The Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (Season 5, Episode 3) 11 Oct. 1963

Director: Richard Donner



Lead Actors: William Shatner, Christine White, Ed Kemmer


Producer: Bret Granet


Plot Synopsis:
Salesman Bob Wilson boards a plane heading west from the east coast with his wife Julia Wilson. 

He is nervous and we realize that up until recently, he has been in a sanitarium recovering from his last nervous breakdown he had while on a plane trip to the east coast.

But the Wilsons seem prepared and ready for a fresh start. Julia Wilson has plenty of sleeping pills and positive reinforcement for Bob, who gets visibly more nervous and upset as the plane takes off the runway and climbs into the air.

On top of it all, Wilson has a window seat! This window seat happens to be the one that looks onto the wing of the plane.

Perhaps in an effort to calm himself, Bob Wilson pulls back the mini drape on the window, and he suddenly sees what looks like an abominable snow man on the wing of the air plane.

Nobody believes Bob, and they blame Bob's vision on his nervousness and general upset disposition. Meanwhile, each time Bob looks out the window, there he is, this creature walking on the plane's wing, looking in the window and generally taunting him.

Who Would Like it and Why
This must have been a huge break for William Shatner. He is young and does a great job in it. He has not sunken into that groove of over acting yet that he became famous for in the Star Trek television show and subsequent movies.




He made this man on the wing and the threat that it presented very very real!

This is a very engaging episode of a very popular show. It is possibly it is one of the most popular episodes. It was later recreated with John Lithgow in the titular role in 1983. 



Who Might not Like it and Why 
People who have a fear of flying might take offense. 

Highlights/Top Scenes
There is a scene when the abominable snow man's face is right up against the airplane window as Shattner pulls back the drape. It is funny and scary at the same time. 

Three Mike and Ikes