"Execution" in Season 1 (1959-60) Forum

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"Execution"

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James B W Bevis

"Execution"

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Posts: 15447

Sep 27 04 12:00 AM

a.k.a. "Beev"

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When a scientist carelessly uses his new time machine, a 19th-century outlaw appears in his 20th-century lab. With Albert Salmi, Russell Johnson.
Originally aired April 1, 1960.

Full video of the episode on CBS.com
List of musical cues

This is the preferred thread for any and all of your "Execution" posts--facts, opinions, questions, speculations, and whatever else you can think of.* You can also give your opinion of the episode on a 1 to 10 scale, in the poll shown above.

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bobbyryates

#1

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Posts: 937

Oct 2 04 6:39 PM

is this the one with steve forrest as a cowboy?

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Dan Hollis

#2

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Posts: 15674

Oct 2 04 8:52 PM

Gilbert and Sullivan State Trooper

QUOTE (bobbyryates @ Oct 2 2004, 07:39 PM)

is this the one with steve forrest as a cowboy?

There's a cowboy, but he's played by Albert Salmi. Steve Forrest's only TZ appearance was as an astronaut in "The Parallel."

You might be thinking of the Night Gallery episode "The Waiting Room." Both Forrest and Salmi played cowboys in that.

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bobbyryates

#3

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Oct 3 04 8:40 AM

thanks for correcting me again. that must be it. i like that story.

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LeenZone

#4

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Zone Legend

Posts: 11473

Nov 1 04 8:35 AM

I remember this one as one of the first ones I saw when I was little. The first thing that impressed me was who would have thought that the noise of the city would be deafening to a cowboy from the old west? I thought this was genius. And the shoot out with the TV. Loved it.

This also tells me that I watched these right after Zone was cancelled. I was a Gilligan's Island fan and didn't know Russell Johnson at the time I viewed "Execution." GI aired from '64-'67 so RJ wasn't far from TV immortality.

I gave this a "7" because I tire of it.

Leen

Head 'em up, move 'em out!

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Dan Hollis

#5

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Nov 1 04 1:06 PM

Gilbert and Sullivan State Trooper

As was pointed out on a previous board, although I had thought of it on my own:

How in the world does Caswell ever escape after that shooting in the NYC streets, especially after he lies prone for at least several seconds?

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TZRider

#6

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Nov 1 04 8:50 PM

I like it. I especially like his reactions to tv when he sees it for the first time. Sometimes I feel the same way when something incredibly stupid is on or anytime I'm flipping channels and run into MTV.

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Jayo

#7

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Dec 17 04 6:50 PM

Chick With Brains

It's okay. I can take it or leave it.

I can see where Caswell (Salmi) would be freaked out by the noise, crowds and lights of the city. He's used to wide-open spaces, few people around, the dark, and the quiet.

My reality check bounced.

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Crown 85

#8

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Zone Master

Posts: 3582

Dec 17 04 9:48 PM

As was mentioned on a prior board, I have a problem with how easily Caswell is overcome by the smaller Johnson.

Jayo wrote:

QUOTE

I can see where Caswell (Salmi) would be freaked out by the noise, crowds and lights of the city. He's used to wide-open spaces, few people around, the dark, and the quiet.

Would have liked to see his reaction to a modern rock concert! Often when I hear loud rock music I think about poor Caswell and identify with him - "there's just so much noise!"

http://mrlister.us/Photos/execution.jpg

Room For One More

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patton29

#9

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Posts: 737

Jan 4 05 11:57 AM

Gave it a 7. Caswell might be one of my favorite characters from all the Zone. Not in a likeability sense, but just because he's interesting. I've always liked his little exchange w/ "The Professor" (was that foreshadowing/typecasting or what with Giligan's Island a few years later?!) where he goes on about law and the laws of me and the laws of the jungle and so on...

And then, yes, I liked how they showed him cringing in pain as a result of experiencing a modern day city.

