The Midnight Sun aired on November 17, 1961 as the tenth episode of Season Three. It stars Lois Nettleton as Norma and Betty Garden as Mrs. Bronson. Norma is a skilled artist who lives in the same New York building as Mrs, Bronson. As they begin to talk with one another we quickly get informed that most of their neighbors have left, the city has been virtually abandoned because the Earth's orbit has been disturbed leaving Earth to slowly fall into the sun.
The two women lean on other and help each other as the temperatures continue to rise. Desperate strangers try to rob them of their water and Norma's paintings begin to melt away. Slowly the women start breaking down under the stress and heat of their collapsing world. Norma's body cannot take the heat anymore and she faints. The next scene cuts to Mrs. Bronson and a doctor caring for Norma as she is suffering from a high fever. Norma was actually having a fever dream and the Earth isn't moving into the sun but rather was moving away and the world's population is actually freezing to death.
Whether the world overheats or plunges into an ice age is horrific to think about let alone see it played out on screen like in this episode. What I found endearing in this episode was the way Mrs. Bronson and Norma helped each other in their times of need. It is a good reminder that support can come to us from those we least expect in times we need someone the most.
One of my most favorite episodes. <3 Even having seen it multiple times, it still always horrifies me.
ReplyDeleteMe too!!!!! Made me start to think which outcome is worse. Totally scary! xox
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