Looks to me like the material was chosen because of the distinguished author, Ray Bradbury, and the recent Oscar-winning actress Jo Van Fleet (East of Eden, 1955). In my book, it's not a very good episode. Two retired insurance men try to apply their expertise to help an angry slum dweller (Van Fleet) during an urban heat wave. The trouble is the plot is slender, and Van Fleet goes way over the top in making Mrs. Shrike hateful. With Shrike's out-of-control attitude, it's hard to see how she could survive even one day in a tough neighborhood. It's a showcase role, but overwhelms the story itself. Reviewer Hitchcoc is right: the episode is talky, too talky. At the same time, the expected payoff is too mild for a series that specialized in strong payoffs. On the other hand, the entry is well produced—the sets effectively suggest an over-heated urban slum. And the cast does feature two series favorites, Harris and Qualen. However, the sum total is memorable only for the chew marks Van Fleet leaves on the scenery.
Review of Shopping for Death
