initiated by navjeet on September 06, 2008 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734577/)
Rod Serling wrote the script to this, the 146th episode of the popular Twilight Zone television series, and it includes the earmarks of most shorter Serling teleplays, i.e., a well-intentioned social consciousness theme (solidly performed here by the cast), in addition to sluggish and sticky narrative pacing, all done with earnestness that is eventually undone by his emphasis upon simplistic symbo more
Rod Serling wrote the script to this, the 146th episode of the popular Twilight Zone television series, and it includes the earmarks of most shorter Serling teleplays, i.e., a well-intentioned social consciousness theme (solidly performed here by the cast), in addition to sluggish and sticky narrative pacing, all done with earnestness that is eventually undone by his emphasis upon simplistic symbolism, as well as by a surfeit of zeal. A small-town sheriff (Michael Constantine) along with his deputy (George Lindsey) are making preparations to execute by hanging, in the town's central square, a convicted murderer, Jagger (Terry Becker) who has shot and killed an allegedly racist foe. Jagger, apparently the community's unpopular but primary liberal activist and general troublemaker, declaims of his feelings, as do all principals of the plot, including the local newspaper editor (Paul Fix, who garners the acting laurels), as a motley group of townsfolk gather to watch the administration of justice during a morning when the sun mysteriously fails to rise! Because the moral standards of homicidal Jagger are clearly upon the wrong side of the law in this instance, discussions of rectitude and ethics seem to be moot, with a result that the short (25 minute) film seems to a viewer to be somewhat longer than its actual length, an impression not lessened by pedestrian direction from veteran television hack Abner Biberman. Turning the coin, it must be noted that re-mastering of the piece for its DVD version is a model of visual and aural clarity, as is the case for the entire estimable series.
