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IMDbPro

The Twonky

  • 1953
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
668
YOUR RATING
Gloria Blondell, Hans Conried, and Janet Warren in The Twonky (1953)
ComedySci-Fi

Tweedy college professor discovers his new TV set is animate, apparently possessed by something from the future, and militantly intent on regulating his daily life.Tweedy college professor discovers his new TV set is animate, apparently possessed by something from the future, and militantly intent on regulating his daily life.Tweedy college professor discovers his new TV set is animate, apparently possessed by something from the future, and militantly intent on regulating his daily life.

  • Director
    • Arch Oboler
  • Writers
    • Henry Kuttner
    • Arch Oboler
    • C.L. Moore
  • Stars
    • Hans Conried
    • William H. Lynn
    • Gloria Blondell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    668
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Arch Oboler
    • Writers
      • Henry Kuttner
      • Arch Oboler
      • C.L. Moore
    • Stars
      • Hans Conried
      • William H. Lynn
      • Gloria Blondell
    • 35User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Hans Conried
    Hans Conried
    • Kerry West
    William H. Lynn
    William H. Lynn
    • Coach Trout
    • (as Billy Lynn)
    Gloria Blondell
    Gloria Blondell
    • Lady Bill Collector
    Edwin Max
    Edwin Max
    • Ed, TV Repairman
    • (as Ed Max)
    Janet Warren
    Janet Warren
    • Carolyn West
    Evelyn Beresford
    Evelyn Beresford
    • Old Lady Motorist
    Bob Jellison
    Bob Jellison
    • TV Shop Owner
    Norman Field
    • Doctor
    Stephen Roberts
    Stephen Roberts
    • Head Treasury Agent
    Connie Marshall
    Connie Marshall
    • Susie - Girl with Football Team
    William Phipps
    William Phipps
    • Student
    Bennie Washington
    • Maybelle
    Lenore Kingston
    • Offended Phone Operator #2
    Alice Backes
    Alice Backes
    • Offended Phone Operator #1
    Charles Phillips
    Gayle Pace
    Al Jarvis
    Al Jarvis
    • Mailman
    Joe Hawthorne
    • Man Pushing Grapefruit in Wife's Face
    • Director
      • Arch Oboler
    • Writers
      • Henry Kuttner
      • Arch Oboler
      • C.L. Moore
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews35

    5.3668
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    Featured reviews

    lacohen

    This film scared me to death when I was a kid.

    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.
    Monika-5

    Weird

    What an odd, odd little film. It's about a professor whose wife goes out of town and his TV set becomes possessed by a spirit of the future! I didn't understand much about the entire thing, but catch it if you can when it's on your local station.
    9jwpeel-1

    A Radio Guy Writes a MOVIE about a Possessed TV

    Hans Conreid is one of my favorite character actors of all time, and here he is put to the test as a man whose wife has bought him a television to entertain him while she is away So many people don't get the point of this movie, and it really is quite simple considering the history of the time. This is in the infancy of television and the motion picture industry was suffering at the time because people found it was cheaper to stay at home for their entertainment. So what does the industry do? They hire Arch Oboler of radio fame to write a screenplay about an almost despotic TV set. It's pretty basic, and makes for a surreal and entertaining time. Think of "The Twilight Zone" with a sense of humor and you get "The Twonky Zone" basically. Just sit back and enjoy, and if smoke 'em if you got 'em. The Twonky will light it for you.
    lgrant

    I agree with Lynne Cohen

    I agree, this movie scared me half to death when I saw it as a kid (probably around 8 or so).

    I was surprised when I ran into it much later on IMDb, and it was billed as a comedy. Looking back through adult eyes, it was probably pretty funny, and I hope to see it again someday. But back then, the idea that a TV that looked just like our TV could be alive, was really scary, particularly since I was already having nightmares about the big speaker from my dad's hi-fi system chasing me around the room.

    Maybe it will come out on DVD or VCD some day, and I can see it again.
    9smokehill retrievers

    Surprisingly good, considering

    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.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shot in November and December of 1951, not released until June 1953 and then it only played in three theaters.Many audience members left the theater before the film was over.
    • Goofs
      After failing to send his car and The Twonky over the cliff, Kerry West starts driving again and when he speeds up the camera shot switches to the car's speedometer, and it shows the mileage is at 04136, and the face of the speedometer has changed from a black face with white numbers to a white face with black numbers. After getting into the Old Lady Motorist's car and she speeds up the camera shot switches to her car's speedometer and, by strange coincidence, it is also at 04136.
    • Quotes

      Cary West: I'm not afraid of you, you king-sized cigarette lighter!

    • Connections
      Featured in Svengoolie: The Twonky (1995)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Твонки
    • Production company
      • Arch Oboler Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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    Gloria Blondell, Hans Conried, and Janet Warren in The Twonky (1953)
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    By what name was The Twonky (1953) officially released in Canada in English?
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