User Reviews

There were only four other reviews of this episode when I came here to comment on it, and I'm surprised quite frankly at the short shrift given to the story by other viewers. When Roald Dahl states in his introduction that it was a true story with the real names of the people involved, I withheld judgment until the program was over and had a chance to check. I had read a couple of books about Adolph Hitler many years ago, so the names of his parents weren't fresh in my mind as the story began. You never really consider how the lives of great or infamous men and women originated, so to see it demonstrated in this 'Tales of the Unexpected' was quite a jolt. Even a monster like Hitler was an innocent and helpless baby at one time. He was the fourth of six children born to Alois and Klara, the first three who died were correctly identified as Otto, Gustav and Ida. What's not mentioned because it wasn't needed, was that the couple had two more children who survived after the birth of Adolphus. Knowing what we do today about Hitler and his Nazi reign of terror, the words of mother Klara cited in my summary line above carries an even more poignant and prophetic meaning.

Tales of the Unexpected: Genesis & Catastrophe is set during 1889 in Germany where Klara (Zhivila Roche) has lost 3 baby's in the past 18 months & has gone into labour with a fourth baby. Klara is worried that the baby will die like the other's but her doctor (Alastair Llewellyn) tries to reassure her, the moment of truth comes & the baby is due to be born but will it survive & will it be the happy event everyone hopes for?

This Tales of the Unexpected story was episode 12 from season 2 & originally aired here in the UK during May 1980, the fifth of nine Tales of the Unexpected episodes to be directed by Herbert Wise I'm not really sure what this is meant to mean but it has a certain something about it. The story by Roald Dahl was dramatised by Ronald Harwood & during his introduction Dahl states that this story is true except the dialogue, a statement which becomes clear & has relevance at the end of Genesis & Catastrophe. To be honest for 20 odd minutes of it's 25 minute duration this is extremely forgettable & frankly as dull as dishwater, the melodramatics are embarrassing, the character's are as one dimensional as you can get & there's not much subtlety or story here. However there is a shock surprise ending, I wouldn't call it a twist as such but it's sort of cool all the same. Having said that every person who has ever lived has been born at some point obviously so I'm not really sure what the point of this episode is, if they bring Tales of the Unexpected back today do you think they would write an episode about someone like Britney Spears birth? Just a thought...

This looks OK & since it's a period piece it hasn't dated too badly although I'm not sure about that suspiciously fake looking handlebar moustache. I have to mention the acting here which is quite simply awful, the accents are terrible & at first I thought they were supposed to be French! These accents really are embarrassing to listen to, they're even campier than those heard in Allo 'Allo! (1982 - 1992).

Genesis & Catastrophe is an odd episode, it doesn't really seem to have much point even though the ending does sort of save it, worth a watch if there's nothing else on for curiosity value alone if nothing else.

Alois and Klara have suffered three miscarriages in three years, so on the eve of her labour, cautions are high. The Doctor sends for husband Alois, an Officer who believes in duties before family. Alois is finally convinced to be by his Wife's side, clearly frightened by the fate of Klara's previous pregnancies.

I am amazed by the beginning, when Roal Dahl states that the story is true and that the names and details used are totally authentic, but then why not?

It's a nicely acted episode, Helmut Griem and Zhivila Roche put in nice performances, the production values are quite good too, it's an attractive looking period piece, it's just a little disappointing as a story, a bit bland, the only real twist comes right at the end. Can be tough to get through this one.

Bit dull, it's also a very depressing watch, all a bit grim really. 4/10

Set in Austria in 1889, the story tells of a young woman about to give birth to her 4th child to a drunkard of a husband, having lost her first 3 children at various stages of their early childhood.

I have to say this is one of my favourite episodes of TOTU. O.k, the acting is a bit hammy and for parts of the episode you are wondering where it is going, however, when the twist is revealed at the end it makes you think how close he came to not existing at all, I found it fascinating. The setting is really well done (i do agree the accents are a bit dodgy) but i think it adds to the character of the episode. If not the most well acted fast paced episode it certainly makes you think. Well worth a watch in my opinion.