Crack of Doom

So why doesn't Mason Bridges (Horton) play poker any more, not even a friendly game in the railway club car. The suspense doesn't really kick in until the last 5 minutes, but then it's sweaty-palms time in spades. A lot depends on that excellent actor Robert Middleton making Sam Klinker (apt name) rather dislikable. That way we can believe a prudent businessman like Bridges would risk ruin just to wipe the smile off Klinker's smug face. The revealing tale is told appropriately in flashback, and reviewer Hitchcoc is right—it's a strong entry, though there is a key development that remains something of a stretch. The hunky Robert Horton was in a number of these early episodes before joining the cast of the super-popular Wagon Train series. After abruptly quitting that series, he tried to make the jump into movies, but apparently it didn't work out. Too bad, he was an excellent actor as this 30 minutes shows. Anyway, I enjoyed Crack of Doom as a boy and am glad to return the favor, even 50 years later.

"Crack of Doom" is a story that really is unusual for "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". There is no murder and the story is very straight forward and has a strong anti-gambling message.

When the story begins, a group of businessmen are on the train. One suggests they play some poker to pass the time...no high stakes, just a friendly poker game. But Mason (Robert Horton) refuses to play no matter how much the guys badger him. Later, he explains at length to one of the men about why...and it involves a long flashback to a poker game long ago where he got in over his head...and nearly lost everything.

The story is interesting but there never is the sense of doom or mayhem in the story like most from the series. In other words, it's a very different sort of suspense...and is good but not a great episode. Worth seeing...but no must-see.

I guess STRANGERS ON A TRAIN inspired, at least the first scenes of this episode which the plot has nothing to do with the famous Alfred Hitchcock's film. This is a gambler tale, poker game actually. I know nothing bout poker, so, I was more than confused by this plot. However, I got that it also was a story about gambling addiction. That's all I got; now, for the rest, I could not enjoy as much as if I was a poker player myself. Bob Middleton is the only actor I knew here. Not bad, but, again, I am not the best reviewer to give a helpful comment. Not the best I have ever seen so far in the show.

Absolutely loved the title and the premise sounded intriguing, actually one of the more interesting ones of Season 2 up to this point. Adding further to the intrigue is that "Crack of Doom" is the fourth 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' epidode directed by regular James Neilson (a relative regular for good reason). All his three previous outings ("Help Wanted", "The Orderly World of Mr Appleby" and "The Legacy") are worth watching, while neither being season or show high points.

So is "Crack of Doom". As far as Season 2 goes, it's somewhere firmly in the middle. Not one of the best or one of the worst, and doesn't fare too badly compared to the relatively mixed bag of episodes before it (where only "Conversation With a Corpse" was above very good). It doesn't quite live up to its great title but as far as the premise goes, it is more or less what was expected or maybe just a little bit less. Not a waste of potential by all means.

"Crack of Doom" has a lot of good. It is a slick looking episode and Neilson directs more than competently, with a mostly assured pace and a sense that he knew what he was doing. Hitchcock's bookending is as enjoyable and drolly ironic as ever, not coming as out of place. The main theme for the series has lost none of its memorability.

The script is thought provoking while not taking itself too seriously or coming over as verbose, it's also fun. The story does grip generally, it is straightforward but it isn't too simple while with nothing that is too challenging. Ray Collins carries the episode with confidence.

It's not a perfect episode by any stretch. There are no real surprises, with the ending being very predictable this time.

Wouldn't have said no to more suspense, this was a premise that was crying out for it and there wasn't enough of it in the final quarter. Also thought that it slackened towards the end in energy when the story struggles to reach the duration limit.

Overall, not great but pretty good. 7/10.

A no-limit game of poker brings a real estate man to the brink of ruin. That man is played by Wagon Train's Robert Horton and he captures his character's desperation quite well. The poker playing scenes are suspenseful, however the ending lacked a twist.