TA -- TDTESS is the first Sci-Fi flick that scared the bejeesus out of me and entered into our family's folklore.
I saw it the first time when I was about six (1960) at my aunt and uncle's rather remote farm in Spencer, TN. It was dark out at the end of their road. Me and my younger brother were sleeping over with my older (by a few years) three cousins and they had planned to watch it with the whole living room dark, except for the TV glow and one low-wattage lamp at the end of the sofa on an end table.
The adults were not sure I was old enough to enjoy/take this film and room setup, but I loved Sci-Fi and made like I was man enough to stay up late (what, past 9:00 p.m.?) and watch this movie without getting any nightmares, even if we were watching it almost in the dark. I promised. My 4-year old brother was busy playing with some toy cars and gave a rat's ass about the TV. So, they agreed, and let we five kids (oldest about 10) be all grown up and watch it by ourselves in the living room while they went off to the kitchen.
As the film builds up to the point where the guardian robot is getting ready to fry everything if Patricia Neal can't remember the special commands, and the robot's visor is starting to raise -- I had progressively made my way to get behind the sofa -- with the lone lamp cord unknowingly wrapped around my feet.
BOOM! I pull the lamp over and off the end table just when she starts to say the words as I'm now fully crouching behind the couch (everyone else is transfixed to the TV except for my bro who has fallen asleep on the floor). The lamp base hits the wooden floor with a crash; the bulb shatters and puts us all in blackout; the shade gets warped and separates from the base skittering around on the floor; I start crawling at full traction on all fours dragging the lamp behind me like a cat with a tin can on its tale; my two girl cousins are screaming that high pitched note that only little girls can reach; I'm yelling and crying simultaneously, wondering if the robot has got ahold of my legs; my brother blasts awake howling; my cousin Larry is screaming "daddy, daddy" and my uncle and aunt come tearing in the room trying to turn on the one light I have managed to behead, while we're running about terrified and witless.
It took some time before calm was restored.
Every family reunion this story gets told, even 45 years later. Made one hell of an impression on all involved.
Great flick and good on ya! Hope you get your others -- especially Run Silent, Run Deep.