Robertson plays a blue-collar worker who earns a substantial sum from working overseas. While in route to returning to the USA he visits a casino and observes a high-stakes game of BANCO. After observing several hands and learning the game he buys into a position at the table. The stress of risking such a vast sum is evident in the nervousness of his character. His sweating and anxiety are gradually increasing as the stakes get higher. In a suspenseful session of placing bets and winning an enormous sum for a person of his class he cashes out only to suffer a heart attack brought on by the excitement of the moment and dies. Persof portrays a wealthy gambler whose loss of an equal amount won by Robertson means little and does not affect him. The dichotomy of how money effects the two different classes is the basis of the episode. Excellent performance by both.
2 Reviews
The ratings for this are WAY too high!
planktonrules9 February 2024
"The Game" is an episode of "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater" and I had very high hopes for it. First, it currently has an amazingly high score of 8.9! Second, I love TV anthology show. However, to my surprise, it just wasn't enjoyable to watch.
Cliff Robertson plays a seemingly normal guy who stumbles in to a private gambling hall in some place like Monte Carlo. The man in charge (Maurice Evans) is very nice to him and invites him to stay...even though Robertson's character isn't exactly dressed for the place and the stakes are VERY high. They are playing Baccarat and soon he joins in and parlays his $4000 into a fortune...and then, inexplicably, he starts acting like an annoying jerk.
I just kept waiting and waiting and waiting for some twist...some surprise. But what I saw just wasn't satisfying at all. Additionally, while Robertson was a fine actor, here he's a bit over the top. A dud despite the high rating.
Cliff Robertson plays a seemingly normal guy who stumbles in to a private gambling hall in some place like Monte Carlo. The man in charge (Maurice Evans) is very nice to him and invites him to stay...even though Robertson's character isn't exactly dressed for the place and the stakes are VERY high. They are playing Baccarat and soon he joins in and parlays his $4000 into a fortune...and then, inexplicably, he starts acting like an annoying jerk.
I just kept waiting and waiting and waiting for some twist...some surprise. But what I saw just wasn't satisfying at all. Additionally, while Robertson was a fine actor, here he's a bit over the top. A dud despite the high rating.
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