The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine

Description: Season 1, Episode 4

Air Date: October 23, 1959

Plot Summary: An aging actress refuses to accept she has passed her prime and attempts to lose herself in the past.

Review: This is kind of an unusual episode in the fact that it goes about the narrative structure in an unorthodox way; whereby, there's a respectable first and second act, but the third act appears to be nonexistent. In other words, they build up that something is going to happen or that there's something more to the events than we should accept at face value. Unfortunately, the entire point of the episode happens in the last couple minutes somewhat making the experience weak.

Essentially, the story is about an actress who was once the it girl in Hollywood maybe 20-25 years ago. Unable to come to terms with her age and the disappearance of her youth, she clings to the notion that things are still the same. The actress spends much of her time fantasizing at her mansion, in a dark room, watching her own movies. The actress' agent attempts to make her normal and lands her a role that she refuses to take since it wouldn't have her as the leading lady and she would be playing a mother in her 40s. Later, the agent arranges her a meeting with one of her old costars who looks like shit. Disturbed by the costar's old age, the actress goes off the deep end and does not leave her darkened movie room. Then, out of the blue, since this is the TZ after all, she wishes things were the same and then becomes sucked into her own film universe. I'd love to say there's more to the episode than this, but all that happens is the actress' maid and the agent see her in the film and she doesn't want to come back.

While something does feel amiss in the presentation, I liked the message and the approach to it. The agent talking about how you can't let nostalgia blind you and that it always appears better than it really was--this is effective for me. The actress' portrayal was nice as well with her appearing like an insane recluse, drinking a lot, and in a world all of her own. I think this kind of character can still resonate today--what with the public's obsession with fame and stupid celebrities. I know it's asking a lot to expect a more gritty state for the actress, but the episode would have benefited greatly from a visceral look into her psyche. I didn't like the way the actress gets what she wants though. This is TZ, when you get what you want it's supposed to be ironic, but I guess they hadn't reached that point yet with the episodes.