Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
Encyclopedia
"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" is a 1963 episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
, based on the short story of the same name by Richard Matheson
.
) is a salesman on an airplane who notices a gremlin
on the wing of the plane during mid-flight. Bob tries to alert his wife and the flight crew to the gremlin's presence, but every time someone else looks out the window, the gremlin leaps out of view, so nobody believes Bob's seemingly outlandish claim; his credibility is further marred by the fact that this is his first flight since his nervous breakdown
six months earlier, which also occurred on a plane. Bob realizes that his wife is starting to think he needs to go back to the sanitarium, but his bigger concern is that, if nothing is done about the gremlin, it will damage the plane and cause it to crash; in fact, the gremlin has already started to tinker with the wiring under one of the wing flaps.
After repeated attempts to warn the crew, Bob grows desperate, steals a sleeping policeman's revolver
, and opens the window marked "Auxiliary Exit" to shoot the gremlin, succeeding despite the fact that he is nearly blown out of the plane himself. Once the plane has landed, Bob is whisked away in a straitjacket
, as everyone believes that he has gone insane; however the narrator informs the viewers that Bob's stay will be short-lived, and the final shot reveals why: The gremlin has left evidence of Bob's story, in the form of the damaged wing.
. Unlike Bob Wilson, whose credibility was compromised by a recent nervous break-down in the 1963 version, John Valentine, played by John Lithgow
, suffers from severe aviatophobia, again giving the flight crew added reason to disbelieve his wild claims.
The story begins with flight attendants attempting to coax Mr. Valentine from the lavatory as he tries to recover from what seems to be a panic attack. He is repeatedly assured by the flight attendants that everything is going to be all right, but his nerves and antics disturb the surrounding passengers.
As Mr. Valentine takes his seat, he notices a hideous gremlin on the wing of the plane and begins to spiral into severe panic. He watches as the creature wreaks havoc on the wing, damaging the plane's engine, losing more control each time he sees it do something new. Valentine finally snaps, grabs a hand gun from another passenger, an air marshal, shoots out the window (causing a breach in the pressurized cabin), and begins firing at the creature. This only serves to catch the attention of the gremlin, who rushes up to Valentine and promptly destroys the gun. After a tense moment, in which they notice that the plane is landing, the gremlin grabs Valentine's face, then simply scolds him by wagging its finger in a "no, no" manner. The creature leaps into the sky as the airplane begins to make an emergency landing. As Valentine is wrapped in a straitjacket and carried off in an ambulance, the police, crew and passengers begin to discuss the incident, writing off Valentine as insane. The aircraft maintenance crew soon arrives however, and everyone gathers to examine the massive amounts of unexplained damage to the plane's engines.
episode of The Simpsons
features a segment called "Terror at 5½ Feet". It takes place on a school bus rather than an airplane, and puts Bart Simpson
in the role of Bob Wilson. At the end Bart is taken away by an ambulance, but then sees the Gremlin outside the ambulance with the head of Ned Flanders
. In an episode of Muppets Tonight
, Miss Piggy
sees a gremlin outside on the wing of her plane, and pleads for help. William Shatner appears next to her and comments that he's been complaining about the same guy for years.
John Lithgow's sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun
made a couple of references to "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet". In season one, episode 12 of 3rd Rock from the Sun
, an angst-ridden Dick Solomon
(Lithgow's character) is on a plane with Mary and he parodies his character in the film with a comment about something being on the wing, albeit before the flight takes off. In a later episode, a character played by William Shatner tells Dick that he once saw something mysterious on the wing of his airplane, and Dick exlaims, "the same thing happened to me!"
A Saturday Night Live
sketch parodying the story features the gremlin doing a series of comical stunts, such as exercising and hanging out with Pearl Jam
, and ends with the gremlin actually having been a locked out passenger. In a Season 5 episode of 30 Rock
("Double-Edged Sword
"), Liz Lemon
is sitting in an airplane seat and suddenly exclaims "There's someone on the wing!" She then realizes it is a maintenance worker, and they are still on the ground. It is also parodied by Jim Carrey
in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
when Carrey's character is flying in a plane as he looks out the window and exclaims "There's something on the wing....some...thing". It was also parodied in the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
, when the main character sees evil gummy bears ripping apart the wing of the plane.
