,Gart Williams is an everyman who mirrors that part of everyone that needs to find that one place in the world(or out of this world) where he can be REALLY happy. I'm not sure if women feel this way also but I wouldn't be a bit surprised. James Daly conveys the stress and tension of life expertly, and at the end you really and fervently wish that he has found his Eden. By far my favorite Twilight Zone episode and that is saying something because TZ is so consistantlly great!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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Notes
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- Mr. Serling said that this was his favorite episode of the first season. Edit
- Williams' mention of "The Bradbury Account" is an in-joke reference by Serling to legendary fantasy writer Ray Bradbury, of whom Serling was a big fan (and whose story "I Sing the Body Electric" was later adapted as a TZ episode). Edit
- Included on volume 34 of Image-Entertainment's DVD collection. Edit
Quotes
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- Conductor: Willoughby -- this stop, Willoughby. Edit
- Mr. Misrell: A push, push business -- push and drive -- all the way, all the time. Edit
- Secretary: Can I get you anything, sir? Gart: Yes, a sharp razor and a chart of the human anatomy showing all the arteries. Edit
Allusions
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