Cell 227

Brian Keith plays a man on death row who is innocent. But he has come to realize the inevitability of his situation. He watches as others go to the gas chamber and realizes histrionics are of no use. He is a philosopher in his own right and stands tall. But there is something that gets to him that eventually takes him out. The script here is far superior to most of these that are sort of thrown together. There are some excellent conversations with a priest who doesn't cram religion down the throat of the man. He questions his passivity but it anger is under the surface and will out. Brian Keith is fantastic in this episode.

It is so rare that an AH PRESENTS episode brings so much emotion, in which the audience may fell so much empathy for a character. The Brian Keith one is outstanding here as a man full of pride and dignity. I felt so pain for him, what a terrific ending, in the pure AH PRESENTS line, which reminded another episode about a condemned prisoner, in death row, who just about to be executed, and...But no spoiler in my comment. Just enjoy.

One note about this classic episode, and it's very interesting. Written by Bill S. Ballinger, who wrote seven stories for Hitch, the episode was released not too long after the execution of convicted serial rapist Caryl Chessman, who long claimed his innocence, even writing books on the subject. One of his famous books was titled, "Cell 2455, Death Row," similar to the title of this story.

Brian Keith, definitely one of his finest tv roles, plays professor Herbert Morrison in the same predicament. He's been convicted of murdering one of his female students, though insisits he's totally innocent, however it looks like he's doomed and destined for the gas chamber. I agree with the last reviewer, Morrison plays it super cool, though scared deep inside, and has a not too chummy relationship with "smiling" guard Pops (James Westerfield), believing he gets his kicks watching guys lose it. Morrison ain't gonna' give him the benefit, even IF he is executed. Period.

An excellent character study, directed with style by Paul Henreid. James Best plays Hennessy, Liam Sullivan (famous for STAR TREK) plays Father McCann and look for Sal Ponti as De Baca. Sal was a songwriter and wrote for 50s teen sensation Fabian.

The ending (and what an ending!) will stick with you, thanks to the master of suspense. SEASON 5 EPISODE 34 Universal dvd box set. 16 hrs. All seven half hour seasons are on dvd in a single box. Released 2022.

"Cell 227" is set on death row in some prison. The opening scene is VERY powerful, as one of the doomed men is losing his mind waiting for a reprieve that never arrives. During this scene, most of the fellow inmates cheer him on...trying to get him to relax and hope for the best. But 'the Professor' isn't about to try giving the man false hope, as he's a fatalist and knows the man is likely going to die. This irritates the other death row inmates...and he tries to act cool and undisturbed about his own upcoming execution. But as the episode progresses, you can see that he's trying to fool himself and others...he clearly is scared but is acting cool to hide this. He also refuses to help his lawyer in any way to push for a reprieve or stay of execution.

The twist in this episode is quite frightening and sad....and it makes for an incredibly powerful show. It also makes you think twice about capital punishment! Well written and Brian Keith is excellent in the lead.

***SPOILERS*** Soon to be executed for a crime, the murder of a female student, that he swears that he didn't commit English professor Herbert Morrison, Brian Keith, is determined to die with dignity and not beg his jailers at the prison for his life in order to get a stay of execution. All that would do Morrison tells his fellow death row inmate Hannessy, James Best, is to prolong his suffering until he's finally gassed to death. All Morrison wants a full pardon exonerating him of of the crime he's been charged with and nothing else.

With the time for him to take a trip in to the gas chamber quickly dwindling down Morrison's hatred of the guard Pops Cafferity, James Westerfield, who leads condemned men like himself into the little green room becomes almost incontrollable. More then willing to meet his fate as well as his maker Morrison just can't stand the fact that Pops is getting his jollies in seeing him die just like he did when the young and terrified convicted murderer De Baca, Sal Ponti, died in the execution room the week before. It's just before he was to be strapped into the gas chamber that the cool as a cucumber Morrison suddenly flipped out attacking and breaking Pops neck killing him.

***SPOILERS*** Unknown to Morrison is that his lawyer Murray Bird, Frank Maxwell, got word to prison Warden Everly, Robert Carson, that the real killer of the person whom he was convicted of murdering confessed to his crime. Thus having Morrison being granted a full pardon which is what he always wanted! But with a new murder charge now hanging over his head all Morrison can do is wait from the enviable, the trip to the gas chamber, but that won't be the instant fix that he want's it to be! It would takes him some two to three years of both suffering on death row and realizing just what a jerk he was to make that all become a reality.