Title
The Long Morrow
Subject
Science fiction television series
anthology
outer space--drama
Science fiction--Television Series
Description
"The Long Morrow," aired January 10, 1964, is the final Twilight Zone episode to feature an astronaut. This episode is centered around astronaut Douglas Stansfield, who is selected to make a solo trip to an unexplored planet in an unknown galaxy that will take forty years to complete. Overall, Stansfield's mission is depicted as a success even though he removed himself from suspended animation, designed to keep from aging. Stansfield removed himself from suspended animation in order to age with a woman he fell in love with before he departed for his mission.
"The Long Morrow" is one of the few Twilight Zone episodes to depict space exploration in a successful manner, however it does not view space as a place for children. While space exploration is depicted as a success, it still raises many similar themes and issues depicted in previous Twilight Zone episodes about space exploration. Military men are still the main individuals exploring space. Likewise, space exploration is still portrayed as dangerous in this episode. Several factors associated with the unknowns of space travel are depicted as risks the astronaut must take to complete his mission. At the same time, this final episode in space portrays a reason for the selection of certain types of individuals to be an astronaut.
"The Long Morrow" portrays space exploration as filled with several uncontrollable risks that can not be accounted for either before or during space travel. While Stansfield is discussing his mission with Doctor Bixler, Bixler informs Stansfield this mission will be filled with several of the usual uncontrollable risks. The risks mentioned include meteor showers, mechanical problems, landing failures, and ejection difficulties. The explanation of theses risks as the "usual difficulties" may leave the viewer with an impression that space exploration is filled with dangers rather than just one or two small risks.
This episode also gives an explanation for the selection process of space explorers. In describing why Stansfield was selected for this mission, Bixliar revealed that a certain human element must be taken into consideration. This human element is attachment to others. Bixlar explained that Stansfield was best qualified for this position because he was unattached at the beginning of the episode. Bixlar also endorsed a man as being the only agent suitable for space exploration.
As one can see, this episode depicts and suggest that space exploration is a man's job full of risks. It also gives a possible explanation as to why children were not depicted as space explorers in this episode of the Twilight Zone by defining a specific profile of an astronaut. The ideal space explorer is a man with no attachments on Earth according to this episode. Therefore, this episode not only implicitly negates children in space, it does so explicitly because children are more than likely to be attached to some one on Earth.
"The Long Morrow" is one of the few Twilight Zone episodes to depict space exploration in a successful manner, however it does not view space as a place for children. While space exploration is depicted as a success, it still raises many similar themes and issues depicted in previous Twilight Zone episodes about space exploration. Military men are still the main individuals exploring space. Likewise, space exploration is still portrayed as dangerous in this episode. Several factors associated with the unknowns of space travel are depicted as risks the astronaut must take to complete his mission. At the same time, this final episode in space portrays a reason for the selection of certain types of individuals to be an astronaut.
"The Long Morrow" portrays space exploration as filled with several uncontrollable risks that can not be accounted for either before or during space travel. While Stansfield is discussing his mission with Doctor Bixler, Bixler informs Stansfield this mission will be filled with several of the usual uncontrollable risks. The risks mentioned include meteor showers, mechanical problems, landing failures, and ejection difficulties. The explanation of theses risks as the "usual difficulties" may leave the viewer with an impression that space exploration is filled with dangers rather than just one or two small risks.
This episode also gives an explanation for the selection process of space explorers. In describing why Stansfield was selected for this mission, Bixliar revealed that a certain human element must be taken into consideration. This human element is attachment to others. Bixlar explained that Stansfield was best qualified for this position because he was unattached at the beginning of the episode. Bixlar also endorsed a man as being the only agent suitable for space exploration.
As one can see, this episode depicts and suggest that space exploration is a man's job full of risks. It also gives a possible explanation as to why children were not depicted as space explorers in this episode of the Twilight Zone by defining a specific profile of an astronaut. The ideal space explorer is a man with no attachments on Earth according to this episode. Therefore, this episode not only implicitly negates children in space, it does so explicitly because children are more than likely to be attached to some one on Earth.
Creator
Sterling, Rod
Director: Florey, Robert
Source
The Twilight Zone: Season five
Publisher
CBS DVD
Distributed exclusively by Image Entertainment.
Date
1964-10-01
Contributor
Olle Larson
Rights
CBS Studios
Fair Use
Relation
"The Long Morrow" is episode fifteen of The Twilight Zone season five.
Format
jpeg
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
LC: PN1992.77;
Dewey: 791.45/75
Coverage
1964,
United States of America
Original Format
This static image corresponds to one second of film in the Twilight Zone Episode "The Long Morrow." In this image, astronaut Stansfield and Doctor Bixler discuss the galaxy Stansfield is about to explore on his forty year mission.
Physical Dimensions
11.3 by 9.55 inches