Once seen in childhood, the January 1, 1960
Twilight Zone episode "The Four of Us Are Dying" can never be forgotten. Set in a surrealistic New York City (replete with flashing neon signs and forced-perspective streets), the story concerns one Arch Hammer (
Harry Townes), a two-bit hood gifted with the ability to change his facial features. In rapid succession, he assumes the personalities of two recently deceased individuals -- jazz musician Johnny Foster (
Ross Martin) and murdered gangster Virgil Sterig (
Phillip Pine) -- for his own financial and sexual gain. But Arch comes to grief when, pursued by Sterig's killers, he transforms his face into that of punkish prizefighter Andy Marshak (
Don Gordon). Enchancing the episode's dramatic clout is a brilliant performance by
Beverly Garland as a nightclub singer and a driving musical score by
Jerry Goldsmith. "The Four of Us Are Dying" was written by
Rod Serling from a story by George Clayton Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide