I don't agree that this is one of the better entries in Season One but I was just dazzled by Robert Newton's "I am the whole show - why do you care about the other players" performance!!! From his first appearance his devilish eyes glint and sparkle and he looks at once malevolent and roguish and I almost forgot about the story, I was too busy watching him!!!
The story was about Ralph Cowell whose business partner, Alfred, wants out of the partnership but Cowell, whose mercenary wife is bleeding him dry with her outrageous spending, doesn't have the money to give him. He does have a tie which he uses to strangle Alfred - but there is a witness - a crafty, sly derelict named Mr. Goodfellow (Newton), who is not above blackmail, especially if it provides a roof over his head, plenty of booze on the house and lots of fur coats for him and his equally down and out friend to pawn. Newton is such a delight - his voice taking on an "upper class gent down on his luck" tone. Especially good is the ending - where even though Cowell finally gets rid of them, Goodfellow still has the last laugh!!! In the dictionary, Goodfellow was a "merry domestic sprite, famous for mischievous pranks and practical jokes".
Definitely a 9 for Robert Newton's performance!!
The story was about Ralph Cowell whose business partner, Alfred, wants out of the partnership but Cowell, whose mercenary wife is bleeding him dry with her outrageous spending, doesn't have the money to give him. He does have a tie which he uses to strangle Alfred - but there is a witness - a crafty, sly derelict named Mr. Goodfellow (Newton), who is not above blackmail, especially if it provides a roof over his head, plenty of booze on the house and lots of fur coats for him and his equally down and out friend to pawn. Newton is such a delight - his voice taking on an "upper class gent down on his luck" tone. Especially good is the ending - where even though Cowell finally gets rid of them, Goodfellow still has the last laugh!!! In the dictionary, Goodfellow was a "merry domestic sprite, famous for mischievous pranks and practical jokes".
Definitely a 9 for Robert Newton's performance!!