▶ "One Step Beyond": Episode of the Week (10/15)

"TWELVE HOURS TO LIVE" -- SEASON (1) EPISODE (5). February 17 1959.
COMMENTARY (spoilers alert): "Twelve Hours to Live" commences with series host John Newland standing under an umbrella during a downpour as he ask the question that will inform the episode: "How many ways are there for humans to communicate (?)" "Our Guide to the World of the Unknown" then offers several possibilities: including a kiss, a glance, and a stare . . . before finally wandering purposefully into the realm of the paranormal: specifically telepathy or ESP: "the acquisition of information without the use of any human sense organs."'
Along with its dramatization of telepathy: "Twelve Hours to Live" is a prime example of what this author terms "The Cassandra Complex:" a recurring character arc in the world of "One Step Beyond". In Homeric legend, Cassandra was the daughter of Troy's King Priam; but, more importantly, she was a seer (cursed by the God Apollo) who knew the course of the future yet was cursed never to be believed or heeded. Many, many characters (usually women) fulfill that same role in "One Step Beyond". They are inevitably aware of approaching tragedy (such as the sinking of the Titanic in "Night of April 14"), facts (that a distant husband has been injured), psychic communications (sometimes from the future, as in "Call from Tomorrow") and such, but are perpetually dismissed as drunk, silly, foolish, pregnant, or neurotic.
Here, patronizing police officers ignore, question, and even mock Carol Janson's belief that her husband is in danger and that she is hearing his desperate thoughts, despite the fact that she is armed with specific psychic Information (such as the very markings on a restaurant sign near the site of her husband's accident). Earlier in the show, Allison's husband also refuses to believe that this Cassandra could have psychic powers (even though she has accurately predicted that a prospective client will call soon for her lawyer husband's services).
The Cassandra Complex accomplishes several purposes on "One Step Beyond". First, it stacks the odds against the protagonist with psychic powers, rallying viewers to the underdog's side even though they may not really believe in psychic phenomena themselves. By aligning viewer identification with the persecuted, unheeded person, the producers, writers, and Newland are assuring that the final victory is one not just for the Cassandra (and audience) but for their ongoing argument about the validation of psychic powers. It all comes in one package-you feel for Carol and you align yourself with her sensibilities.
Secondly, the Cassandra Complex mirrors a sense of reality. Disbelief, skepticism and even ridicule are common characteristics of people, even family members, confronted With another human's claim of psychic insight. It is easier to dismiss (especially those whose faults are known to us in intimate detail) than believe in something that IS not easily quantified or legitimized by science.
Thirdly: the Cassandra Complex fosters a feeling of fate, of inevitability, in the audience . Even though there is "psychic" knowledge of a future event, characters are frequently too skeptical to accept it and so go rushing towards their (usually) unpleasant fate. "One Step Beyond" thrives on the feeling of inevitability that is often the primary conflict of an episode : a Cassandra must strain against the forces of time and fate itself if a happy outcome is to be accomplished. Audiences pick up on this feeling of inevitability and further tension is wrought. It's a clever set-up.
It is also worth mentioning that "psychic" phenomena help to repair yet another damaged marital relationship in "Twelve Hours to Live". Before the events which lead Carol to save her husband's life in a driving accident, their marriage is near the end of another dangerous road. He was jealous of her, she was trying to pay the bills, and together they were mired in domestic agony. Mostly, these two people are unable to communicate with each other about their feelings, fears and desires. After Carol saves Will 's life with the ultimate form of communication, telepathy, there is time, and hope for a new start. Marriage saved, optimism restored . . .
From John Kenneth Muir's definitive book "An Analytical Guide to Television's One Step Beyond": • ▶ "One Step Beyond" Ba...

[@karenoogjenbiserni1201]

🔔 🤔 Does anyone know the actress's name? She looks quite a bit like my Mom 😏 ❤️

[@kayekaye251]

Jean Allison it says at the end credits.

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

@@kayekaye251 She's apparently still living at age 91: www.imdb.com/name/nm0021446/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 You can see more of her in next week's Episode of the Week . . .

[@catladyoftroyn.y.8713]

@@one-step-beyond-1959 something about the longevity of that generation, it had to be that they ate "real food". My parents are 96 and still going strong! Most elderly people I know, have lost their children. It wasn't that my father's life was easy, he's a tri- war combat veteran! So, I really believe it was the food they grew up on.

[@lindakay9552]

It has to be something. The father back I go on my family tree, the older people were when they died. In the 1600's to 1700's, My ancestors were living into their 90s. And they were pioneers.. Came from Germany and England. Landed in New Amsterdam. I've had at least one ancestor in every war in America back to Fort Mystic, Connecticut in the 1600's. And we migrated all the way to Washington by the 1800's. A lineage doesn't do that without more than just luck.....

[@keithwest479]

Jean allision

[@henrydavis9953]

She went down that hill like a champ!! Pure Love!!!!!❤❤❤❤ I have tears in my eyes.. She’s absolutely beautiful too!!!❤❤

[@jackiekidwell5004]

Wow !! Another great episode of One Step Beyond !! 😁😁😄😄😃😃😀😀 Telepathy is amazing !! Isn't it strange how a mother can know four - hundred miles away if her child is sick or hurt ????? Telepathy isn't fully understood, but it's all too real and any mother that has a child can REALLY vouch for it. This is why I loved this episode, that woman knew her husband was hurt and nothing would dissuade from getting him help. Great, great episode !! 😀😀😃😃

[@KLeo-ss1kn]

Imagine passing out with a car on your legs and then waking up with a car on your legs.

