User Reviews

The great thing about time travel fiction and movies is that you can keep changing the rules. Normally the cardinal first law is not to interfere with historic events. The second, but variable one, is not to interact with a younger/older version of yourself. In this episode both of these laws are ignored or do not exist in the writer's imagination. Transferred into the vicinity of Pearl Harbour in 1941 on the day before the Japanese attack, Tony and Doug endeavour to warn Tony's father, a navy commander, that it is imminent. Naturally he regards them as crazy and ignores them but, they are captured by Japanese agents and interrogated using sodium pentathol. The Japanese are astounded when they spill the beans, not only on the forthcoming attack, but also on Hiroshima and the outcome of the war. Left alone, the time travellers escape and try to find Commander Newman again since, historically, he went missing on December 7th and Tony is anxious to prevent this. However, in the meantime, young Tony is also desperate to find his father since he overheard the time travellers' conversation and doesn't want him to die. Older Tony finds him and tells him everything will be all right, sending him to safety. The attack starts and Commander Newman is fatally wounded in the radio room. A neat twist, involving the time transfer of an unexploded bomb, allows Tony to help his father warn the aircraft carrier Enterprise to stay out at sea (thus keeping her available for Midway etc.). Just before his fathers succumbs to his wounds, Tony reveals who he is. Doug drags Tony away before the building is obliterated by further bombing thereby keeping history intact. This is a brilliant episode. Tony in particular is given a depth of character rarely seen elsewhere in the series. The usual fisticuffs are restricted to one fight and the well-written plot plays out rather like a giant game of chess, where move and counter-move change the possibilities continually. A top-class entry in the time travel genre.

The fourth transmitted episode of Irwin Allen's sci-fi show is well regarded amongst fans, and it is not hard to see why.

It is 1941. Doug Phillips and Tony Newman materialise in the Japanese consulate the day before Pearl Harbour. After questioning, they are released, mainly because the Japanese do not want to draw attention to themselves by starting a diplomatic incident so close to the attack. One of their number follows the scientists to the home of one Louise Neal ( Susan Flannery ).

Tony's younger self was staying with a friend at the time, and although he has no memory of the actual bombing, knows his father ( Linden Chiles ) died as a result. While Tony is powerless to rewrite history, he hopes to be able to save him. Naturally the latter does not believe a word of his fantastic story. On leaving the Neal household, the scientists are taken back to the consulate and given Sodium Pentathol. The Japanese are incredulous as the Americans pour out details concerning Hiroshima and the end of the war...

Written by Ellis St.Joseph, this intelligent, moving episode gives James Darren's character a chance to become emotionally involved for once in the adventure. Tony and Doug know they cannot prevent Pearl Harbour ( obviously having learnt from the events of the first episode ), but back at 'Project Tic-Toc', our old friend Jerry ( Sam Groom ) proposes they attempt to do just that. It is hard to see how though. The Time Tunnel itself looks too small to accommodate a fleet of 1968 warplanes and aircraft carriers. Luckily General Kirk is on hand to put him in his place.

I agree with the other reviewer that the bomb sequence is not as thrilling as it could have been. Since when did Jerry know how to defuse World War Two bombs? Is it a hobby of his? As 'Louise Neal', we have the lovely Susan Flannery. She appeared in two episodes of Irwin's 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea' - 'The Traitors' and 'Time Bomb'. Linden Chiles, who plays Newman Senior, was David Vincent's brother in 'The Invaders'.

A similar storyline - 'Fathers Day' - later graced the 2005 series of the B.B.C.'s 'Doctor Who'. The Kirk Douglas movie 'The Final Countdown' ( 1980 ) also had time travellers whisked back to Pearl Harbour prior to the attack.

Newman Senior's death scene packs a strong punch. Darren, bless him, acts his socks off. But for the rest of the series we would not see anything like this again.

Tony and Doug land in Pearl Harbor in 1941 right before the attack.

Wonderfully scripted/acted Time Tunnel episode where Tony meets his dad.

However, I am not the biggest fan of WW2 stories so perhaps part of the episode's appeal is a little lost on me, also the scene involving a bomb in the Tunnel and Jerry coming to the rescue looks a little silly.

Nice to see Susan Flannery who also appeared in a couple of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea shows and eventually appeared in The Towering Inferno (1974).

Most fans of this series proudly say that this is the best hour of the series (next to the pilot)...however I would say the pilot, End Of The World, Reign Of Terror, Chase Though Time and The Death Merchant are the best episodes of The Time Tunnel series.

How wonderful to record a "nostalgic" hour long TV show from the sixties and be completely blown away by how good it is!! OF COURSE the concept of time travel is going to involve some contrivance and exaggeration, but that goes with the genre. That said, this is a clever, engaging, and, yes, moving episode. The ending where James Darren confronts his dying father is really, really good. Excellent television all around, and well worth watching!

The Time Tunnel brings Doug Phillips and Tony Newman to Hawaii in 1941. The before the attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbour.

A day Tony knows all so well. He grew up in Honolulu, his father was in the forces. On the day of the attack, his father disappeared never to be seen again.

The immediate problem for Doug and Tony is that they materialise inside the Japanese Consulate and are immediately met with suspicion.

When they leave the consulate. Once again Doug and Tony try to warn people about the impending Japanese attack to no avail.

It seems time travel shows back in 1966 did not bother too much with things like time paradoxes. Apart from always trying to change the course of history.

Doug and Tony also tell the Japanese about Hiroshima and the atomic bomb while under the influence of a truth serum.

At least Tony knows what happened to his father and it was a heroic death.

It is 1941. Doug Phillips and Tony Newman materialise in the Japanese consulate the day before Pearl Harbour. After questioning, they are released, mainly because the Japanese do not want to draw attention to themselves by starting a diplomatic incident so close to the attack. One of their number follows the scientists to the home of one Louise Neal ( Susan Flannery ).

Tony's younger self was staying with a friend at the time, and although he has no memory of the actual bombing, knows his father ( Linden Chiles ) died as a result. While Tony is powerless to rewrite history, he hopes to be able to save him. Naturally the latter does not believe a word of his fantastic story. On leaving the Neal household, the scientists are taken back to the consulate and given Sodium Pentathol. The Japanese are incredulous as the Americans pour out details concerning Hiroshima and the end of the war...