Twilight Zone Casino Episode

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Technical Specs

Director: Robert Florey

Writer: Rod Serling

Rocky visits a casino with three ladies, winning every bet he makes as beautiful girls gather around him, and enjoys being able to torment a policeman after Pip shrinks him. Later, Rocky asks Pip if he can see some of his old friends who have also died, but Pip says that this world is for Rocky. 'The Twilight Zone' was a half-hour television program which ran on the CBS television network from 1959 to 1965. This episode is titled 'The Fever' and was first broadcast on January 29, 1960. 'The Twilight Zone' was a half-hour television program which ran on the CBS television network from 1959 to 1965. This episode is titled 'The Fever' and was first broadcast on January 29, 1960.

Cast: Rod Serling, Everett Sloane, Vivi Janiss, William Kendis, Lee Millar, Lee Sands, Marc Towers, Art Lewis, and Arthur Peterson

Composer: None (Stock Music)

Air Date: 1/29/1960

Production Code: 173-3627

Overview

After winning a free trip to Las Vegas, Franklin and Flora Gibbs (Everett Sloan and Vivi Janiss) reluctantly spend their vacation at a casino resort. Unmoved by Flora’s enthusiasm, Franklin remains firm in his opposition to gambling and even goes so far as to chastise his wife for throwing away her money in a slot machine. With a little encouragement from an intoxicated patron, however, Franklin succumbs to an affliction far more devastating than any traditional illness.

“The Fever” benefits from Everett Sloane’s convincing portrayal of a sanctimonious husband who, within a matter of hours, effectively squanders his fortune after developing an incurable addiction to gambling. That being said, this episode is plagued by an inconsistent tone coupled with a bizarre twist ending.

Pros

It should be noted that Franklin’s personality transformation may seem unrealistic on paper; however, a subtle performance from Sloane is accentuated by the suspenseful pace at which the protagonist allows himself to circumvent his moral inhibitions, thereby preventing an otherwise predictable concept from assuming a hackneyed execution. Also worth commending is Flora’s mortified reaction to Franklin’s perpetual conflict with a malevolent slot machine, which gives the audience sufficient means of sympathizing with her helpless situation.

Cons

(Spoilers beyond this point)

As evidenced by the ridiculous note on which “The Fever” ends (Franklin is chased from his hotel window by an hallucination of the slot machine and falls to his death as a result), one may infer that Rod Serling was unable to resolve his narrative in a mature and satisfactory manner. In addition to the excessive camp contained in Franklin’s death scene, such a fate may seem needlessly cruel to sensitive viewers considering that the main character had already flushed away a lifetime of earnings and therefore did not deserve further punishment.

“The Fever” also struggles to blend ironic undertones with the somber thesis upon which it operates. Given that The Twilight Zone’s penetrating commentary on the human condition serves as a sufficient testament to Serling’s genius, perhaps the late teleplay writer would have been wise to forgo his stale comedic devices in favor of a more straightforward lesson on the dangers of not practicing what one preaches.

Analysis

While “The Fever” provides a rather obvious lesson on the host of destructive habits that often stem from compulsive gambling, a more profound message is also present. Notably, Franklin’s hypocritical behavior demonstrates that prolonged self-righteousness can cause severe problems due to the suppressing effect that comes with maintaining a holier-than-thou appearance.

Concluding Comments

“The Fever” is a mildly entertaining effort. Nevertheless, those who prefer resonating analysis on human nature without Serling’s awful attempts at humor would be wise to avoid this offering.

Overall Quality: 6/10

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'A Nice Place to Visit'

The Twilight Zone episode

Episode no.

Season 1
Episode 28

Directed by

John Brahm

Written by

Charles Beaumont

Production code

173-3632

Original air date

April 15, 1960

Guest appearance(s)

Larry Blyden as Henry Francis 'Rocky' Valentine
Sebastian Cabot as Mr. Pip

Episode chronology

← Previous
'The Big Tall Wish'

Next →
'Nightmare as a Child'

The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series) (season 1)

List of The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series) episodes

'A Nice Place to Visit' is episode 28 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. The episode first aired on CBS on April 15, 1960. The title comes from the saying, 'A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.'