, in The Twilight Zone Magazine, called this episode one of his favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone
, praising Richard Donner
's direction and William Shatner
's performance, though criticizing the appearance of the monster, comparing it to a "surly teddy bear."
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
, based on the short story of the same name by Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
Richard Burton Matheson is an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is perhaps best known as the author of What Dreams May Come, Bid Time Return, A Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and I Am Legend, all of which have been...
.
Plot summary
Bob Wilson (William ShatnerWilliam Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
) is a salesman on an airplane who notices a gremlin
Gremlin
A gremlin is an imaginary creature commonly depicted as mischievous and mechanically oriented, with a specific interest in aircraft. Gremlins' mischievous natures are similar to those of English folkloric imps, while their inclination to damage or dismantle machinery is more...
on the wing of the plane during mid-flight. Bob tries to alert his wife and the flight crew to the gremlin's presence, but every time someone else looks out the window, the gremlin leaps out of view, so nobody believes Bob's seemingly outlandish claim; his credibility is further marred by the fact that this is his first flight since his nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
six months earlier, which also occurred on a plane. Bob realizes that his wife is starting to think he needs to go back to the sanitarium, but his bigger concern is that, if nothing is done about the gremlin, it will damage the plane and cause it to crash; in fact, the gremlin has already started to tinker with the wiring under one of the wing flaps.
After repeated attempts to warn the crew, Bob grows desperate, steals a sleeping policeman's revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
, and opens the window marked "Auxiliary Exit" to shoot the gremlin, succeeding despite the fact that he is nearly blown out of the plane himself. Once the plane has landed, Bob is whisked away in a straitjacket
Straitjacket
A straitjacket is a garment shaped like a jacket with overlong sleeves and is typically used to restrain a person who may otherwise cause harm to themselves or others. Once the arms are inserted into the straitjacket's sleeves, they are then crossed across the chest...
, as everyone believes that he has gone insane; however the narrator informs the viewers that Bob's stay will be short-lived, and the final shot reveals why: The gremlin has left evidence of Bob's story, in the form of the damaged wing.
Remake
The episode was remade in 1983, as a segment of Twilight Zone: The MovieTwilight Zone: The Movie
Twilight Zone: The Movie is a 1983 science fiction horror film produced by Steven Spielberg and John Landis as a theatrical version of The Twilight Zone, a 1959 and '60s TV series created by Rod Serling. Those starring in the film are: Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Vic Morrow, Scatman Crothers,...
. Unlike Bob Wilson, whose credibility was compromised by a recent nervous break-down in the 1963 version, John Valentine, played by John Lithgow
John Lithgow
John Arthur Lithgow is an American actor, musician, and author. Presently, he is involved with a wide range of media projects, including stage, television, film, and radio...
, suffers from severe aviatophobia, again giving the flight crew added reason to disbelieve his wild claims.
The story begins with flight attendants attempting to coax Mr. Valentine from the lavatory as he tries to recover from what seems to be a panic attack. He is repeatedly assured by the flight attendants that everything is going to be all right, but his nerves and antics disturb the surrounding passengers.
As Mr. Valentine takes his seat, he notices a hideous gremlin on the wing of the plane and begins to spiral into severe panic. He watches as the creature wreaks havoc on the wing, damaging the plane's engine, losing more control each time he sees it do something new. Valentine finally snaps, grabs a hand gun from another passenger, an air marshal, shoots out the window (causing a breach in the pressurized cabin), and begins firing at the creature. This only serves to catch the attention of the gremlin, who rushes up to Valentine and promptly destroys the gun. After a tense moment, in which they notice that the plane is landing, the gremlin grabs Valentine's face, then simply scolds him by wagging its finger in a "no, no" manner. The creature leaps into the sky as the airplane begins to make an emergency landing. As Valentine is wrapped in a straitjacket and carried off in an ambulance, the police, crew and passengers begin to discuss the incident, writing off Valentine as insane. The aircraft maintenance crew soon arrives however, and everyone gathers to examine the massive amounts of unexplained damage to the plane's engines.
