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Director Laslo Benedek's TOURIST ATTRACTION is
one of "The Outer Limits" weaker episodes.
Ralph Meeker is quite convincing as a boorish American businessman.
The fact that he played a similar role thirteen years later, in "Food
of the Gods," seems to indicate that he was yet another victim
of Hollywood typecasting.
Surprisingly, Janet Blair ("The Fuller Brush Man") as Meeker's
secretary/lover, has a complicated and quite adult relationship with
her employer. As she explains it to one of Meeker's new employees, "I
came with the magazine he bought up last year." Unfortunately,
their relationship doesn't do much to enhance the overall quality of
this episode.
The amphibious creatures are particularly unconvincing. They look more
like refugees from a Chinese New Year's celebration, than they do actual
living creatures.
The Teleplay, by Dean Riesner, seems more concerned with Latin American
politics, and the troubled relationship between Meeker and Blair, than
in the science fiction elements related to the sea monsters. Since the
"Outer Limits" was a science fiction series, and not a political
drama or adult soap opera, Riesner's story focus seems unfortunate.
A scene of a model dam, exploding, lacks credibility. Special Effects
guy, Harry Redmond, Jr. seems to be the guilty party here.
Director of Photography, John M. Nickolaus, Jr.'s work is solid and
professional. His underwater photography is particularly good, with
enough fish and vegetation moving around to enhance credibility.
The Music Score, by Robert Van Eps, is a mixture of the kind of standard,
"spooky" music that "Outer Limits" was famous for.
Also well done is his dreamy, "water" music for the underwater
scenes, featuring flute and harp.
TOURIST ATTRACTION will not be particularly watchable for most Sci-Fi
viewers. "Creature from the Black Lagoon" fans may be somewhat
entertained. TOURIST ATTRACTION is not an "E" ticket entertainment!
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