Classic Science Fiction Theater: The Twonky (Bonus: Lewis Padgett Showcase – Tales of Tomorrow & The Twilight Zone

Based on a short story of the same name by Lewis Padgett, the same Lewis Padgett that was the pseudonym for what is perhaps the greatest writing team in the genre – Catherine L. Moore and Henry Kuttner (responsible for such well-known tales as Mimsy Were the Borogoves, What You Need, Ex Machina, and Vintage Season,  Moore and Kuttner wrote under a series of pseudonyms, as well as using their own names. (Note that only Kuttner is listed in the credits for the film adaptation.)

It is also now believed that much of the work appearing under Kuttner’s name alone was actually written by both of them, leaning heavily towards Moore as the dominant partner.

Regardless, their SFnal sense of humor is second to none, much of it being of the technology getting the better of people variety.

The Twonky was made as an independent film, distributed by United Artists and released in 1953.

The theme echoes Jack Williamson’s With Folded Hands theme to some degree, based on the concept that enabling technology (television sets in this case, humanoid robots in Williamsons’) will eventually rob human beings of their autonomy.

But wait, as they say, there’s more!

Besides (extremely poor and terribly written, directed, acted interpretation of Mimsy Were the Borogoves) The Last Mimzy – (yech!) – the short story What You Need was adapted by both Tales of Tomorrow and The Twilight Zone.

Tales of Tomorrow is here; the Twilight Zone interpretation can be watched on the Pluto TV service at no cost. A link is provided, but registration with the service will be required.

The Twilight Zone:

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