The Twilight Zone (TV Series)
On Thursday We Leave for Home (1963)
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- TV-14
- 51min
- Drama, Fantasy
- 02 May 1963
- TV Episode
The first human space colony is about to be rescued from the forsaken planet they've been on for three decades. But their leader's having a hard time accepting that change will happen when they get back to Earth.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| James Whitmore | ... |
Captain William Benteen
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| Tim O'Connor | ... |
Colonel Sloane
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| James Broderick | ... |
Al
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| Paul Langton | ... |
George
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| Jo Helton | ... |
Julie
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Mercedes Shirley | ... |
Joan
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| Russ Bender | ... |
Hank
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Danny Kulick | ... |
Jo-Jo
(as Daniel Kulick)
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| Madge Kennedy | ... |
Colonist
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John Ward | ... |
Colonist
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| Shirley O'Hara | ... |
Colonist
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Tony Benson | ... |
Colonist
(as Anthony Benson)
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| Lew Gallo | ... |
Lt. Engle
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Rod Serling | ... |
Narrator / Self - Host (uncredited)
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| Martin Strader | ... |
Colonist (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Buzz Kulik | ||
Written by
| Rod Serling | ... | (written by) |
| Rod Serling | ... | (created by) (creator) |
Produced by
| Bert Granet | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| George T. Clemens | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Al Clark | ||
Art Direction by
| George W. Davis | ||
| Paul Groesse | ||
Set Decoration by
| Henry Grace | ||
| Frank R. McKelvy | ||
Production Management
| Ralph W. Nelson | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| John D. Bloss | ... | assistant director (as John Bloss) |
Sound Department
| Joe Edmondson | ... | sound |
| Franklin Milton | ... | sound |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James V. King | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Marius Constant | ... | composer: theme music (uncredited) |
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Bernard Herrmann | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Leonard Rosenman | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Fred Steiner | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Van Cleave | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| John Conwell | ... | assistant to producer |
Production Companies
Distributors
- CBS (1963) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Image Entertainment (2011) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Eagle Clothes (Mr. Serling's wardrobe)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The colonists of Pilgrim I, Earth's first space colony, have spent 30 years on their new home. It's a lonely, barren place more akin to hell then Eden. Now, they're awaiting the arrival of a ship to take them to Earth. Some colonists are at their wits' end; another - the 9th in 6 months - commits suicide. Their leader, William Benteen, a tough drill sergeant-type, who they call Captain, does his best to keep them together. When the ship arrives, they're given 3 days to prepare to leave. As the day of departure approaches, Benteen's assumption that the community will stay together on Earth, is wrong; most will go their own way once on earth. Hearing this, Benteen decides they should stay. When the group decides otherwise, Benteen's left with only one option. Written by garykmcd |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | When the rescue ship from Earth arrives, several colonists ask about various places on Earth during a meeting between the ship's crew and the colonists. One of the questions is about the Finger Lake District of New York. This area had a special significance to script writer Rod Serling. It is located close to his home town of Binghamton, he and his family vacationed there frequently, and Serling named his company that produced "The Twilight Zone," Cayuga Productions, after one of the lakes. He later taught at Ithaca College for the last five years before his death. See more » |
| Goofs | The colony is said to be on a planet in a binary star system a billion miles from Earth. However, a billion miles away would still place them well within our solar system, somewhere between the orbits of Saturn (746 million miles away) and Uranus (1.2 billion miles away). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited from Forbidden Planet (1956). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Twilight Zone Theme See more » |
| Quotes |
Captain Benteen:
Now listen to me. I want to tell you some things about the Earth that you haven't heard before. Things that are ugly. Things that are wrong. Things - that cannot be lived with. There is violence on Earth. There are hatreds! And jealousy! Now listen to me, listen to me and listen carefully. The Earth is a place we do not know. The Earth is a place we have never lived in. It is a society we do not belong in. If we leave here, we will die. We will *die*! We'll be committing suicide, if we go back to Earth. We will die of a misery we have never experienced before. Loneliness. Loneliness like animals in a zoo. We do not belong there. [points to Col. Sloane] Captain Benteen: We do not belong to his kind. We do not belong *there*. We do not belong *there*. Col. Sloane: Captain Benteen! Why don't you let your "children" vote on it? Captain Benteen: Only if they know what's waiting for them! Only if they know that the Earth is not a garden. Never was a garden! And it never will be a garden! Col. Sloane: [Stepping forward] Fair enough! Fair enough! Then I'll tell you what Earth is. It's a race of men - struggling for survival. Just as you have survived. And Captain Benteen is quite right when he tells you it isn't a place of all beauty. We may yet have wars. And there still remains prejudice. And I suppose as long as men walk, there'll be angry men, jealous men, unforgiving men. But it has one thing that you don't have. One thing. It lets every man be his own master. There won't be any Captain Benteens down there for you. There won't be anybody to tell you when to eat, and when to sleep, and when to meet. There won't be anyone to tell you when to dance or what to sing or how to play. And instead of the thirst, you may feel hunger. Instead of heat, you may feel cold! But you'll be men and women. You won't be sheep. You won't be a kindergarten. And when you pray to God, his name won't be "Benteen"! See more » |