Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
From the moment Vic Perrin’s omniscient “Control Voice” first proclaimed, “There is nothing wrong with your television set,” on September 16, 1963, The Outer Limits was destined for greatness. The dazzling, long-beloved series was a daring experiment in “omnibus” TV, trading the speculative fantasies of The Twilight Zone for farther-out sci-fi concepts. Producers Leslie Stevens and Joseph Stefano had risen as gifted writers from (respectively) Broadway and Hollywood; Stevens rebounded from his previous canceled series, while Stefano had scripted Hitchcock’s Psycho and was eager to expand his creative horizons. With an executive order for scary monsters and cold war thrills, their fruitful symbiosis was preceded by the superb Stevens-directed pilot “Please Stand By,” named after the series’ once-proposed title and changed to “The Galaxy Being” for its broadcast premiere.Cliff Robertson launched an impressive succession of guest stars, and on meager, oft-exceeded budgets of $120,000 per episode, The Outer Limits became a showcase for shoestring ingenuity. The “blue ribbon crew” (as Stevens called it) included cinematographer Conrad Hall, whose Oscar®-winning skills were honed on the series’ cramped TV-studio sets. Packed onto four double-sided DVDs, these 32 episodes (out of a total 49) comprise the series’ dynamic first season of moody, frequently paranoid black-and-white adventures. Repeat performers Martin Landau, Robert Culp, and Sally Kellerman excel (respectively) in the fan-favorite episodes “The Man Who Was Never Born,” “The Architects of Fear,” and “The Bellero Shield” (and who can forget the insect-like menace of “The Zanti Misfits”?). There are a few clunkers, of course, but the series’ quality (and parade of monsters) is remarkably consistent, and DVD compression does not compromise its technical achievement. These eerily seductive shows invite repeated viewing, supporting Stephen King’s oft-quoted remark that The Outer Limits was “the best program of its type ever to run on network TV.” –Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Misused inventions, interplanetary communication, and warped time peculiarities permeate the 1960s science fiction anthology program The Outer Limits. Created by Leslie Stevens, the program gained a rabid cult following and influenced a myriad of sci-fi that would follow, including a second Outer Limits series in the 1990s. This is the complete collection of all episodes of the original series.
Sunday, December 18th 2011 at 8:17 am |
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT AND INNOVATIVE T.V. SHOWS THAT EVER AIRED, December 14, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
THE OUTER LIMITS predates the imitative THE X FILES by three decades, and yet for me, it’s the earlier show that stands the test of time better. Watching the series now, I’m struck with how much Chris Carter took from OUTER LIMITS for his own show, although he usually cites THE TWILIGHT ZONE and THE NIGHT STALKER as his main influences.
THE OUTER LIMITS ran for just two seasons – 1963-’64 – but it pushed the boundaries in the way television presented science fiction, horror, and paranormal phenomena. The opening sequence in which a voice assures us that “there is nothing wrong with your television set” and that “we are controlling transmission”, was a brilliant concept, and probably the best opening of any T.V. show before or since. It was a way of acknowledging us as being not just detatched observers, but active participants in what was about to unfold. I vividly remember being simultaneously terrified and fascinated by it as a three – four year old when the show went into its first rerun in the mid-’60′s. It was on a weeknight from 8 – 9 P.M., and I literally couldn’t be torn away to go to bed until that “control voice” came on again to assure me that my T.V. was back to normal.
The scripts were always intelligent and thought provoking, being written by some of the most respected sci-fi authors in the business at the time. The first season contains the cream of the crop; some of my favorite episodes are “The Hundred Days of the Dragon”, “The Sixth Finger”, “Obit”, “The Zanti Misfits”, “Zzzz”, “The Mutant”, “Fun and Games”, and “The Forms of Things Unknown”. However, the entire series is well above average, and while its influence on other shows is clearly evident, OUTER LIMITS still retains its uniqueness and timelesness.
Expand your mind with this groundbreaking classic.
1.0 out of 5 stars Some Defective Two Sided Discs in ” The Outer Limits Series “, December 10, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
I purchased these discs a few years back and buyer beware, some of the discs were defective and would not play back. There is something wrong with their two-sided recording process. I tried the defective discs in two different machines and there is nothing wrong with the machines. MGM would not cover the the problem they created.
If I could make one recommendation, check all the discs the day that a buyer receives them.
I am very disappointed!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Outer Limits Original Series(1960′s) complete box set, November 15, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
The Outer Limits, Original Series circa 1960′s has always been my favorite of all time TV SciFi series. The shows were well written and scripted, and for the small budget they had was able to scare the pants off of kids growing up in that era. The boxed set has every episode from all 3 seasons. The have been digitally remastered and fit on HD wide Screen TV’s, video and audio quality is excellent! The DVD’s are double sided, this was a bit of a downside because they are not labeled, they are only numbered, you really can’t tell what’s on what side of the disk until it’s loaded in your player.
