The Purple Testament
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| "The Purple Testament" | |||
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| The Twilight Zone episode | |||
 Lt. Fitzgerald before his inevitable demise. |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 19 |
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| Directed by | Richard L. Bare | ||
| Written by | Rod Serling | ||
| Featured music | Lucien Moraweck, conducted by Lud Gluskin | ||
| Production code | 173-3619 | ||
| Original air date | February 12, 1960 | ||
| Guest stars | |||
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William Reynolds: Lt. Fitzgerald |
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of Twilight Zone episodes | |||
"The Purple Testament" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It's "the story of a man who can forecast death."[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
William Fitzgerald ("Fitz"), a lieutenant serving in World War II, suddenly gains the mysterious ability to discover who is about to die via a strange flash of light across the person's face. After correctly predicting several deaths, he tells his friend Captain Riker what he is able to see, but the Captain does not know whether to believe him or not. Riker consults with a doctor, Captain Gunther, who thinks it may be fatigue and suggests that the lieutenant should take a leave of rest. Fitzgerald goes to a hospital to see one of his men, Smitty, who is supposed to pull through. But he sees the strange light across the soldier's face and knows his fate.
Later, his prediction has come true, and he makes a scene in the hospital in front of Captain Gunther. Back at their tent, Fitz reveals to Riker he has seen the light on his face. Though he tells Fitz to forget it and get ready for battle, the Captain sets out some of his personal possessions — a few photographs and his wedding ring — before he goes into combat. In the camp, the men argue about the rumors of the lieutenant's predictions, but Riker tells all the soldiers there that there are no "mind readers" in the camp. Fitz, seeing the men's faces and realizing he could cause mutiny, agrees with the captain.
In the ensuing battle, all return except for Riker, who is killed by a sniper. Captain Gunther brings news to Fitzgerald that he is being sent back to division headquarters for some much needed rest, but as the lieutenant gathers his gear, he sees the light flash across his own face in a mirror. A jeep driver comes to pick up Fitzgerald for the ride to HQ, and Fitzgerald sees the light also flash across the driver's face. Fitzgerald becomes distant, as if resigned to fate.
The Sergeant sends the two off, telling the driver to be careful as they go; they have not completely checked the area for land mines on the road ahead. As the soldiers are gathered around the camp at dusk, the sound of an explosion is heard in the distance.
[edit] Production notes
Dean Stockwell was originally cast in the lead role, but was unable to appear. He would later star in the similarly themed episode "A Quality of Mercy".
The concept of seeing a light on the face of those who are about to die was readdressed in "Into the Light", an episode of the 2002 revival series.
This is one of several episodes from Season One with its opening title sequence plastered over with the opening for Season Two. This was done during the Summer of 1961 as to help the season one shows fit in with the new look the show had taken during the following season.
Prior to the screening of the episode, director Richard Bare and star William Reynolds, then filming the TV series The Islanders, were in a plane crash, with one person on board the plane being killed in the crash. Reynolds claimed Rod Serling pulled the episode from its scheduled screening date.[2]
[edit] References
- Zicree, Marc Scott: The Twilight Zone Companion. Sillman-James Press, 1982 (second edition)[3]
- DeVoe, Bill. (2008). Trivia from The Twilight Zone. Albany, GA: Bear Manor Media. ISBN 978-1593931360
- Grams, Martin. (2008). The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic. Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing. ISBN 978-0970331090
- ^ Rod Serling. Promotional spot for "The Purple Testament". Original airdate: February 5, 1960
- ^ http://www.classicimages.com/articles/2009/10/02/past_articles/reynoldswilliam.txt
- ^ This book makes an error about this episode not airing on the evening of a serious plane crash involving the actors and director. The episode was telecast as scheduled.[dubious ]
