The Incredible World of Horace Ford

For me, this episode doesn't work. Pat Hingle's characterization is immediately over-the-top, annoying, even scary, instead of childlike and charming. His character should garner your sympathy, but instead, you wonder why his employer doesn't call security and have him escorted out of the building. Nan Martin is completely miscast as his wife -- their relationship is not believable at all. In fact, it's rather unbelievable that Horace would be able to find any wife, given his frightening behavior, let alone a wife that seems like a high-society gal rather than a homemaker. The mother is such a strange character as well -- I don't understand the point of even having her there. I guess this was supposed to be the dark side of "Kick the Can," and it could have worked... but it just doesn't.

Lot's of negative reactions to the protagonist in this episode. Why is that? Maybe because the writing brings that protagonist to life? I don't care for manic, whiny, or chattering characters. However, I know a good performance when I see it, and this episode has that. Serling created an awesome character. Pat Hingle's performance is stellar. That's why our emotions, be it sympathy or some other, are aroused by this character. The plot is not much, and the second twist is a bit odd. It's also too long for the one hour format of Season 4. Still, it's not terrible, just a little annoying for some of us.

I am surprised at how few positive reviews this teleplay gets. I consider this program one of television's finest hours. It seems that many viewers lack sympathy for the main character, Horace M. Ford. I see him as a man with a troubled childhood who has spent most of his life in denial about his psychological baggage. His unwillingness to face reality has caught up with him and he is having what they called in the 1960s a nervous breakdown. So, of course his behavior is childish, he is having a nervous breakdown. I assume that for most of his adult life he was able to act more like an adult, but at the age of 38 the wounded child within finally demanded attention. In a 'magical realism' sort of way, the resolution is convincing and satisfying. The acting, casting, and set designs are first rate. "The Incredible World of Horace Ford" is a meaningful psychological drama.

Pat Hingle is a lot of fun to watch as he exuberantly chews scenery, but the entire episode exhibits the worst faults of the extended 4th season episodes. His visits to his boyhood street are repeated and repeated, all coming to naught. And the final resolution brings us right back around to the beginning with no lasting impact. Avoid this episode when you review the series.

I was curious to see how this hour-long Twilight Zone would compare with the previous half hour shows. Sadly, it didn't hold up at all. I don't know if it suffered more from not being written by Rod Serling or just the expanded timeline, but everything about it seemed to suffer in this longer format.

Watching it felt more like an exercise in endurance than entertainment.