Customer Reviews

The Twilight Zone: Steel/ Game of Pool [VHS]

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Jack Klugman is brilliant as an unchallenged pool shark who calls to the edge of the "Twilight Zone" for a worthy, if deceased challenger. As Fats Brown, Winters is nibble and smart as a Jackie Gleason styled hustler. The pay off on this show doesn't come until the end, so do not tune out too quickly. Steel is a slightly other matter. Serling was a boxer when younger and, despite his small stature, was rather skilled. This piece is certainly not up to the standard of "Requiem for a Heavyweight," coincidently on the U.S. Steel Hour, but examines the courage inherent in man's quest to control his universe. The premise of "Steel" has boxing for humans outlawed. Robots are sent to do man's work. Unfortunately, what do you do when your metal mealticket is damaged and you need the money to repair him? Lee Marvin plays the aptly nicknamed Steel who was a fighter before is was outlawed. You may guess from the previous sentence how the protagonists deal with the problem. Not unlike "Requiem,"the underdog scores a victory of sorts which will satisfy without being ridiculous. I recommend "Requiem" with Jack Palance for a true examination of Serling at the height of his writing ability dealing with this subject he obviously loved. Despite that, the Twilight Zone at its weakest is still superior to most television and movies of today. This is certainly not at its weakest.

"A Game of Pool" is a riveting two-man show (duodrama?) about winning, losing, and competition set almost entirely within the confines of a pool room. Jack Klugman, here in his second of four TWLIGHT ZONE appearances, gives a typically intense and subtle performance as pool champ-wannabe Jesse Cardiff. Jonathan Winters is terrific as his rival for the pool shark's mantle. One could hardly guess that Winters was a comedian rather than an actor and that this was his first dramatic role, so assured and witty a performer is he. "A Game of Pool" deserves to be compared with other films, such as 12 ANGRY MEN, that derive tension from a closed setting. I'd include "Pool" among the TWILIGHT ZONE classics.

These two sports-related episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, "Steel" and "A Game of Pool," are about the potential - and the limits - of human ability. "Steel," made in 1963, is set in "1974" - an era in which professional boxing is done by robots, not by humans. After his mechanical boxer breaks down, "Steel" (Lee Marvin), himself a former boxer, decides to fight in its place. Though Steel comes to grief in the ring, his experience teaches a lesson that is particularly relevant today, in the computer age. "A Game of Pool" is a nearly thirty minute face-off between two characters, Jesse Cardiff (Jack Klugman), a "pool shark" who wants to be recognized as "the best," and the legendary "`Fats Brown'" (Jonathon Winters), who returns from the dead to challenge Jesse to a game, the stakes of which are Jesse's life. Klugman, in his usual "urban everyman" role, gives a characterization that veers between bravado and vulnerability; Winters' cool, thoroughly self-assured pool champion is the perfect foil for this man who, in his quest for greatness, has let his world shrink to the dimensions of a pool hall. "A Game of Pool" is a gripping episode with a chilling ending; it is also a chance to see two riveting actors at work.

The Twilight Zone, 2454

The best science fiction contrasts what is against what could or should be ("Looking Backwards" by Edward Bellamy). Or is a satire on current society.

"Steel" 10-04-1963
The story starts on a street in a small town. Three passengers step down from a bus, only two are human. Their android needs expensive parts. They discuss business. Can a new model outperform a tested older model? They want a good fight; only then will they get paid. The android model B-2 is tested. Something broke! "Fix it!" They have a plan to put on the fight. It begins before the yelling crowd. "Battling Maxo" goes down for a loss. "Go get the money!" Kelly plans to overhaul Maxo. He will try again. [Does this remind you of a short story by Jack London?]

"A Game of Pool", 10-13-1961
The story starts in a pool room on Randolph Street. Jesse Cardiff claims to be the best pool player alive, but people compare him to Fats Brown. Somehow Fats Brown returns to challenge Jesse with a side bet: life or death. A legend never dies, says Fats. The game begins. Fats shows his skills, so does Jesse. Jesse tells about this past. "Pool is geometry, angles and courses." Jesse leads at first, then Fats runs the balls. [An old trick of pool sharks, they first test their opponent.] It is close, but Fats loses by one ball. What next for Jesse? There is an ironic ending to this story.