The Ray Bradbury Theater (s05e06)

The Utterly Perfect Murder

by Ray Bradbury, directed by Stuart Margolin

Release: 7 February 1992
Format: TV Episode
Genres: Fantasy, Mainstream
Audience: Adults
Content: Debatable Time Travel
Original Language: English

I felt that Bradbury’s adaptation of his own 1971 story lost its impact by turning young Doug’s childhood tortures into clichéd scenes—and still leaving it up to the viewer to decide whether there’s a moment of time travel.

— Michael Main

Old Doug: Doug, Doug.. . . Come on out and play.

DEBUT

The Ray Bradbury Theater (s05e06), “The Utterly Perfect Murder” (USA Network, USA, 7 February 1992).

VARIANTS

1 English variant

PRIOR WORKS: based on “The Utterly Perfect Murder” by Ray Bradbury

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Circa AD 1940 to 1949: Young Doug, circa 1944.
Circa AD 1970 to 1999: Old Doug, circa 1992.

Time Travel Methods

Emotional Outcries through Time: If there is time travel, we believe it is Doug’s emotional pain that instigates it.

Groupings

The Ray Bradbury Theater (TV series): (s05e06), 7 February 1992

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From Doug’s boyhood home, circa 1991 ⋙ to same location, circa 1944. Round trip. Note: Does that final scene involve time travel?