Controlled Experiment

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The Outer Limits episode
“Controlled Experiment”
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 16
Guest star(s) Barry Morse
Carroll O’Connor
Grace Lee Whitney
Writer(s) Leslie Stevens
Director Leslie Stevens
Cinematographer John M. Nickolaus
Production no. 6
Original airdate January 13, 1964
Episode chronology
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The Mice Don’t Open Till Doomsday

"Controlled Experiment" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 13 January 1964, during the first season.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

A martian controller is assigned to investigate the phenomenon of murder on Earth.

[edit] Opening Narration

"Who has not seen the dark corners of great cities, whose small and shabby creatures wander without purpose in the secret corners of the night? Without purpose? There are those whose purpose reaches far beyond our wildest dreams."

[edit] Plot Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Martians are dispatched to Earth to investigate the concept of "Murder". Using a machine that can speed up time, slow it down, or stop it altogether, they review the same murder scene over and over, until something breaks.

[edit] Closing Narration

"Who knows? Perhaps the alteration of one small event may someday bring about the end of the world. But that someday is a long way off, and until then there is a good life to be lived in the here and now."

[edit] Trivia

This episode was shot as a pilot for a proposed series starring Carroll O'Connor and Barry Morse as two Martians sent to Earth to examine human life and experiences. CBS instead opted for the series My Favorite Martian with Ray Walston and Bill Bixby.

[edit] Cast

[edit] External links and references