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penpusherEd Wynn Was a Vaudevillian, a popular radio show comedian, and star of film and that up and coming medium, television. He will be forever remembered as Uncle Albert in the Oscar Winning Best Picture, "Mary Poppins." But here, Mr. Wynn delivers an almost as charming performance, even though he didn't get to laugh.
***SPOILERS ABOUT THIS EPISODE MAY BE REVEALED***
Rod Serling's teleplay is simple enough. Wynn plays a salesman named Lou Bookman, hawking his wares on the sidewalk of an unnamed city. He is eyeballed by a man in a black suit, jotting something in a small notebook. At the end of the day, Lou returns home, where the neighborhood kids crowd around to see if they might get some treats out of the old softy. He hands out a couple of wind up robots that he didn't move and promises an ice cream party for all the kids after supper.
But back in his small apartment, Lou has a surprise. The man in the black suit is there, notebook and all. He is Mr. Death, played by Murray Hamilton (arguably best remembered from his role as the Mayor of Amity, a town plagued by a great white shark in the film "Jaws" and its first sequel). He is there to retrieve Lou, due to die in his sleep at midnight.
One of the kids, Maggie (Dana Dillaway) had a problem with her toy and Lou invites her in to fix it. The fact that Maggie can't see or hear Mr. Death convinces the salesman that something supernatural is happening.
Of course, once Maggie leaves and Lou is fully cognizant of the circumstances, he is not eager to go and immediately begins seeking loopholes to wiggle off the hook.
Mr. Death (Murray Hamilton) is bemused by the upstanding salesman, Lou (Ed Wynn)
When Lou hears he can prolong his life if he had "unfinished business of a major nature," he suggests that he wants to accomplish his biggest pitch, ever, "a pitch for the angels," as he calls it. Mr. Death begrudgingly allows Lou this one conceit, after which Lou announces he's done with sales!
But Mr. Death will have his satisfaction. Out in the street, there is a commotion. A truck driver hit little Maggie and she will be the victim taking Lou's place at midnight. Lou knows it's true, as Maggie can see Mr. Death approaching.
Lou tries to reverse the decision, but Mr. Death has made his choice.
That night, just a few minutes to midnight, Mr. Death shows up, ready to claim his victim. But Lou has a plan. He gets out his suitcase of goods and starts selling. He tantalizes Mr. Death with the items and descriptions and prices so thoroughly, at the stroke of midnight, he was still outside the apartment. Since Mr. Death missed the deadline, Maggie will live.
Lou's pitch, he admits, was one for the angels, and he is satisfied to accompany Mr. Death. But not without his trusty suitcase. "You never know who might need something up there. Up there?" Lou asks.
"Up there, Mr. Bookman. You made it."
Despite the theme of death, this is really a lighthearted and tender episode, showing that Mr. Serling intends to touch on every element of emotion in the stories being told.
My two criticisms... I do wish that Lou's last pitch was even more evocative, elaborate and spellbinding. If we, as the audience, got caught up in Lou's patter, it would be that much easier to believe Mr. Death did, too. Lou should have been a kind of stage hypnotist, clutching his subject's attention in a vice grip. That would have made it more convincing and much more fun!
And, thanks to Walt Disney's "Cinderella," we tend to think you have until the final gong of the clock to make it "on time." That could have been avoided simply by changing the time from midnight to one.
Even so, the charm of Mr. Wynn lifts this episode and keeps it from ever getting too threatening or fearful.
I give "One For The Angels" a 7.5 out of 10.
***SPOILERS ABOUT THIS EPISODE MAY BE REVEALED***
Rod Serling's teleplay is simple enough. Wynn plays a salesman named Lou Bookman, hawking his wares on the sidewalk of an unnamed city. He is eyeballed by a man in a black suit, jotting something in a small notebook. At the end of the day, Lou returns home, where the neighborhood kids crowd around to see if they might get some treats out of the old softy. He hands out a couple of wind up robots that he didn't move and promises an ice cream party for all the kids after supper.
But back in his small apartment, Lou has a surprise. The man in the black suit is there, notebook and all. He is Mr. Death, played by Murray Hamilton (arguably best remembered from his role as the Mayor of Amity, a town plagued by a great white shark in the film "Jaws" and its first sequel). He is there to retrieve Lou, due to die in his sleep at midnight.
One of the kids, Maggie (Dana Dillaway) had a problem with her toy and Lou invites her in to fix it. The fact that Maggie can't see or hear Mr. Death convinces the salesman that something supernatural is happening.
Of course, once Maggie leaves and Lou is fully cognizant of the circumstances, he is not eager to go and immediately begins seeking loopholes to wiggle off the hook.
Mr. Death (Murray Hamilton) is bemused by the upstanding salesman, Lou (Ed Wynn)
When Lou hears he can prolong his life if he had "unfinished business of a major nature," he suggests that he wants to accomplish his biggest pitch, ever, "a pitch for the angels," as he calls it. Mr. Death begrudgingly allows Lou this one conceit, after which Lou announces he's done with sales!
But Mr. Death will have his satisfaction. Out in the street, there is a commotion. A truck driver hit little Maggie and she will be the victim taking Lou's place at midnight. Lou knows it's true, as Maggie can see Mr. Death approaching.
Lou tries to reverse the decision, but Mr. Death has made his choice.
That night, just a few minutes to midnight, Mr. Death shows up, ready to claim his victim. But Lou has a plan. He gets out his suitcase of goods and starts selling. He tantalizes Mr. Death with the items and descriptions and prices so thoroughly, at the stroke of midnight, he was still outside the apartment. Since Mr. Death missed the deadline, Maggie will live.
Lou's pitch, he admits, was one for the angels, and he is satisfied to accompany Mr. Death. But not without his trusty suitcase. "You never know who might need something up there. Up there?" Lou asks.
"Up there, Mr. Bookman. You made it."
Despite the theme of death, this is really a lighthearted and tender episode, showing that Mr. Serling intends to touch on every element of emotion in the stories being told.
My two criticisms... I do wish that Lou's last pitch was even more evocative, elaborate and spellbinding. If we, as the audience, got caught up in Lou's patter, it would be that much easier to believe Mr. Death did, too. Lou should have been a kind of stage hypnotist, clutching his subject's attention in a vice grip. That would have made it more convincing and much more fun!
And, thanks to Walt Disney's "Cinderella," we tend to think you have until the final gong of the clock to make it "on time." That could have been avoided simply by changing the time from midnight to one.
Even so, the charm of Mr. Wynn lifts this episode and keeps it from ever getting too threatening or fearful.
I give "One For The Angels" a 7.5 out of 10.