Other than that, if you are a fan of classic SciFi this is a great addition to your library!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 for the series ,0 for flippers, October 17, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
Flipper discs suck, they are proven to fail time and time again, i know as i have to pick and choose episodes from my Kojak season 1 dvds, which is only one example of the many flipper discs i purchased before i became aware of the flipper problems.If these were released correctly on one sided discs, i would buy them , until then MGM can keep them.
4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Addition, October 14, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
I’m not a real fan of the Outer Limits, but I want as many of the classic shows from the 1960s as possible. Approximately 25% of the episodes are absolutely brilliant IMO. * AFAICT, the dual layer DVDs are OK (haven’t seen any problems yet) and the packaging is nice. The quality of the video and audio is very clear. Personally, I wouldn’t spend over $40 for this set, but it’s a worthwhile investment if you can tolerate a steady diet of monsters.
* Controlled Experiment is one such example of brilliance.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars WARNING, October 12, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
I loved this series as a child. As previously stated by other reviewers I also wanted to own this as some of the other reviewers. These discs are absolutely corrupted and after a very short period of time fade away and become unplayable. This is not amazons fault but the manufactur. You will be dissapointed. Buying more of the discs will not help. I recommend amazon stop selling the outer limits until they are done produced by a reputable disc maker.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Outer Limits Orig Series Complete Set, October 3, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
Do not attempt to adjust your television-because the quality of the DVDs are just perfect. Watching the Outer Limits in the 21st century as an adult was definitely a completely different experience than what I remembered from having watched it as a child in the 1960s. However, it was thoroughly enjoyable both times-although for different reasons. What was once an exciting glimpse into our possible future is now a funny, nostalgic look back at our naivete and tolerance of really bad acting and writing. Buy it-you won’t regret it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Old Time Greats, September 18, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
If you wont to see what old time tv looked like this is it. The company that sent it delivered it on time packaged it with perfection.Have not seen this show in years picture is 100% clear and up grade.THANKS
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Show, Bad Packaging, September 8, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
I love the Outer Limits show, along with Twilight Zone, One Step Beyond and all of the old scifi shows! Having these shows to watch whenever I feel like it is wonderful! My complaint is with the packaging. The discs are 2 sided and aren’t labeled so you’ll have to squint to see the tiny writing on the inner part of the disc to figure out which disc you have in hand and if it’s side A or B. This might sound easy but trust me, this writing is tiny! And whatever you do, don’t mix up your discs!! You’ll go into the outer limits trying to figure them out!
You know how you’re sitting around and you think of a particluar show and want to watch it? You can do just that with this movie set, but it won’t be easy finding which disc and which side.
All in all, I’m thrilled to have these episodes to watch at will, I’m just not happy at all with the way the discs were made or how they’re presented.
If you’re a fan like me, it’s worth it … but plan to grit your teeth here and there!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Defects in disc replication, August 29, 2011
This review is from: The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set (DVD)
This review is largely based on my experience with this set and of the past of this same series. Otherwise the set is plain basic no extras of any kind in slim disc cases in a thin cardboard holder for the set. Not considering the defects mentioned below I would rate this set about a 4.5, just because it’s plain basic doesn’t make it bad considering the price I paid was about $32 OTD (out the door) fulfilled by Amazon.
Experienced numerous stoppages/disc failure (player ejects disc), freezes with this set. The first error noticed is on volume 1 Disc 1 titled The Galaxy being. Second is on volume 2 Disc 2 Fun and Games, chapter 4, 6:20 minutes. Third is volume 3 Disc 2-3 The Brain of Colonel Barham, chapter 5, 1:15 minutes. These issues are repeatable, meaning the player will react at the same point repeatedly. Most likely there are other errors in this set because not all episodes have been viewed.
Generally most, including myself, would consider a defective product just one of those things that is remote, perhaps a small percentage of the whole for a given source. I have some of the episodes of this same series on LD (laserdisc) and it too suffers from defects in the form of laser rot, a defect that is rather specific to LD. Meanwhile I have the Twilight Zone on LD, individual DVD volumes, and in recent years the entire series in a DVD box set. No issues at all with any of the discs. Same goes for most videos on disc with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are of titles that tend to be rather obscure or perhaps comparatively poor sellers.
I feel the defects are because of the studio/distributor because they dictate the quality standard for the replicator.
My suggestion is to play, not fast forward, all episodes within a timely manner that is well within the return period. This series being about 2500 minutes will not be easy to evaluate within the return period. Playing the discs without actually viewing will not ensure it being defect free because a defect may cause the player to skip a chapter or two and keep playing.
Amazon fulfilled this purchase making return easy but delayed because the seller never responded.