The Ray Bradbury Theater (TV Series) Marionettes, Inc. (1985) User Reviews

Marionettes, Inc.

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 6 June 2012]

Breathlessly, exhaustingly, unflappably, unbearably, unreasonably dutiful wife just wears out her husband, a computer salesman, to the point where he spends his life savings paying for a "replica" of himself, almost identical in every way except for a unique heartbeat. James Coco is the husband, Leslie Nielsen the owner of Marionettes, Inc. (who offers him the "deal of a lifetime"), and Kenneth Welsh an associate of Coco's (who becomes convinced he must also get him one, in for quite a shock when he notices his savings account emptied and wife with quite an unusual heartbeat!). It all is going well for Coco who spends days and nights doing all the activities (going bowling and to the movies as specific examples) he always desired while with the wife or at the job. When he is ready, Coco signals by remote to his copy that it's time to "go back into the furnace". But Coco's in for a surprise when the duplicate wants to be in charge… While the opening of this episode of Ray Bradbury Theater would have us to believe that Coco deserves sympathy for enduring the tiresomely doting of his wife, soon it is realized that she was only trying to compensate for his lack of interest in her; she was trying to get just a little bit of attention, some time with him, yet Coco was always too busy or not in the mood. The "marionette", however, sees where he is lacking and feels the need to provide her with the proper companionship and kind attention she deserves and desires.

I just found out about Bradbury's death. It is rather amazing that today I decided to watch an episode of the show named after him; coincidence? I'm sure Bradbury has written a story or two about fate and coincidence... RIP, Ray.

Dull Lives

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 22 March 2009]

The suburban computer salesman Braling (James Coco) has a dull life with his talkative and needy wife Mrs. Braling (Jayne Eastwood). When every computer that he touches pops a message from a company called Marionette Inc. With his personal data, he decides to visit the company to see what is happening. Braling meets Fantoccini (Leslie Nielsen), the representative of Marionette Inc., which shows him a replica of Braling commanded by remote control. Fantoccini charges the savings of Braling paid in installments; in return, the android would live his dull life with his wife. A couple of days later, a different Braling meets his friend Crane (Kenneth Welsh) and tells how his life changed after the meeting with Fantoccini.

"Marionette Inc." is a funny story visibly inspired in the 1975 "The Stepford Wives", with a good development and a funny conclusion. The best moment is certainly when Crane finds that his savings has gone and his wife is certainly a replica from Marionette Inc. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Marionette Inc."

Good start to the series.

[b_kite · 7/10 · 19 June 2019]

James Coco plays a business man who is annoyed beyond belief by his nutty wife and busy life. He meets a man named Fantoccini (the great Leslie Nielsen) who works for a company entitled "Marionettes, Inc." who gives him the option to switch him out with a replica robot version of himself, with the possibility he could enjoy life more. Everything goes well until he become jealous of the robot, who plans to take over his life one step at a time. There's some excellent twists and turns that lead to an enjoyable if rather predictable twist. Good start to the series.

Spooky Nielsen

[bigfootmurf-72304 · 7/10 · 20 August 2022]

I didn't know the story. At first I thought it was a Robert Bloch story about Marionettes and the title reminded me of Quitters Inc by Stephen King.

The theme of escaping your dull life is perhaps universal and it was fun seeing Nielsen in a horror role. I didn't guess the ending. Very well done episode.

"We shadow forth..."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 3 December 2021]

I only came across "The Ray Bradbury Theater" the other day, not ever having seen it or even knowing about it when it originally aired in 1985. This first episode was probably a good introduction for future stories, as it had the kind of dark twist that one likes to see in programs like "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" or "Tales of the Unexpected". This one actually was adapted as a Hitchcock episode in the late Fifties titled 'Design For Loving', but the version I saw seemed to have it's sequences out of order and left me somewhat puzzled. This Bradbury episode I just watched does virtually the same thing, offering a 'twist' in the middle of the story with Crane (Kenneth Welsh) and his wife, thereby taking away emphasis from the principal character John Braling (James Coco), and the purchase he made to escape a dull and exhausting life with wife Marjorie (Jayne Eastwood). The story probably would have been more effective without the double whammy, though it was much more unfortunate for Braling at the conclusion of this one. Besides the players already mentioned, look for an appearance by Leslie Nielsen as the owner of the Marionettes Company. No stranger to countless television series over the course of his career, he also showed up in a couple Hitchcock episodes.

Marionettes, Inc.

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 19 April 2022]

This anthology series based on the stories of Ray Bradbury has a touch of The Stepford Wives.

