The Grave - Twilight Zone Episode REVIEW 

I always skipped the Western episodes as a kid, but I came to love this one when I finally gave it a chance.

Horror Westerns are pretty rare, but when they do happen, I'm all for it. Another awesome video brother 👏

This is one of the episodes I caught late one night alone in the living room as a little kid.... Needless to say had a hard time getting to sleep that night....Great vid on this spooky Classic episode....👍💀

Whew! What a cast! Six months after this episode aired, Marvin, Van Cleef and Martin appeared in John Ford's "...Liberty Valance. " One of several TZs focused on a western motif.

Hey everyone. 'The Grave' won the vote to be next on the TZ REVIEW Marathon, so here it is! If you've seen this classic episode and have thoughts or theories - especially on the ending, then feel free to post below. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more from the 5th dimension.

Another fine choice for an episode review. And you really hit the nail on the head with the rundown look of everything. Westerns of the time were still a bit polished looking by and large. Not all good and crusty as they would soon become. And just such a wonderfully shot episode with top notch lighting. I would consider this one an early example of Weird West. It's odd that the Western Ghost Story didn't really catch on. As this episode showed, the two genres go well together. As always, Ant-Man, great stuff and great editing.....That's what she said?

Hey, Anthony! This is a really great breakdown of the episode. What's funny is that I called the ending immediately, because I used to read the old urban legend/horror story that this is inspired by. It's about a girl who is dared to visit a grave and leave a knife, then is unintentionally scared to death when she accidentally stabs her dress in place. Even crazier is that when I looked up the name of that story, there was a blog post referencing this episode! 👌👌👌

A favorite of mine! I love westerns! My dad got me into them! 😁Thanks for recommending your friends channel!

This was an episode I didn't see till I was older but I've heard many variations of this ghost story (ie stabbing a grave and getting stuck) however I didn't know this episode was related so when the ending while somewhat expected was one of my favorites. Lee Marvin was perfect for the twilight zone Loved him ever since Cat Ballou (watch it if you haven't) Great video as always sir

A very good review. I only saw this one for the first time this past New Year's SYFY Channel Marathon. And wouldn't you know it, I had to let the dogs out when Connie made it up the hill. I never even saw Ione run into him before he sees the grave. So I missed everything up until the men decided to go themselves. But of all the theories, you haven't thought of the simplest one: Ione got him. She was drinking, even said the bottle was for her when she bought it. Dutch courage. She had clear motive, the death of her brother whom she obviously loved. And vengeance against a sworn enemy - even though Connie wasn't even there when the deed went down - 8 shooters, only one hit, and he bled out - you would think she'd want vengeance against the entire town. But clearly, Pinto considered Connie to be his nemesis and Connie had to pay, not the others. Then there's opportunity. She was there! Goading him along. Hyping up the danger and the fear. She leaves, but on a dark, windswept night, she could easily slip out of sight and wait for her chance (remember she knew where the grave was, he had to find it in the dark). Now how she did it without leaving too obvious traces (like a blow to the head)? She asphyxiated him. Not strangled exactly. But pressing his face into the dirt, even bending and pressing the head back to close the windpipe (do that by kneeling on his neck). It could bring on the heart attack/die of fright that folk would be satisfied - you see what you look for and the common clay of the West ("you know, morons") wouldn't have known the difference unless there was unmistakable bruising. SHE pulls on the coat and trips him down, then holds him (I dont think she could have hidden in the grave itself), but build up a panic response and he might not think to look at what or who is holding him, just trying to get away and then reach his gun, even if kicking or rolling over or lashing out barehanded would have been easier or more effective. In times of stress or crisis, people react to their personal training or default. Connie is attacked or threatened? He goes for his gun. Period. Then when he's dead, gun just out of reach, she stabs the coat and the grave. She would have had to do that last or else risk the Bowie cutting the fabric and setting the coat free. The coat was pinned but just taut. Any pulling by Connie would have cut the cloth more than a simple thrust. And she was there at the discovery to give everyone enough pause to stop further inquiry into the uncanny "wind's blowin' South". Yes, from the first second at the final gathering, I knew that she'd helped her brother get away with murder and she was the dead man's hand. Occam's Razor guys, or as Sherlock Holmes says, after eliminating the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, is the truth.

