Showdown with Rance McGrew

"Showdown with Rance McGrew" is another clear attempt to insert comedy into the traditional Sci-Fi/Fantasy concept of "The Twilight Zone", which is something Rod Serling already tried earlier in the third season with "Once Upon a Time". Personally, I prefer my episodes as dark and sinister as possible, and I don't like the light-headed, comical or overly moralistic ones. "Showdown with Rance McGrew" isn't an exception, although I gladly admit I had to laugh out loud a couple of times with the spoofing of typically arrogant Hollywood actors and how contemporary TV-series illustrate the supposedly "Wild" West. The spoiled and obnoxious actor Rance McGrew is a loathsome person to work with on set, but naturally considers himself to be God's gift to screen entertainment. In his films, he supposedly defeats the meanest guns of the Far West without much effort. But then, a typical TZ-occurrence takes place, and McGrew finds himself inexplicable transported back in time and faced with the real Jesse James for a little lesson in humbleness. It's a forgettable and thoroughly unremarkable entry, but - as said - good for a handful of chuckles, especially whenever McGrew hysterically calls out to his stunt double.

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")

The storyline was odd and the ending didn't was without the classic twist. Not a strong storyline nor a strong cast. Forgettable.

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.

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.