John Braling (James Coco) is a dull, middle aged computer salesman with an over attentive wife who constantly chatters.

At work every computer has a message from Marionette Inc. John decides to check them out and discovers that the mysterious Fantoccini (Leslie Nielsen) has built an exact replica of Braling.

All he needs to do is give over his life savings, payable in instalments. In return while the doppelganger is with his wife. John can go out and enjoy life.

John tells his friend Crane about the company but Crane is later shocked to learn that his wife has spent all the life savings.

After some weeks John discovers that the android double has fallen for his wife. He gives her the attention that John never did. The double plans to push John away permanently.

There is an element of Alfred Hitchcock Presents with this story. It was indeed adapted for that television show some years earlier.

The story has a theme about what happens when man and machine come into conflict. It turns out that in this story both John and Crane were neglecting their wives.

The Evil Double

[AvionPrince16 · 7/10 · 29 November 2023]

A nice episode who talk about the subject of clones and mostly the relationship between a husband and a wife : we can see the differences between the beginning and the end ; we have at first a man who is completely indifferent to his wife and she gives a lot of attention daily and at the end we have that man (clone) who give also these attention and maybe give the morality and duality of the actions of a husband that was didnt care about his own wife .a nice episode anyway and i enjoyed also how its turn into a drama : the clone take the power and give complete satisfaction to the women.

It was pretty interesting and i like that kind of sci-fi because even if we know that situation cant exist it give that morality and that work with all the mens . A nice episode.

An episode that was ahead of it's time just change yourself out!

[blanbrn · 8/10 · 22 August 2020]

This episode 1 from season 1 of the "Ray Bradbury Theater" called "Marionettes, Inc." is one that's ahead of it's time showing the preview of our to be high tech world and technology. Set in the suburbs a business man Braling(James Coco) is married yet he wants some spice and pleasure in his life. When he sees how a computer firm like Marionettes starts to know things about him and people he decides to pay a visit. Look for Leslie Nielsen as Fantoccini as a company salesman who changes the game of things. It's life as a replica robot is different for Braling as things on the attachment and emotional front start to wear on him. The story has themes of greed and pleasure still it proves the important thing to be happy is staying who you are and change life for your own self. Overall well done episode and good start to the series.

Hey! That's Me Over There!

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 23 March 2015]

I first remember this story as a phonograph record back in the sixties. I used it to teach the story to my seventh graders. Talk about your technology! This is the story of a man (James Coco), who has a clinging wife. She hugs him, kisses him, gives him food then takes it away, literally suffocating him. He is incredibly unhappy. He works for an upstart computer company (1985 seems a hundred years ago). As he tries to demonstrate his product an ad keeps coming up and he can't get rid of it. This is pre-internet. It's a company called Marionettes, Inc., and he is hounded by their information, not just the computer, but business cards and other sales items. Eventually, he has had enough and goes to the company. What they do is create androids that are the exact replicas of the person being approached. They target unhappy people. Buy one of these, replace yourself in daily life, and do whatever you want, away from your "unhappy" existence. Of course, it will cost you everything you have in the bank. He is resistant at first but finally gives in. He even talks a friend into doing it. What happens next is where the fun comes in. A great story, even if it has kind of a predictable conclusion.

Great story, but not nearly as good an onscreen interpretation as Hitchcock's 1958 version

[lilimarlene-49016 · 4/10 · 27 June 2021]

Let me start by saying, I absolutely love Bradbury's stories. That said, this version of his story is not nearly as good as Hitchcock's version "Design for Loving" in 1958.

Introduction by Ray Bradbury 1920-2012

[Bernie4444 · 8/10 · 18 May 2024]

The Ray Bradbury Theater Season 1 Episode 1 "Marionettes, Inc."

A computer salesman Braling (James Coco) is being over indulged by his wife (Jayne Eastwood.) She looks after is every need. She is clingy and constantly talking. For some unknown reason he is annoyed by this.

He constantly gets ads from "Marionettes, Inc." As they have a unique solution to Barling's annoying problem. So, a friend suggests that Braling visit "Marionettes, Inc.". So, he does.

Inter Mr. Fantoccini (Leslie Nielsen as a more sober character). Mr. Fantoccini has a unique solution that just happens to cost everything in Barling's account down to the last penny.

The solution is working better than expected so Barling confides in his friend, Crane (Kenneth Welsh.) Who also plans to make the purchase to find that his account is already at zero?

While back at the ranch... Oops Balding homestead a permanent solution to the Barling problem may be dispatched.

It is not like you could not guess this one. But id is fun to watch the execution.