In other media
Parts of this episode's plot have been repeated and parodied several times in popular culture, including television shows, films, radio, and music. For example, the Treehouse of Horror IVTreehouse of Horror IV
"Treehouse of Horror IV" is the fifth episode of The Simpsons fifth season and the fourth episode in the Treehouse of Horror series of Halloween specials. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 28, 1993, and features three short stories called "The Devil and Homer...
episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
features a segment called "Terror at 5½ Feet". It takes place on a school bus rather than an airplane, and puts Bart Simpson
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
in the role of Bob Wilson. At the end Bart is taken away by an ambulance, but then sees the Gremlin outside the ambulance with the head of Ned Flanders
Ned Flanders
Nedward "Ned" Flanders, Jr. is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Harry Shearer, and first appeared in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". He is the next door neighbor to the Simpson family and is generally...
. In an episode of Muppets Tonight
Muppets Tonight
Muppets Tonight is a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. Much like the "MuppeTelevision" segment of The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight was a continuation of The Muppet Show, set in a television studio, rather than a theater.-Format:The...
, Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
sees a gremlin outside on the wing of her plane, and pleads for help. William Shatner appears next to her and comments that he's been complaining about the same guy for years.
John Lithgow's sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
made a couple of references to "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet". In season one, episode 12 of 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
, an angst-ridden Dick Solomon
Dick Solomon
Dr. Richard Solomon, usually known as Dick Solomon, is a character played by John Lithgow in the late '90s NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. Solomon is the High Commander of a highly trained alien unit, sent to Earth by their leader, The Big Giant Head...
(Lithgow's character) is on a plane with Mary and he parodies his character in the film with a comment about something being on the wing, albeit before the flight takes off. In a later episode, a character played by William Shatner tells Dick that he once saw something mysterious on the wing of his airplane, and Dick exlaims, "the same thing happened to me!"
A Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
sketch parodying the story features the gremlin doing a series of comical stunts, such as exercising and hanging out with Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, and ends with the gremlin actually having been a locked out passenger. In a Season 5 episode of 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
("Double-Edged Sword
Double-Edged Sword (30 Rock)
"Double-Edged Sword" is the fourteenth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 94th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Don Scardino, and written by Kay Cannon & Tom Ceraulo. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting...
"), Liz Lemon
Liz Lemon
Elizabeth Miervaldis "Liz" Lemon is the main character of the American television series 30 Rock. She is portrayed by Tina Fey, who is also the creator of the series and its showrunner.-Personal history:...
is sitting in an airplane seat and suddenly exclaims "There's someone on the wing!" She then realizes it is a maintenance worker, and they are still on the ground. It is also parodied by Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls is the sequel to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . Jim Carrey reprises his role as the title character Ace Ventura, a detective who specializes in retrieval of tame or captive animals. This is the only sequel to a film starring Carrey in which Carrey reprised his role...
when Carrey's character is flying in a plane as he looks out the window and exclaims "There's something on the wing....some...thing". It was also parodied in the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a children's book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. It was first published in 1978 by the Simon & Schuster imprint Atheneum Books, followed by a 1982 trade paperback edition from sister company Aladdin Paperbacks...
, when the main character sees evil gummy bears ripping apart the wing of the plane.
Reception
Richard MathesonRichard Matheson
Richard Burton Matheson is an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is perhaps best known as the author of What Dreams May Come, Bid Time Return, A Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and I Am Legend, all of which have been...
, in The Twilight Zone Magazine, called this episode one of his favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
, praising Richard Donner
Richard Donner
Richard Donner is an American film director, film producer, and comic book writer.The production company The Donners' Company is owned by Donner and his wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner. After directing the horror film The Omen, Donner became famous for the hailed creation of the first modern...
's direction and William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
's performance, though criticizing the appearance of the monster, comparing it to a "surly teddy bear."
Sources
- Zicree, Marc Scott: The Twilight Zone Companion. Sillman-James Press, 1982 (second edition)
- DeVoe, Bill. (2008). Trivia from The Twilight Zone. Albany, GA: Bear Manor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-136-0
- Grams, Martin. (2008). The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic. Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9703310-9-0