In 1965, a slightly modified version of this story was broadcast on the radio program Theater Five.^[1] 'The Land of Milk and Honey', episode number 154, retained all of the important aspects of this episode, including the innuendos and the surprise ending. On November 14, 1935, the radio program The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted by Rudy Vallee broadcast a play titled The Other Place starring Colin Clive and Leo G. Carroll. It was written by John Balderston and dealt with a similar theme.^[2]^[3]

Opening narration[edit]

Portrait of a man at work, the only work he's ever done, the only work he knows. His name is Henry Francis Valentine, but he calls himself 'Rocky', because that's the way his life has been – rocky and perilous and uphill at a dead run all the way. He's tired now, tired of running or wanting, of waiting for the breaks that come to others but never to him, never to Rocky Valentine.A scared, angry little man. He thinks it's all over now but he's wrong. For Rocky Valentine, it's just the beginning.

Plot[edit]

After robbing a pawn shop, Henry Francis 'Rocky' Valentine (Larry Blyden) is shot in a gunfight by a police officer as he tries to flee. He wakes up to find himself seemingly unharmed by the encounter as a genial elderly man named Pip (Sebastian Cabot) greets him. Pip explains that he has been instructed to guide Rocky and give him whatever he desires. Rocky becomes suspicious, thinking that Pip is trying to swindle him, but Pip proves to have detailed information on Rocky's tastes and hobbies. Rocky demands that Pip hand over his wallet; Pip says that he does not carry one, but gives Rocky $700 directly from his pocket and says that he can provide as much money as Rocky wants.

Thinking that Pip is trying to entice him to commit a crime, Rocky holds him at gunpoint as the two travel to a luxurious apartment. Pip explains that the apartment and everything in it are free, and Rocky starts to relax and changes into an expensive suit. However, his suspicions rise again when a meal is brought in, and he demands that Pip taste it first to prove that it is not poisoned. When Pip demurs, claiming he has not eaten for centuries, Rocky shoots him several times but finds that his bullets have no effect. Rocky realizes that he is dead, and he concludes that he is in Heaven and Pip is his guardian angel. As Pip says he can have anything he wants, Rocky asks for $1 million and a beautiful woman and quickly has both requests fulfilled.

Rocky visits a casino with three ladies, winning every bet he makes as beautiful girls gather around him, and enjoys being able to torment a policeman after Pip shrinks him. Later, Rocky asks Pip if he can see some of his old friends who have also died, but Pip says that this world is for Rocky alone. Except for the two men, no one in it is real. When Rocky wonders what good deeds he could have done to gain entrance to Heaven, Pip takes him to visit the Hall of Records. Rocky looks through his own file and discovers that it only contains a list of his sins, but decides not to worry about it. Pip departs, saying that he can be reached by telephone as needed.

One month later, Rocky has become bored with having his whims instantly satisfied. He wins every game at the casino, and the ladies defer to him and comply with every suggestion he makes. He calls Pip and asks for a challenge in which he might run the risk of losing. Pip offers to arrange for him to lose once in a while at the casino, but Rocky dismisses the idea as he would know about the setup. The two discuss a bank robbery, but Rocky quickly abandons that idea as well since a pre-planned outcome would take the thrill out of the crime. Deciding that he will go crazy if he stays in Heaven any longer, he asks Pip to take him to 'the other place.' Pip retorts, 'Heaven? Whatever gave you the idea you were in Heaven, Mr. Valentine? This is the other place!' Horrified, Rocky tries in vain to open the now-locked apartment door and escape his 'paradise' as Pip laughs malevolently at his torment.

Closing narration[edit]

A scared, angry little man who never got a break. Now he has everything he's ever wanted – and he's going to have to live with it for eternity – in The Twilight Zone.

Production notes[edit]

Mickey Rooney was the first choice to play Valentine. In a memo to Rod Serling, Charles Beaumont suggested, should Rooney not be available, that Serling consider playing the part. Serling declined and Rooney became unavailable. Rooney later guest starred in 'The Last Night of a Jockey'.^[4]

Guest star Cabot had to bleach his hair white for the role; it took three months for the actor's hair to return to its original dark color.^[4]

'A Nice Place to Visit' was singled out for its brazen sexual innuendo. Program Practices requested that Valentine not refer to a girl as 'a broad [...] really stacked', even though the crudity was essential to establishing the unsavory qualities of the character. Nor could the protagonist refer to a party as 'a ball' because that word had more than one meaning. In another sequence, a voluptuous young lady tends to Valentine's every need, then says 'is there anything else I can do for you?' CBS's comment: 'Please be certain that the girl's third speech be delivered in a sweet manner, as described.'^[5]

The Twilight Zone List Of Episodes

References[edit]