Showdown with Rance McGrew

Lord knows Rod Serling did his best to write comic episodes for his great series, but the results were almost always trite and heavy-handed. This one, though often maligned by the "experts", is truly delightful (and yes...I realize that comedy is very subjective).

There are some slow, repetitious moments in the main confrontation between Rance and the real Jesse (which could have been solved with more inventive direction)....but otherwise, Chris Nyby's work is first-rate. The entire first half is just CRAZY--a beautifully staged "chamber-comedy" in which we find ourselves enmeshed in the quirky interplay between a tedious, pampered boor and the behind-the-scenes mechanics of TV make-believe. And for once, here's a running gag that actually works!--- Rance's bad habit of wildly flinging his six-shooter in the direction of the mirror mounted behind the bar.

The real pitfall of this brand of satire is the tendency to play too broadly..but Larry Blyden's performance is beautifully balanced and controlled, as is that of Robert Cornthwaite, who could always be counted on for a first-rate job. Arch Johnson is also dead-on.

From Rance's nutty first entrance to the hilarious concluding plot twist, Serling managed to crank out his best comedy while buried under the stress of his third full season of production. Last but certainly not least is the CBS music editor, who chose Fred Steiner's whimsical, leisurely "hoe-down" music (composed for Gunsmoke's "Minnie" in 1961), adding the final touch of brilliance to this underrated gem.

And also one more western scheme, where the escape in time is so easy to include. This is not the first episode with this plot; I even think that there was a ZANE GREY series episode which proposed a more or less similar story. But the moral, message here is very interesting, showing this arrogant and disgusting actor who took advantage of his lead characters to impose himself to other actors and shooting crew members. The intrusion into the TWILIGHT ZONE is so juicy, so interesting, that I am very excited by this smart scheme. So this story reunites the western, escape in time and also a very powerful morale, related with narcissism, arrogance, and above all, life, real and true life doesn't always look like the fake plot of a film. Movie reality is not necessarily the actual reality. Also funny and not gloomy, unlike so many other episodes.

I can't help feeling this thirty minutes is one, long Hollywood insider joke. The script is full of sarcastic references to pampered no-talent celebrities, their long-suffering directors, and the general make-believe of Hollywood heroics. Still, it's pretty amusing for an inside look at the artificial nature of movie-making. Larry Blyden plays Rance Mc Grew, a phony tough lead in a Western series. He can't really handle a gun nor brawl with the bad guys nor even ride a horse. And when challenged by the real life Jesse James (courtesy the TZ), what does he do? He calls his agent-- how fitting!

There were scores of such Westerns at the time (1962) which I'm sure this entry was intended to spoof. However, the TV cowboy has long since ridden into the sunset, so much of the satirical punch may be lost. Still, I think enough of the idea remains to keep viewers entertained, if, for no other reason, than the great opening sequence which tells us just about all we need to know about what follows.

TZ was never known for its comedy which makes this episode stand out. A lot of the gags are played a little too broadly but are still fun. My favorite is the Marshall's repeated calls for "Stuntman!". Another good aspect of this episode is the high quality actors playing the director, the AD, the lead, and Jesse James. They all seem to be enjoying the ride, maybe a little too much, as the acting is a little more hammy than needed at times. It has the requisite twist ending but even it is played for laughs. So many TZ episodes seem stretched too far beyond the twist just fill the time. This episode is slightly too long but the comedic acting keeps your interest. Highly recommended.

This is one of my least favorite Twilight Zone episodes. I guess some of it has to do with the demise of the Western as a television staple. At the time this was made, TV was inundated with Westerns, from Bonanza to Gunsmoke and back again. In this one Rance McGrew, a phony baloney, uncooperative actor who has become a hero to his television audience, is accosted by his imaginary rivals. Mainly, the true personage of Jesse James. The silly byplay between Rance, the director, and the other persons on the set is so fifties and so outdated. The story is pretty much the dumb actor being thrown through windows and beaten up and having to change his image to a submissive. Anyway, it is dull, and because of the conclusion, there's no one to root for.