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The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 10

The Midnight Sun

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9.2

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AIRED: 11/17/61

The Earth's orbit has been changed, drawing ever closer to the sun and promising imminent destruction.

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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

Yeah, but it's a dry heat!

9.0

By MarkBoyle1, Mar 30, 2012

This is a terrific episode, one of the real gems of the original series (despite the slight scientific plot flaw, highlighted by one of the earlier reviewers, regarding what would be required for there to be perpetual daylight. This also leads me to speculate upon what conditions would be like on the side of the Earth condemned to darkness). Again, like one of the other reviewers, I'm something of a fan of these apocalyptic scenarios and this story in particular reminds of the classic film, The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), which has a very similar premise. Hey, *what* a coincidence - both were released the same year. How about that? :P Briefly, if you liked this TZ episode, chances are that you'll also appreciate the movie.

P.S. I have to admit that I quite enjoyed watching Lois Nettleton running around in her sweaty shift, too. xDmoreless
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Aside from the horribly cliche ending (which at the time wasn't one, so you can't take points off), this episode is flawless. The acting, the writing, it all comes together to make one of the weirdest and most entertaining episodes of this great series.moreless

10

By Rc1981, Mar 07, 2010

The central theme of "Midnight Sun", where it pulls its emotional weight, is the idea of being trapped. There's no way out of being burned alive by the sun as the Earth has modified its orbit and the two bodies are on a collision course. No matter what the three main characters do, they are all heading for the same fate. One is a simple landlady, the other a talented painter, and still another a family man turned thief after buckling under the pressure of the Earth's impending incineration. There really is no specific plot binding them all together, instead "Midnight Sun" serves as a window as to what the final days of humankind might be like, and is written and acted with a chilling normalcy and calmness in the face of calamity. It's by no means a morality play like many episodes of "The Twilight Zone", but it is definitely a hair-raising conversation starter. I would imagine that after this episode's premiere, in those long gone days of yore when families might have actually watched the television together and enjoyed each others' company, some of the talks that were had between fathers and sons and mothers and daughters might well have helped shape an entire generation's perception of what it means to make the most out of life.moreless
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Some mistakes but I was nailed to the TV set until the end. Wish I could see the whole show and it would be submitted on here to watch.

10

By StarRazor, Jun 06, 2009

I love this it has you glued until the end. Plus the the great camera work for its time! One thing my mind kinda pulled it apart. (don't read if you don't want to know what is wrong)

If it stayed day all the time the earth would have to ether no longer rotate or would have to flip on axle.

But it has a wonderful plot and something to give the people of today to think about how we treat our planet. I have a love of "end of world" movies and programs and this is one that has stood out in my mind since I was a kid.moreless
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The sun has gotten more closer to the earth and two women are trapped in an apartment building trying to survive.

9.7

By sheep233, Jan 05, 2008

This is a great episode. It has a very interesting plot about an incredible apocalyptic event but it still has some annoying and confusing parts. With the wierd kid that was about to leave i thought he was an alien or something. He had huge eyeballs and i think he was staring at the girl for a long time. It was really wierd. And it was annoying when the old lady was painting that picture and the paint started to melt off the canvas and the camera kept going back and forth from the girl sweating and the picture melting. Then it eventually ended up with the girl screaming. Anyway, it was a great episode.moreless
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Another great episode!

9.2

By LOSTismylife, Jun 05, 2007

Midnight Sun is another classic episode of The Twilight Zone. Through the entire episode you think that the earth is moving closer to the sun. (This used to scare me when I was little! I thought that the earth might actually move closer to the sun and we'd all die!) Then at the end of the episode we find out that the whole thing was a dream. The woman is sick and running a fever. She's just dreaming that the earth was moving close to the sun. But then the landlord and the doctor go over and talk in the corner. It's revealed that the earth is actually moving AWAY from the sun! My summary probably didn't do much justice to the episode. But trust me this is a great episode and if given an oppurtunity you should watch it.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Rod Serling	Narrator/Host
Lois Nettleton	Norma
Betty Garde	Mrs. Bronson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Tom Reese	Intruder	Guest Star
Jason Wingreen	Mr. Shuster	Guest Star
June Ellis	Mrs. Shuster	Guest Star

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (3)
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- Norma: Mrs. Bronson, I had such a terrible dream. It was so hot. It was daylight all the time. There was a midnight sun, there was no night at all. Mmmm, isn't it wonderful to have darkness and coolness?
  Mrs. Bronson: (looking at the eternal frozen darkness outside) Yes, my dear: it's wonderful.
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- Norma: Mrs. Bronson, I had such a terrible dream. It was so hot. It was daylight all the time. There was a midnight sun, there was no night at all. Mmmm, isn't it wonderful to have darkness and coolness?
  Mrs. Bronson: (looking at the eternal frozen darkness outside) Yes, my dear: it's wonderful.
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- (Closing Narration)
  Narrator: The poles of fear, the extremes of how the Earth might conceivably be doomed. Minor exercise in the care and feeding of a nightmare, respectfully submitted by all the thermometer-watchers in the Twilight Zone.
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NOTES (2)
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- The "melting paintings" effect at the end of the episode was done by painting the pictures in wax on a hotplate and then turning the hot plate on and tilting it.
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- Included on volume 15 of Image-Entertainment's DVD collection.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Just before she collapses, Mrs. Bronson looks at the painting of the waterfall and says it reminds her of the tallest waterfall in Ithaca, New York. The reference is possibly to Taughannock Falls in Taughannock State Park, 11 miles north of Ithaca. Rod Serling taught at Ithaca College and lived in the Ithaca area for several years.
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