The Twonky

The Twonky is stranger than strange. A comedy-science fiction movie written by novelist Henry Kuttner and directed by one-time radio tyro Arch Oboler, it features Hans Conried as a college professor whose life is turned upside down by a television set that has developed a personality of its own, and seems determined to take over Conried's as well. Part of the fun is watching the star grapple (this may not be quite the right word) with his material in what may well be his only starring film role. I loved Hans Conried when I was growing up. He was a one of a kind performer who never got really well cast in movies or on television, though he had a successful stage and radio career. Conried was at once child-like and supercilious, and he had a vaguely European demeanor and sensibility, though he was in fact American-born. There was a refined, aristocratic quality to him, and he had impeccable timing. He was hammy and ironic at the same time, and he had a way of letting you knew that he knew that you got it. As an actor he was like a cross between Vincent Price and Joseph Schildkraut. Style was everything with him. What the hell he was doing in this bizarre-sub B movie is anyone's guess. He is well-cast in this film, but the movie is like a Saturday Night Live send-up of Ed Wood. As such it is enjoyable. Seldom has so much talent screwed up so regally as in The Twonky. I'm surprised it's not a cult classic.

Keeping in mind that the entire budget was probably more than Spielberg spends for lunch, this was not bad, especially for '52-53.

Somewhat different from Henry Kuttner's original story (where the twonky was a console radio set), I still really liked it. We just need to keep in mind the time it was made.

I've always liked Hans Conreid & thought he was a good pick for this role. It wouldn't have worked as a drama, but as a comedy -- great! As a long-time sci-fi & horror fan, I'm amazed that I had no idea this film existed until I stumbled across it on Turner Classic today.

Henry Kuttner, the short story author, also wrote the short story ("Mimsy Were the Borogoves") that was turned into the feeble "The Last Mimzy." For anyone who appreciates sci-fi from The Golden Age, it's well worth tracking down both of these. Kuttner died in his 30s of a heart attack, cheating us out of what should have been some great work.

This film scared me to death when I was a kid. I remember watching it on some Saturday morning scary feature show, on our old black and white TV, you know the ones... big rounded-corner screen, two knobs below. If you see the movie, that's what the alien/future thing looks like. And of course, I started seeing the "face" that was formed from that particular configuration of knobs and screen. To see it reviewed as a comedy is so far removed from my memories of this film, that it makes me want to see it again. I've always believed that my brother and I are the only two people who ever saw this film, or at least remembered it.

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

This film with the great Hans Conried is based on a sci-fi story by Henry Kuttner. The original story is wonderful about a little man who wakes us disoriented in a TV assembly plant. When the foreman asks what he does, he remembers he makes "twonkies." He does, in the form of a TV and disappears. Without this bit of knowledge, this film makes little sense in the beginning. Bit by bit, the information comes in as the hapless Cary West (Conried) is taken over by the Twonky. This theme of a TV coming into your home and taking over will be repeated years later by Spielberg with Poltergeist. Once you can establish this premise, this story unwinds beautifully. Hans Conried is at his best. Check this out. No great moments, no star-studded cast, just a simple message: TV sucks. No video for watch for it on the late show and check it out.