Rod Serling's Lost Classics
Encyclopedia
Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics was a 1994 telefilm consisting of two Rod Serling
stories. The film was co-produced by Serling's widow Carol Serling. Reportedly, she found the two pieces in a trunk in the family's garage.
The first and shorter segment, entitled The Theatre, was expanded and scripted by Richard Matheson
from a Serling outline. It starred Gary Cole
and Amy Irving
.
The longer segment, Where The Dead Are, was a complete script Serling penned in 1968. Patrick Bergin
and Jack Palance
starred. (As it was written four years after the end of the original series, this was not originally a Twilight Zone story.)
James Earl Jones
hosted and narrated the special. He previously worked with Serling on the 1972 film The Man
.
. Suddenly, she begins to see scenes of her own life as they happened earlier involving her fiancé James (Gary Cole). No one else can see them except herself. At first Melissa thinks it's a practical joke plotted by James, but when she returns to the theatre, she sees scenes of her future, in which she dies getting run over by a bus on March 20. When she tells James about it, he assures her it will never happen. Unfortunately, it does happen, and afterwards, James begins to see his own life in the theatre just like his recently deceased fiancée.
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
stories. The film was co-produced by Serling's widow Carol Serling. Reportedly, she found the two pieces in a trunk in the family's garage.
The first and shorter segment, entitled The Theatre, was expanded and scripted 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...
from a Serling outline. It starred Gary Cole
Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:...
and Amy Irving
Amy Irving
Amy Davis Irving is an American actress, known for her roles in the films Crossing Delancey, The Fury, Carrie, and Yentl as well as acclaimed roles on Broadway and Off-Broadway. She has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and has won an Obie award...
.
The longer segment, Where The Dead Are, was a complete script Serling penned in 1968. Patrick Bergin
Patrick Bergin
Patrick Connolly Bergin is an Irish actor and singer. He may be best-known internationally for playing the menacing husband of Julia Roberts' character in the thriller Sleeping with the Enemy and is also known for his role as Irish terrorist Kevin O'Donnell in the film adaption of Patriot Games....
and Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
starred. (As it was written four years after the end of the original series, this was not originally a Twilight Zone story.)
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
hosted and narrated the special. He previously worked with Serling on the 1972 film The Man
The Man (1972 film)
The Man is a 1972 political drama directed by Joseph Sargent and starring James Earl Jones. Jones plays Douglass Dilman, the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, who succeeds to the presidency through a series of unforeseeable events, thereby becoming the first African American...
.
Introduction
Opening narration
Synopsis
A young woman, Melissa Sanders (Amy Irving), goes to the theatre to see the classic film His Girl FridayHis Girl Friday
His Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, an adaptation by Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur of the play The Front Page by Hecht and MacArthur...
. Suddenly, she begins to see scenes of her own life as they happened earlier involving her fiancé James (Gary Cole). No one else can see them except herself. At first Melissa thinks it's a practical joke plotted by James, but when she returns to the theatre, she sees scenes of her future, in which she dies getting run over by a bus on March 20. When she tells James about it, he assures her it will never happen. Unfortunately, it does happen, and afterwards, James begins to see his own life in the theatre just like his recently deceased fiancée.