The Outer Limits (1953) 1.21

The Children of Spider County

starring Lee Kinsolving, Kent Smith, John Milford

written by Anthony Lawrence

directed by Leonard J. Horn

The Space Agency Investigative Service sends John Bartlett (John Milford) to Spider County to talk to Ethan Wechsler (Lee Kinsolving) hoping than Ethan is the key to solving the mysterious disappearance of four scientists. Ethan is in police custody and accused of committing murder at the time that Bartlett departs for Spider County. Ethan never knew his father but a mysterious man (Kent Smith) claiming to be his father shows up and helps Ethan get away from the police.

Ethan's father wants to take Ethan to the planet Eros (in the Krell galaxy), where he comes from. Ethan insists on saying goodbye to Anna Bishop, his girlfriend before leaving. Anna's father isn't prepared to let Anna leave with Ethan and his father. Ethan's father uses his supernatural abilities to convince Anna's father to let her go with them.

Bartlett arrives in town just as the local police are starting their manhunt for Ethan. He finds the barn where Ethan, Anna, and Ethan's father are hiding. He observes them from a distance and watches helplessly as Ethan's father disintegrates Mr. Bishop. Ethan and Anna take off running but they are captured by the police. Ethan is locked up once again. Bartlett talks to Ethan.

Ethan's father gets him away from the police and then they meet up with the four missing scientists in the woods. Bartlett and the police catch up to Ethan and his father. Ethan's father escapes in a rocket ship leaving Ethan and the four missing scientists, all of whom he intended to take with him, behind.

Thoughts

This is not a great episode. It isn't awful. I like these kinds of stories but it could have been handled better. The acting was not good. I think that a more some more convincing performances would have gone a long way towards making me consider this to be an upper tier episode. This is a middle tier episode as it is.

Notes

This is the only episode of this show in which Lee Kinsolving appeared. He also appeared in one episode of The Twilight Zone (1959). This is the second of two episodes of this show in which Kent Smith appeared. The first was 1.11 It Crawled Out of the Woodwork. This is the only episode of this show in which John Milford appeared. He appeared in three episodes of The Invaders, the first of which was 1.01 Beachhead. He also appeared in episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Bennye Gatteys played the part of Anna Bishop. This is the only episode of this show in which she appeared. Dabbs Greer played the part of Mr. Bishop. This is the first of two episodes of this show in which he appeared. I've also seen him very recently in episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), 1.25 There Was an Old Woman, and Kraft Suspense Theatre, 1.05 A Hero for Our Times.

This is the second of two episodes written by Anthony Lawrence. The first was 1.06 The Man Who Was Never Born, which was also directed by Leonard J. Horn. This is the third of three episodes that Horn directed. The second one was 1.14 The Zanti Misfits.