The Twilight Zone (1959) 1.25

People Are Alike All Over

starring Roddy McDowall, Susan Oliver, Paul Comi

written by Paul W. Fairman, Rod Serling

directed by Mitchell Leisen

Two astronauts crash land on Mars. One dies soon after landing. Samuel Conrad (Roddy McDowell), the surviving astronaut, a biologist, doesn't know what to do but then the hatch opens and he finds himself face to face with Martians. They look just like humans. They treat him with kindness. They prepare a place for him to live. Everything seems very nice but then he discovers that he's been locked into the house they built for him. It isn't a house but a cage.

Thoughts

Susan Oliver played the part of Teenya, the only Martian who was given a name. It strikes me that she played a similar role in the three episodes of Star Trek in which she appeared in that she was used to lure an unsuspecting spaceman into a trap.

I found this episode to be kind of disappointing. There just wasn't enough to it. I never really felt engaged. I'm not sure who to blame but I am tempted to say that the problem is which the writing. The twist at the end just didn't do it for me and I never really felt invested in Sam as a character. It probably didn't help that the Martians looked just like humans.

Notes

This is the only episode of this show in which Roddy McDowall appeared. He also appeared in episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Wonder Woman, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He appeared in one episode of The Invaders, 1.02 The Experiment. He was the voice of the Mad Hatter in Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, and Superman: The Animated Series.

This is the only episode of this show in which Susan Oliver appeared. She appeared in the original pilot of Star Trek (1966) and the two other episodes, 1.11 The Menagerie - Part One and 1.12 The Menagerie - Part Two. She played Vina in all three of those episodes. She appeared in one episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and two episodes of The Invaders, the first of which was 1.11 The Ivy Curtain.

Paul Comi played the part of the astronaut who died. This is the first of three episodes of this show in which he appeared. He appeared in two episode of The Invaders, the first of which was 1.13 Storm. He appeared in one episode of Star Trek (1966), 1.14 Balance of Terror. He was also in episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955).

Byron Morrow played the part of one of the Martians. This is the only episode of this show in which he appeared. He also appeared in two episodes of Star Trek (1966), the first of which was 2.01 Amok Time. He appeared in two episodes of The Invaders, the first of which was 1.11 The Ivy Curtain. He also appeared in episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre.

Vic Perrin played the part of a Martian in this episode. This is the first of two episodes of this show in which he appeared. I've seen him in a few other shows. Most recently I saw him in an episode of Star Trek (1966), 2.04 Mirror, Mirror.

Rod Serling wrote the teleplay for this episode. It was based on a story written by Paul W. Fairman. This is the only episode of this show that Fairman had a hand in writing.

This is the third of three episodes that Mitchell Leisen directed. The second one was 1.06 Escape Clause.