Showdown with Rance McGrew

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.

Larry Blyden stars in the Twilight Zone episode playing a TV cowboy who's not a particularly nice man considering that it's those stunt men who have to take the real chances on his television series. He's hardly a successor to Roy, Hoppy, and Gene.

In the next world they're taking note of this guy and the real Jesse James makes a return to life when Blyden steps into The Twilight Zone and finds himself in the real west and not on a sound stage or Iverson's ranch for location.

Jesse James is played with a great heaping helping of sardonic humor by Arch Johnson and after showing him up for the phony he is then Johnson helps guide Blyden on a different career path.

This one is not to be missed.

Larry Blyden plays Hollywood actor and difficult western TV star Rance McGrew, who has become spoiled, lazy, and inefficient in his job as the star who plays famous Marshall Rance McGrew, who always gets his man, and survives impossible odds, until one day, while he is filming a scene involving Jesse James, the real Jesse James(played by miscast Arch Johnson) shows up from heaven, determined to punish Rance for his historical inaccuracies and phony TV persona. How will McGrew handle this bizarre dilemma? Good premise is sadly squandered in failed attempt at satire, with the "real" west being every bit as phony as the "TV" west. First real misfire of the series.

The spoiled star of a Western show Rance McGrew is very successful in the business despite his behavior with the fellow coworkers. While shooting the showdown of his character with Jess James, he forces the director to shoot the way he wants. Out of the blue, he is transported to the Wild West and the real Jess James is coming to him.

"Showdown with Rance McGrew" is a silly and unfunny episode of "The Twilight Zone". The lead character is a spoiled man that performs a Marshall on television, but the hard work is performed by his stunt. He likes to give his opinion in the screenplay and director, cast and crew have to accept since he is the star. And he is also clumsy, destroying many scenes. While shooting scene 71, he is transported to the Twilight Zone and his life changes. This episode is indeed a waste of time. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): Duelo com Rance McGrew" ("Duel with Rance McGrew")

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.