The star of this episode is appropriately Robbie the Robot, more of a sci fi fixture than a dramatic character, but nevertheless excellent window dressing, and standing at nearly 7 feet tall!
I agree with many of the reviewers, it's a story way ahead of its time, and kind of frightening at that.
Man Versus Machine, the experiment being tried at Whipples factory, where hundreds of workers are all suddenly out of a job -- replaced by computers!
The actors carry this through, particularly Richard Deacon, taking over for his father who built the business, only to deconstruct the company in one easy lesson, putting lots of dedicated workers in the street in the name of technological advancement.
Applause for Ted de Corsia as Dickerson, one of the last surviving workers, who has some final thoughts for Whipple. De Corsia, who usually was cast as gangsters, should have been nominated for an Emmy, he is that powerful.
A sobering story in many ways, topped off with a special appearance of Robbie, the proverbial computerized cherry on top. At the time of this episode, Robbie was nearly a decade old, having been made especially for the classic film, FORBIDDEN PLANET. According to notes, Robbie did not always work right, frequent problems with wires and lights, but make no mistake he was one impressive presence.
A must see -- 60s style -- look into the future, relatable to this very day. The closing scene with Deacon, you have to admit, is a gem. SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered.
I agree with many of the reviewers, it's a story way ahead of its time, and kind of frightening at that.
Man Versus Machine, the experiment being tried at Whipples factory, where hundreds of workers are all suddenly out of a job -- replaced by computers!
The actors carry this through, particularly Richard Deacon, taking over for his father who built the business, only to deconstruct the company in one easy lesson, putting lots of dedicated workers in the street in the name of technological advancement.
Applause for Ted de Corsia as Dickerson, one of the last surviving workers, who has some final thoughts for Whipple. De Corsia, who usually was cast as gangsters, should have been nominated for an Emmy, he is that powerful.
A sobering story in many ways, topped off with a special appearance of Robbie, the proverbial computerized cherry on top. At the time of this episode, Robbie was nearly a decade old, having been made especially for the classic film, FORBIDDEN PLANET. According to notes, Robbie did not always work right, frequent problems with wires and lights, but make no mistake he was one impressive presence.
A must see -- 60s style -- look into the future, relatable to this very day. The closing scene with Deacon, you have to admit, is a gem. SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered.