Dead Man's Shoes

As someone born in the late 1980s I have always half heartedly loved the Twilight Zone. Looking back in time some of these episodes aged really well and some where junk. But this Episode I remember first seeing on Cable TV in the late 1990s during the XMas/New Years marathons. Even the 1980s version of Dead Woman's shoes did it justice and the 2002 version was ok. This is one of the handful of Twilight Zone Episodes that is absolutely timeless and classic!!! I really can't recommend this episode enough. Probably on the rate side even though I am now in my mid 30's that people not of this era hold it in such high regard. Watching this never gets old for me!!!

Dead Man's Shoes lacks that magical je ne sais quoi of a classic The Twilight Zone episode, but it is still a reasonably entertaining tale, helped by a solid turn from Warren Stevens, who is transformed from wretched hobo to cool-as-a-cucumber tough man after he half-inches a pair of shoes from a stiff in an alleyway.

Possessing Bowery bum Nathan Bledsoe, the shoes' original owner, gangster Dane, sets about trying to get even with the man who killed him: his greedy business partner Bernie Dagget (Richard Devon). Unfortunately for Dane, Dagget isn't easily fooled, his men killing the gangster for a second time. But when Bledsoe's body is dumped in an alleyway, another tramp takes a shine to those fancy shoes...

One imagines that Dane's next attempt to take revenge will be successful (how many times can he be caught out by a hidden gunman?), but if it isn't, will Dagget eventually cotton on and destroy those loafers? These questions and more await the curious in The Twilight Zone.

For me this one lives in the shadow of the 1985 reworking that starred Helen Mirren called 'Dead Woman's Shoes'. The original is a fair fantasy about a homeless man who takes on the personae of a dead mobster. Warren Stevens is more convincing when acting as the mobster's personality whose shoes are now literally filled by the homeless guy. The first transformation is gradual, but after meeting the dead man's girlfriend ,Wilma (Joan Marshall), the shoes cause instant changing when taken off and put back on. The fact that he doesn't look like the dead man puts him in a strong position to go out for revenge on his killer.

Average TZ, generally well carried by Stevens.

Joan Marshall played Herman's wife in the pilot episode of 'The Munsters'.

"Dead Man's Shoes" is not a great, but nonetheless very competent and enjoyable "Twilight Zone" episode. The credits list the name of the almighty Charles Beaumont as writer, but the plot seems based - or, at least, heavily inspired - by the legendary Maurice Renard novel "The Hands of Orlac". This classic horror story already got adapted into a handful of genre milestones (including the silent "Orlac's Hände" starring Conrad Veidt and "Mad Love" starring Peter Lorre), and revolves around a talented pianist who loses both his hands in an accident. Via a medically ground-breaking transplant operation, he receives a new pair of hands, but they belonged to an executed murderer and gradually force the new owner to commit horrible crimes.

Although uncredited, this episode is a slick variation on the same plot. The homeless Nate witnesses how mobsters dispose of a dead body in a dark alley. The corpse wears brand new and funky shoes, and Nate isn't too shy to try them on. As soon as he wears the shoes, however, Nate somehow becomes the dead gangster - Dale - and remembers where he lived, what his favorite drink was, and who killed him. The shoes naturally force their new owner to seek revenge. There's nothing extraordinary about "Dead Man's Shoes", but the performances are good, and the end-twist is fairly original and unexpected.

Grubby transient (Warren Stevens) steals flashy shoes from dead man named Dane. Trouble is, these are size 9's from the twilight zone, which have the magical effect of replacing weak, cringing persona of the transient with strong, criminal personality of the dead man. This sets up interesting sequence in which Dane now occupies Stevens' body, and returns to old haunts to unnerve mistress and gang rival, who hear Dane but see stranger. Fun to watch icy mistress (Joan Marshall) gradually come unglued.

Neat idea, but filmed in straightforward style that adds little to the plot. Stevens does convincing job of altering personality whenever the shoes fit. Good script, even though climactic office scene is disappointing. On the whole, a solid entry.