"He's Alive"
Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider, Blue Velvet) turns in a very powerful and charismatic performance as an American neo-Nazi, Peter Vollmer, bent on doing what he has to do in order to get his message of hatemongering across to the public. But there are some weaknesses in his past that need exorcising, it seems, when a shadowy Shickelgrüber begins to instruct the fledgling fascist in the ways of oratory, politics, and self-destruction. This is one of the one-hour episodes from the fourth season, but it never lags as some of the others do. Directed ably by Stuart Rosenberg, who went on to direct Cool Hand Luke, and featuring film director Paul Mazursky as one of the Nazis.

"From Agnes--with Love"
Comical episode starring Wally Cox as a computer programmer in charge of the world's most powerful electronic computer, Agnes. When the poor egghead's love life isn't going so hot, Agnes begins giving advice to the lovelorn. Only Agnes seems to have an ulterior motive. Cox is perfect as the nerdy scientist driven mad by a computer scorned. Directed by Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon).

The lesser efforts of the show.

These episodes also deal with the dangers of rasism and the supernatural, although other episodes of the show delt with them much more effectively. These shows mostly come from the fourth and fifth seasons that the show was on, and as such they are not as well written nor are the performances as effective as they were in the show's first three seasons.

Dennis Hopper and Wally Cox together in "The Twilight Zone"

Volume 27 in "The Twilight Zone" DVD series starts with Dennis Hopper playing Peter Vollmer, the leader of a small band of American neo-Nazis in "He's Alive," written by Rod Serling. Vollmer dreams of having more power and is being advised by a figure who stays in the studios (bet you can guess who it turns out to be). One of the Serling's preachier episodes, this one suffers from being an hour long episode and the fact that Hopper just does not cut it as a charismatic racist. Wally Cox plays master computer programmer James Elwood in "From Agnes With Love," written by Bernard C. Shoenfeld. "Agnes" is a Mark 502-741 computer who has already driven the previous programmer insane. Poor Elwood does not stand a chance. After these two misfires we do have a classic episode written by Richard matheson. "Spur of the Moment" features Diana Hyland as Anne Henderson who is chased by a black-clad figure on horseback. Anne's family wants her to marry Robert (Robert Hogan) a boring stockbroker, but the young girl is in love with David (Roger Davis), a headstrong romantic of whom her family does not approve. David begs Anne to marry him for love, but her father forces him to leave at gunpoint. Then we see Anne 25 years later and learn the consequences of her decision on who to marry. This is one of the least predictable Twilight Zone episode, at least for me, and just another reminder that Rod Serling's name might be more recognizable, but Richard Matheson is the true master of horror. However, even this one gem does not make up for the other two below-average episodes included in this volume.

People Confront Themselves and Their Creations

'HE'S ALIVE' is a good study of Fascism and Nazism and how it can affect an essential weak individual who carries strong inner hatreds which are probably aimed at himself but manifests that hatred towards others aided by the vision of Adolph Hitler. Denis Hopper is excellent as the figure with a spine of clay that elicits advice from his vision of Hitler played by Curt Conway. The choice of Conway was criticized for his lack of resemblance to Hitler. However, Conway's performance was right on target full of energy and conviction. He had Hitler's gestures down to a science. This is a very interesting episode written by Rod Serling and often overlooked. Vividly photographed. It fit the hour-long format perfectly. 'SPUR OF THE MOMENT' contains some very frightening images filmed in broad daylight. The sight of a pursuing Diana Hyland on horseback dressed in flowing black are Freudian in nature and remain indelible to the viewer. Freely written by Richard Matheson but one of the most visually effective episodes. 'FROM AGNES - WITH LOVE' is a lightweight episode but very appropriate for Wally Cox. You either like this one or you don't. Written by Barney Scofield and directed by Dick Donner! It was enjoyable to see so many actors from 1960's television on this DVD such as Wally Cox, Ralph Taeger, Dennis Hopper, Diana Hyland and Roger Davis.