Review of Jonah and the Whale

I found this episode entertaining. I liked the kibitzing and banter between Richard Basehart aka the Admiral and Gia Scala aka the Russian female scientist Katy Markova. She panicked when some water drips on her back and the Admiral comes back with "could have used an imbrella" trying to inject a little levity into their dire situation. I mean after all the diving bell has been swallowed by a huge whale. Then he proceeds to explain that the pressure is so great that it's forcing the two halves together and squealing out the water. He also makes light when the Russian scientist is questioning him when she says the specie of whale that swallowed them is extinct. Nelson comes back with "perhaps he doesn't know it". (He being the whale and that he doesn't know he's supposed to be extinct.) I love the Admirals reaction when he first looks out the port hole after they are swallowed by the whale and his reaction when Katy's sees the insides of the whale for the first time. The expression is priceless. Another scene that I really like from this episode is when Kowalski is in the diving bell working and Admiral Nelson asks him if he would be willing to go down in the bell...as it stands. Kowalski's expression changes from smiling to serious as he nervously swallows hard before he asks, "are you asking me...or telling me, sir?" Harry responds smiling "just asking." After a cursory check Kowalski says he would. Then Harry tells Katya that he will be piloting the bell when she goes down for the first time. After they are swallowed by the whale she comes back with "next time she will pick a more experienced pilot" after Harry apologizes as his piloting skills are a bit rusty. I could go on and on but this would wind up being a book. This was Basehart's episode. David Hedison and the Seaview with her crew played supporting roles to Basehart and guest star Gia Scala.