Title
When the Sky Was Opened
Subject
Science fiction television series
anthology
outer space--drama
Science fiction--Television Series
Description
"When the Sky Was Opened" was the first Twilight Zone episode to centralize itself around astronautics and space exploration. Aired December 11, 1959, the plot centers itself around three astronauts who went into space for the first time, but their aircraft vanished from radar contact sometime after blast off. It is revealed the aircraft crash landed in the desert and opens with Major Gart in the hospital with a broken leg receiving a visit from Colonel Forbes.
"When the Sky Was Opened" does not feature children as the chief space explorers. Rather, military men are the astronauts. While not explicitly discussing the issue of children in space, it seems to provide several reasons against it. Space exploration, first of all, is portrayed as dangerous. This is evident by Colenel Forbes recount of their first time to space. He indicates after four hours of flight time, they all blacked out and after twenty hours later, they had crash landed. Space travel is also portrayed as dangerous because of the emphasis placed on the crash landing in the retelling and accounts of their space flight rather than stressing their success of being in space. Major Gart, at the same time, is another example of the dangers of space. Major Gart broke his leg during the crash, thus demonstrating if something goes wrong during space travel, it can have an adverse impact on one's body.
Space travel was also portrayed as psychologically dangerous throughout the episode. This is especially evident when Colonel Forbes tired resurrect Major Gart's memory that three astronauts had gone into space rather than just two. After the Major had come out of the black out, he insisted only two astronauts went up into space, even though he really knew that three astronauts manned the ship. Major Gart has no recollection of Colonel Harrington even though Colonel Forbes demonstrated that Harrington was apart of the crew countless times. After Colonel Forbes retells what happened the previous night after leaving the hospital in great deal, then Major Gart remembers there being three total astronauts.
Finally, manned space travel is also portrayed as something humans should not try. Colonel Harrington, in a moment of deep psychological distress, comes to the realization that perhaps they were never meant to make it into space or comeback to Earth once in space. Colonel Harrington stated, "If maybe we shouldn't have come back from that flight at all, maybe somebody or something let us get through what we shouldn't have."
With space exploration being portrayed as dangerous both physically and mentally, as well as suggestion that space may not be meant for exploration, it would likely suggest that kids were not supposed to be space explorers.
"When the Sky Was Opened" does not feature children as the chief space explorers. Rather, military men are the astronauts. While not explicitly discussing the issue of children in space, it seems to provide several reasons against it. Space exploration, first of all, is portrayed as dangerous. This is evident by Colenel Forbes recount of their first time to space. He indicates after four hours of flight time, they all blacked out and after twenty hours later, they had crash landed. Space travel is also portrayed as dangerous because of the emphasis placed on the crash landing in the retelling and accounts of their space flight rather than stressing their success of being in space. Major Gart, at the same time, is another example of the dangers of space. Major Gart broke his leg during the crash, thus demonstrating if something goes wrong during space travel, it can have an adverse impact on one's body.
Space travel was also portrayed as psychologically dangerous throughout the episode. This is especially evident when Colonel Forbes tired resurrect Major Gart's memory that three astronauts had gone into space rather than just two. After the Major had come out of the black out, he insisted only two astronauts went up into space, even though he really knew that three astronauts manned the ship. Major Gart has no recollection of Colonel Harrington even though Colonel Forbes demonstrated that Harrington was apart of the crew countless times. After Colonel Forbes retells what happened the previous night after leaving the hospital in great deal, then Major Gart remembers there being three total astronauts.
Finally, manned space travel is also portrayed as something humans should not try. Colonel Harrington, in a moment of deep psychological distress, comes to the realization that perhaps they were never meant to make it into space or comeback to Earth once in space. Colonel Harrington stated, "If maybe we shouldn't have come back from that flight at all, maybe somebody or something let us get through what we shouldn't have."
With space exploration being portrayed as dangerous both physically and mentally, as well as suggestion that space may not be meant for exploration, it would likely suggest that kids were not supposed to be space explorers.
Creator
Sterling, Rod
Director: Heyes, Douglas
Short Story Author: Mathenson, Richard
Source
The Twilight Zone: season one
Publisher
CBS DVD:
Distributed exclusively by Image Entertainment.
Date
1959-12-11
Contributor
Olle Larson
Rights
CBS Studios
Fair Use
Relation
"When the Sky Was Opened is episode 11 of The Twilight Zone season one.
Format
jpeg
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
LC: PN1992.77;
Dewey: 791.45/75
Coverage
1959
United States of America
Original Format
Still image of a scene from the television show the Twilight Zone episode "When the Sky Was Opened." In this image is the newspaper that the main characters looked at that stated three astronauts went to space and crash landed.
Physical Dimensions
10.67 by 9.04 inches