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Writer/Director Leslie Steven's, CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT,
is an unusual and highly entertaining "Outer Limits" episode.
Carroll O'Connor ("All in the Family") and Barry Morse ("Space
1999") play two Martians, named Deimos and Phobos. Although the
teleplay doesn't point out that these are also the names of Mars' two
moons, it's a nice inside joke for those up on their astronomy.
O'Connor runs an "outpost" on Earth, in the form of a pawnshop.
He's been here for awhile and likes his job. Barry Morse is a Martian
inspector, who has just arrived on Earth to conduct an experiment involving
the unusual Earth custom of murder. As Morse puts it, "It happens
only here on this weird little planet, nowhere else in the galaxy."
Determining that a murder will take place in a nearby hotel in a few
minutes, O'Connor and Morse hustle over there. Hiding in the potted
plants, Morse and O'Connor observe the murder, then use a special Martian
gizmo to move time backwards, and forwards, and to slow it down, in
order for Morse to learn more about the act of murder.
As the Martian's Deimos and Phobos, O'Connor and Morse are a study in
contrasts. The plump O'Connor, who has gained great fame via gruff portrayals,
on TV's "All in the Family," and "In the Heat of the
Night," is here being wistful and moody. Morse, best known as the
driven Inspector Gerard, on TV's "The Fugitive," gives a zestful
performance as the visiting Martian, who digs coffee and cigarettes
as much as he enjoys messing around with time.
Surprisingly, seeing the same event over and over again, (a man coming
down an elevator in a hotel and being shot in the lobby by his jealous
girlfriend), does not become boring.
Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Rand on "Star Trek") gives a lively,
early career performance as a tough talking, wronged blonde with a gun.
Robert Fortier offers able support as her murdered lover, who gets a
second chance at life.
My favorite scene takes place when O'Connor introduces Morse to the
Earth habits of coffee and cigarettes. Morse's delighted response is
like a small child sampling cake and ice cream for the first time.
Director of Photography, John M. Nickolaus Jr., makes maximum use of
the episode's hotel lobby set, using clever angles and camera setups
to avoid viewer boredom. Particularly good is a shot of Whitney in the
cross hairs of a mind reading scope, as we hear her thoughts.
The music, by Dominic Frontiere is gentle and dreamy. The use of a harp,
zither, and echo chamber helps convey the episode's dream-like mood.
The main FX in the episode involve seeing events in slow motion and
backwards, as well as a flashing light/negative image effect every time
the "miniaturized temporal condenser" is operated by the Martians.
The Special Photographic Effects were Designed and Created by Ray Mercer
and Company, and are quite effective.
CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT should be very watchable for most Sci-Fi fans.
Carroll O' Connor fans will be surprised and amused by his uncharacteristic
performance. CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT is an unqualified success! BACK
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