Another great review Anthony...that cast is great. I also liked you mentioned Have Gun,Will Travel....best Western ever made.

I always liked this episode. It was just dripping with atmosphere.

The Grave is also one of my favorite episodes. I always view it when I pull out my Blu Ray set.

Very good episode! Like a lot of people I first came to know James Best on Dukes, but over the years I discovered his earlier career in other projects like this and the Andy Griffith show. His classic Twilight Zone where he dies and comes back to life is one of my favorites. And it's great to see Lee Marvin and Lee Van Cleef together since they worked so well in Liberty Valance. One of the best things about The Twilight Zone was seeing all these well known actors.

This is one of my favorite episodes. A well executed story with some of the better performances you'll find in the series. Except for Ioan's laugh. It sounded to me like she'd never heard a laugh before and was just reciting what was printed in the script. :D

The Western episodes of TZ are often hit-or-miss but this one is excellent! A great cast and a weird, ambiguous story where you can't truly be sure who to trust or what actually happened. And I know I can't be the only one who thought that Stafford Repp was actually Irish after seeing him on Batman! He faked a pretty good brogue I'd say...

I loved Dukes of Hazzard as a kid and didn't realize for years that was the guy. And The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank. Man, they should have made a whole western with Lee Marvin and Angel Eyes.

Don't forget The two Lees and Strother Martin were the villians in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance🤠🤓😎✌🏻

Another great analysis! The Grave is one of my faves for sure, nicely done. 👍

Anthony, Hahaha, what a surprise this was. I noticed a bump in my sub count and this surprised me. As I usually get 1 or 2 new subs a day, but to get a bump within an hour’s time is unusual. And then I saw this video. First: this was a great one! I loved that moment of humour as well as the usual different perspectives of what happened (but this is as par for the course) And second, thank you for the shout out. I do appreciate it. I uploaded a video (not yet released to the public) which I wished I had shouted you out on as I think you would appreciate the movie, a Mexican western called Hot Snake. In place of that, I will review this episode of The Twilight Zone to return the kindness and because I think it would be a fun one to do. Or if you have a western you’d like me to tackle, let me know. Thanks again, man. It is much appreciated!

Such a great cast in this one and that creepy laugh she does........there just are not actors of this stature anymore

Awesome video dude. I love a western and the cast here is phenomenal. Makes it seem almost like a movie with Lee Marvin and Lee Van Cleef in there. Superb as always, Anthony!

All I really want is to live inside of a Twilight Zone episode.

Awesome review Anthony! I only saw this one for the first time last year and I love it.

Serling already did very similar episodes about DEATH and Grave Sites in his earlier show THE OUTER LIMITS also on RU-vid

Thank you for reviewing "The Grave". Another one of my all-time favorite episodes I love to play around Halloween time, but honestly I love to watch it anytime the mood moves me LOL! 👍💯

Spooky happenings in the wild west! :) Sounds like an intriguing concept! Loved your insight! :)

It's funny how gun shots never make holes or draw blood. It's the phantom invisible wound death. 😁

Outstanding work Anthony. I did catch this one many years ago. Great to see Lee Marvin in The Twilight Zone

Great review and narration! I didn’t know Lee Van Chef (don't know if I spelled that right) was in a Twilight Zone episode. I will put it on my watchlist.

Sounds like a solid episode (even if it could have been stolen 😂). I tend to avoid most western stuff unless I’m told “You have to see this. It’s amazing”. Great quality bud as always Anthony!

I love Ione in this. She's almost like the spookiest part. The cemetery set is soo good.

Have not watched yet.. but very intriguing.. this will be on my must watch list 👍

I always thought episodes like this were cool, showing that the Twilight Zone could happen anywhere, anytime, and blend genres superbly. That laugh always felt so uncanny. Also, I'd forgotten, but the episode's score at the start of your video is a very Westernized take on the Dies Irae motif - a nice bit of musical foreshadowing that also meshes the genres.

Wild west + the twilight zone !

