Talk:A Kind of a Stopwatch

A Kind of Stopwatch: The Original Title

"A Kind of Stopwatch" is the title on the script, two versions of which were published in As Timeless as Infinity: The Complete Twilight Zone Scripts of Rod Serling, Volume 3, edited by Tony Albarella (Gauntlet Press, 2007). The original scripts (both versions) are part of The Rod Serling Archives at Ithaca College. PlaysInPeoria (talk) 05:57, 13 September 2009 (UTC)

But "A Kind of a Stopwatch" is the onscreen title and the one listed in Zicree's Twlight Zone Companion. travisl (talk) 06:02, 14 September 2009 (UTC)

I agree that the title on the original episode should take precedence, in the same way that Anglo-American Cataloging Rules dictate that the title on a book's title page takes precedence over a variant title on the dust jacket. So I went back to the teleplay (as it was called in 1963), which is a significantly more important source than any secondary source, including Zicree's book. That said, the title on the film is in fact "A Kind of a Stopwatch," apparently the only point in the production that that particular title was used. (It seems ironic that a typographical error made in post-production has become, by definition, the official title, but it's an irony that Serling would have enjoyed.) Finally, I checked the packages for and the main menus on various DVD releases of The Twilight Zone and discovered that they all list the title as "A Kind of Stopwatch," which was both the title on the script and the working title during production. At this point, I am comfortable with the original title appearing in the article as a footnote. PlaysInPeoria (talk) 05:23, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

Original Source?

The information set forth in this section does not yet belong in the article, but raises several important questions, which hopefully will be resolved through further investigation in primary and secondary source materials related to the parties involved and their intellectual property.

The apparent source for this episode's plot was the book, The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything by John D. MacDonald, which was published in December 1962. The central plot device in both the novel (published in December 1962) and TV episode (written in June 1963) is a remarkable watch that stopped time.

Nonetheless, the episode's credits state, "Written by Rod Serling (based on an unpublished story by Michael D. Rosenthal)"; Rosenthal is believed to have been Serling himself.

However, the only known source for this claim is an as-yet unpublished interview with Philip José Farmer, who claimed as well that The Twilight Zone episode "Mr. Garrity and the Graves" (Season 5) was based on one of his own short stories ("Uproar in Acheron"). Farmer reported that he corresponded with John D. MacDonald regarding the situation, and pursued his own claim for credit (and royalties) in 1963–1964 through his literary agent, albeit unsuccessfully.

Regarding "A Kind of (a) Stopwatch": There is no evidence that Michael D. Rosenthal ever published any stories. In fact, the only evidence of the existence of a writer named "Michael D. Rosenthal" is found in the credits of this episode.

Further discussion is warranted. PlaysInPeoria (talk) 05:16, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

Yes. And what does it mean that this article refers back to the article for "The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything" for "parodies and pastiches of the original plot device", and that article says: "Several additional parodies and pastiches of the original plot device are identified in the article on "A Kind of a Stopwatch."" 24.27.31.170 (talk) 03:25, 2 October 2011 (UTC) Eric

In his audio commentary for "A Kind of a Stopwatch", which is included in the Blu-ray DVD edition of the 1959 series, Serling scholar Martin Grams explains that, "...Michael D. Rosenthal came up with the short story. Of course, that's his... credited in the closing cred... opening credits... Michael D. Rosenthal but, believe it or not, for about three or four decades nobody knew who he was... was it an alias... a pen name... maybe a pseudonym for a professional script writer... it turns out... no... Michael D. Rosenthal was actually a student at the University of Wisconsin and his teacher Jerry McNeely actually liked the idea so much that McNeely contacted his agent and pitched the idea. He told him specifically, 'I would appreciate being notified when a release date is set. I bought the idea from one of my students and, while they enjoy it, I don't want to receive screen credit.' That is a letter I was quoting from October 5, 1963, shortly before the broadcast aired". —Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 08:01, 21 August 2021 (UTC)

Trivia

Unsourced trivia content is contrary to both WP:NOT and WP:V. Furthermore, material without reliable sources should not be restored to articles, per WP:BURDEN. Nikkimaria (talk) 01:50, 29 July 2014 (UTC)

External links modified

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Character names are not indicated in the on-screen credits

It may be noted that, in addition to a considerable number of bit parts (office workers, bar patrons, bank customers), this episode has eight speaking roles.

However, in the closing credits, the character names of the eight credited cast members are not indicated and their form in the cast list is taken from various resources, such as IMDb, as well as from personal viewing by editors. For the record, below is a reproduction of the cast listing in the end credits:

Twilight Zone      Created by ROD SERLING

"A KIND       OF A     STOPWATCH"

Co–Starring RICHARD ERDMAN     HERBIE FAYE   LEON BELASCO

with DORIS SINGLETON     ROY ROBERTS               and RICHARD WESSEL        RAY KELLOG                 KEN DRAKE (actor)

                                                                                        Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 08:01, 21 August 2021 (UTC)