The show just fails a little for me in that the ending was just a little off. I can't quite put a finger on it, it just seemed off a little somehow...I'll ponder that....

They never found Charley Parkes...

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SteveJ

#10

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Posts: 1230

Feb 23 05 2:12 AM

The star of this episode, Albert Salmi, did not have a good end to his real life. In April 1990, he and his wife were found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide. According to police reports at the time, Salmi apparently shot his wife and then killed himself. He was 62 years old at the time. His wife, Roberta, was 55.

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James B W Bevis

#11

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Posts: 15447

Feb 23 05 2:54 AM

a.k.a. "Beev"

QUOTE (SteveJ @ Feb 23 2005, 02:12 AM)

The star of this episode, Albert Salmi, did not have a good end to his real life. In April 1990, he and his wife were found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide. According to police reports at the time, Salmi apparently shot his wife and then killed himself. He was 62 years old at the time. His wife, Roberta, was 55.

Wow, I knew this about Gig Young ("Walking Distance"), but didn't know it about Salmi. That's saddening to hear.

If you post here, please read the new message board rules (effective July 4, 2009). Thanks.

BEWARE: Many Cafe posts reveal story endings or key plot twists without prior warning. There is no rule against this. But if you are courteous enough to post "spoiler warnings"--especially when you post in a thread unrelated to the story you are "spoiling"--many people will appreciate it.

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cadwallader

#12

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Feb 23 05 2:57 AM

Yeah very sad.

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whitsbrain

#13

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Mar 5 05 10:42 PM

The time travel premise of this is interesting but why does there have to be the 1950's "outlaw" Johnson character to counter the Albert Salmi character? I guess the victim of the hanging would come as a shock to the lynch mob but we don't know enough about the mob to know what they did to deserve their fate.

I do like the way Caswell reacts to modern society but I can't stand watching Salmi talk. It's like he tries to talk without moving his mouth or something. Oh well, that's my hang up.

This is really a below average TZ episode.

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Dan Hollis

#14

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Posts: 15674

Mar 6 05 12:34 AM

Gilbert and Sullivan State Trooper

QUOTE (whitsbrain @ Mar 5 2005, 10:42 PM)

I guess the victim of the hanging would come as a shock to the lynch mob but we don't know enough about the mob to know what they did to deserve their fate.

I've never considered anyone in this episode to comprise a lynch mob. The entire hanging scene seems quite legal, especially with a clergyman present.

Thanks to Dr. Moreau for surprising me with this signature. It beats peach brandy!
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"We're sober men and true!" -- "You had to go have him!"

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whitsbrain

#15

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Mar 6 05 8:07 AM

QUOTE (Dan Hollis @ Mar 5 2005, 11:34 PM)

QUOTE (whitsbrain @ Mar 5 2005, 10:42 PM)

I guess the victim of the hanging would come as a shock to the lynch mob but we don't know enough about the mob to know what they did to deserve their fate.

I've never considered anyone in this episode to comprise a lynch mob. The entire hanging scene seems quite legal, especially with a clergyman present.

Yes, "lynch mob" is a bad description.

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Dan Hollis

#16

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Mar 11 05 6:41 PM

Gilbert and Sullivan State Trooper

Purely rhetorical question: Were Joe Caswell and Harvey Hunnicut out drinking beer together when the good Lord was passing out consciences?

Thanks to Dr. Moreau for surprising me with this signature. It beats peach brandy!
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lazyboyx51

#17

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Posts: 3428

Apr 16 05 8:34 AM

I gave this a '6'. It's the first time watching this episode and it seems just above average. Salmi delivers an excellent performance as usual, but I also found it a little hard to swallow that Johnson got the best of him. Caswell looked like he was easily knocking him around, but I suppose it had to work out that way so both men ended up with fitting punishments, of which they both deserved. I liked it enough to warrant another viewing, but again, just above average, especially in comparison to other TZ episodes.