Hey Anthony! I'm a little late in getting to this one but great job on another fantastic review! I'll admit I think I've only seen The Grave maybe once, and I liked it but after watching this, I really feel the need to go back and watch it again because there seems to be a lot more that I didn't notice on an initial viewing, especially the quality of the cast. I had no idea there were so many great actors in this episode, including Lee Van Cleef, and I can't believe I missed that. Interesting you bring up TZ westerns which I always think are a curious lot and my opinion on them has evolved over the years with a greater appreciation as I've come to enjoy general westerns more and more. As for this episode's message, it really seemed like a tale about the dangers of hubris to me which is always a relevant one. As always, looking forward to your next video.

Solid episode. The cast is really amazing in this! Awesome review Anthony!

Another TZ episode I have yet to watch. This one looks like the atmosphere is good and spooky. I'm gonna hafta do a TZ marathon one of these days, a few of them in fact.

Awesome video here Anthony always great to see u posting

Anthony!!!!!!! How are you doing my friend? This looks like a good one. I enjoy westerns so this combined with TZ is cool. Also I love learning about the actors being in other shows I find that so interesting. Another enjoyable watch!!

Well, Anthony, I'm finally getting around to this one, which is odd, because it's a favorite. As usual, your review does it justice, and yet I think there's more to cover than you had time for in just 12 minutes. I don't think Conny's a coward at all, and isn't intended to be depicted as one here, despite a bit of uncertainty about what exactly occurred or didn't occur between he and Pinto and his curiously feminine-sounding name. (Actually, the only famous men in real life I'm aware of named Conny/Connie were the baseball commissioner Connie Mack, his grandson Connie Mack III and great-grandson Connie Mack IV, the latter two of whom having served in the U.S. Congress representing the State of Florida. Incidentally, on the rare occasions when we hear of a man called Connie, it's a affectionate form of the name Cornelius (a century or so ago it was a name more commonly used for men). In any case, the fact that he pulls his gun as Ione enters the saloon the first time doesn't strike me as cowardice. Conny's a gunfighter and a bounty hunter, and as such, always needs to be ready for action. The other men there show themselves to be cowards when it takes all of them in hiding places to take down Pinto, and they later mouth off to Conny as though he's as frightened as them, but cowards don't do what he does for a living (Pinto's claim on his deathbed to the contrary ups the dramatic tension). As for Conny hesitating before thrusting the knife into the grave may show him to be less than fearless in that situation, but iI think a lot of is how Ione has him spooked. Speaking of Ione, I agree that she is the character after Conny who is most intriguing. There's something about her portrayal by Elen Willard that I find witchy, I'm not saying she's necessarily being depicted as a witch, but there's something about her laugh that suggests to me that she has a connection to the dead that is preternatural. (As far as he putting the plate on her brother's grave, I did some searching for this custom in folklore, but without luck.) For me, Ione's witchiness reaches its crescendo in the penultimate scene where she confronts Conny in the graveyard, the wind wildly blowing her cape, and punctuated by her eerie laugh, she informs him that Pinto's waiting for him. An interesting footnote about "The Grave" is how three of actors in it--Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef, and Strother Martin--just months later later all appeared in the great Western _The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance_ (It's almost like the film used "The Grave" for casting.) Speaking of _Liberty Valance,_ it affords me an opportunity to add a tribute to the recently passed Burt Bacharach, who with Hal David had one of the team's first hits with the movie's equally great title song, but one that no one would identify with Bacharach-David as it's so far removed from their standard fare: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DZWtlgADNYA.html

Not my favourite of the TZ western episodes but still entertaining. Enjoyed your review. Quality acting apart from the woman that played Pintos sister. A little over the top

That was a great episode.

One of my favs,😂.

Wish this was a 2 hour Movie

I was waiting for this stop, at The Twilight Zone.

Connie died of fright

I really love your reviews of what Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad fame calls "My favorite show ever..." (The Twilight Zone)....but for the love of all that's holy you didn't mention Strother Martin (Wild Bunch / Sssssssssss/ Up In Smoke ) Just ribbin' ya. My top Halloween Spooky episodes of the Zone are 1) The Grave 2) Mr. Garrity and The Graves 3) The Fear 4) The Jungle 5) The Thirty Fathom Grave 6) Jess-Belle

Like this one James best had many talents

Western episodes are always fun.

The View Is excellent