The Twonky (1953)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Better Late Then Never

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

This film was made two years prior and then it was shelved until 1953. When it debuted, finally, it appeared in only three theaters and apparently a lot of folks walked out of the screening!"The Twonky" is a strange sci-fi comedy...complete with a completely ridiculous 'monster'. And, the monster is a TV set that seems possessed!! It can walk, it can talk, it can use mind control AND it can make or destroy things. Because of that, although Professor West (Hans Conried) is scared of it, the robotic TV keeps out-thinking him and seems indestructible! No matter what he does, the TV survives and thrives...and in the process the Professor seems ready to lose his mind!The movie is dumb...that goes without saying. But unlike some dumb monster films of the 1950s, this one doesn't take itself seriously...which is why I think it's worth seeing provided your expectations aren't high! Ultra-silly, that's for sure!

" Ultra-Obscure Super-Shi**y Cinema " presents: The Twonky The Twonky is an extremely dated and obscure sci-fi/comedy from the early 50's, it's also rather distinctive, because I can't think of any other movie quite like it. I think my favorite thing about it is just how dated every single aspect about it is - especially the music, it's special effects and of course the vintage "television sets" some of which have four leg's and are in the habit of walking around the house."The Twonky" (WTF's a Twonky?) the title alone is what first made me look into this movie, certainly an eyebrow raiser, anyways the basic plot of it is this: A professor's wife leaves town for a visit to her sisters, and to keep her husband company while she's gone, she goes and buys one of those new-fangled electronic contraptions known as a television, only this ones very different from any other television. It's basically a robot and "It's Alive!" as it pretty much walks and talk's and (obnoxiously, even violently at times) serves it's master by emitting rays of light from it's screen. It has the ability to: light cigarette's, explode coffee mugs, counterfeit 5 dollar bills, shave beards, polish shoes, tie bow-ties, paralyze legs and brainwash people - "Passion Through The Ages" why it even has kinky reading habits. Throughout the film an assemblage of characters manage to wander into the professors house, most of which cross paths with The Twonky, why all the while it's master is plotting on how to get rid of it.If you don't follow me, just keep in mind that "The Twonky" IS the television set - as that will be obvious when watching the movie.The Twonky strikes me as a very unique cornball comedy, though, however NOT a particularly good one. I think my favorite character is that very dopey and dull-witted TV serviceman - now that's some funny acting, that guy was born to play a dullard in the movies. I find that there's definitely some similarities between this movie and Harvey (1950) having seen both several times it's pretty obvious, why even one of the actors from Harvey is in this movie; but you'll need someone else to examine it and explain it though. When comparing The Twonky to Harvey well.... this much is certain, both are quirky comedies from the early-50's, one is very well-known while thee other is virtually unknown, one is brilliant, thee other is mediocre.When watching this profoundly dated movie, I felt like I was trapped in a time-warp of sorts and was being transported back to the early 1950's. Like I said it's VERY dated.I know I haven't been exactly flattering of it in my review, however The Twonky DOES have it's qualities and is certainly worth seeing at least once. I must confess it's a better movie than I remember, I was going to rate it at 2 or 3 stars, but I recently saw it again and was left with a higher opinion of it. Sit back and admire the sheer strangeness of it all, as it certainly is an oddity and an obscure rarely seen one at that.If you're ever wanting to see this obscure fossil of a movie try catching it on TCM (yes, Turner Classic Movies) they have what is surely the best looking copy available; as most prints of The Twonky are terribly washed out and fuzzy and are just plain awful looking. But not so on TCM.

This may be the first in the long line of interesting films that have as their theme some electronic parlor device (radio, TV or computer) through which an alien or other outside influence emerges. Later examples include Zontar the Thing from Venus, Corman's original Not of This Earth, 1984, Farenheit 451, Poltergeist, etc. Others that come to mind are the TV episode of Star Trek whereby Terri Garr unwittingly stands watch over the alien computer and several Outer Limits episodes whereby radio communication is achieved with other planets.Its one thing to be spied upon by electronic ease-dropping (a much more common theme) but to have influence peddlers brainwashing us from within our homes is particularly horrifying.

I guess you either love or hate "The Twonky". Considering the kinds of big studio made films that were coming out of Hollywood at the time this film was made, I find the Twonky rather refreshing. It's odd and quirky, and expresses many people's fears and concerns over the early days of television and what it might do to our culture. The film is not without it's faults, but I can overlook them, one reason being the film's star, Hans Conried, who brings something more to the cheap little film than another lesser performer might have. I have NOT read the original story, so I can't compare the two, but usually the original story is superior to any film adaption. However despite the films shortcomings, I find it a unique item from it's time. Mike Walters