[@DoctorPhobos]

This was the first episode of OSB that I’ve ever seen, right here on KZbin. I hadn’t heard of this series before, and it got me hooked. Thank you for making these available for us!

[@lionsden6457]

Welcome to the club.

[@PuffKitty]

Speaking of favorites, mine is Dead Man's Tale, where the long lost miner speaks thru dreams to the reporter. That one still scares me! 👻

[@tiffaniaporchiazzo1791]

Great Exciting Episode I Love This ❤️

[@spidermoth1170]

Excellent as always One Step Beyond Love💕 your channel 👍🏻📽🥂⚘⚘⚘

[@Lolabelle59]

Great episode. I particularly like it when the protagonist, male (e.g. "Earthquake" and "Eyewitness") or female, is a Cassandra.

[@usmale4915]

One of my very favorite programs when I was growing up. This is a pretty good episode. Of course, my very favorite is: "TIDAL WAVE"! See all you OSB fans during next weeks "Episode of the Week"!

[@terryford8280]

I look so forward to all your uploads!! EVERYTHING you post are classics!! Thank you!! 💕💖💞

[@missjoshemmett]

Thank you.

[@psw4763]

I remember seeing this a few years ago. Good stories and video as always.

[@Broken_Arrow58]

Richards' deadpan style was his alone.

[@luciorivero3873]

Great stories this one's from the past, l 'll them all for sure. Thanks a lot.

[@redbeard8834]

I love this!!! hope to see lots more..

[@Harbalz]

Amazingly believable!

[@BB-ct3gk]

Why is the woman always hysterical in this show?

[@roge69charger]

The Paranormal does exist And the late James Randi was full of himself OSB I really enjoyed more then the TZ Thank you for these great shows

[@Seneca85]

It’s such a wonderful escape from the crap of living now. ☠️

[@danpatch4751]

I was thinking the same thing about the hat, but I don't mind the low cut dress.

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

I used to make reasonable-sounding distinctions like that myself. But now . . . I've adopted the perspective that with Women, you're better off just taking or leaving them as they are.

[@janicesmith2475]

@@one-step-beyond-1959 😂 Just the purple-haired ones are dangerous - we normal women still like to appeal to men.

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

@@janicesmith2475 Yet another virtue of B&W cinematography . . .

[@sandybruce9092]

Thought that hat was dumb (may have been on backwards) the first time I saw it, but then many hats in the 50s weren’t great either! And I just realized I think I had a young girls crush (I was 12 in 1959) on John Newland!!!

[@brokeheartwolf3733]

🙏🙏🙏

[@MsBackstager]

TY for this rare gem.

[@mohdiskandarmohdzaid2979]

Good story

[@DSheartlady]

great episode thank you

[@ahmadkazemi8728]

she made the hat look pretty, coming to think of it , all Hollywood women looked pretty,,

[@yhwhtlc9217]

Never underestimate the power of a womans intuition

[@sandybruce9092]

Always wondered why it was perfectly OK for a woman to slap a man, but if the man slapped her back, he was considered a monster? I don’t believe in either person hitting by the way - just a curious question.

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

I guess it's about balancing inter-personal expectations. I'd have no issue in principle with Women slapping Men . . . if there are corresponding expectations that Women will or won't do something else in other circumstances. It's an overall package. That's the way it worked in the 1950s. But it doesn't work that way now . . .

[@notoriousdip5495]

My wife would have left me there…

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

TMI (?)

[@arliesam217]

I read your description you have a good point with the Cassandra complex pertaining to some if these episodes in my case the ones I love sometimes are frightened when I get a premonition it's scares me too some of these episodes are relatable that doubtful police was irritating this is the woman's husband sheesh

[@IslandGirlKelly]

Sadly our pineal glands have been clogged with fluoride and processed foods. We all have the capability of telepathically communicating but have slowly lost it.

[@karenoogjenbiserni1201]

@@fritzsmith3296 It's not right for pseudo professionals to play doctor and drug people against their will telling them they're crazy for hearing someone!

[@luvluvluvluvcats]

I still have it, thank goodness! I abandoned fluoride decades ago and raised my child without it. Funny, she has perfect, strong teeth. Never had fluoride!

[@cedricdburns1868]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️LOVE IS POWERFUL ITS BINDING BETWEEN TO SOULS

[@nessaj4522]

I'm number 111!! In the likes. 2021

[@hungfao]

While I appreciate the upload, this seems like a mundane episode to me. Why? Because my wife and I have had episodes like this for 30 years. It is truly weird. We were even in the same dream with each other once. It can happen.

[@Phillip713]

Are you joking? You were in the same dream as each other?

[@sarahalbers5555]

Can't stand the husband She is great in this, tho Love the dress, hate the hat Thank you OSB, look forward to the episode of the week.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I LOVED her dress--that skirt, so pretty.