User Reviews

I am not used to appreciate courtroom dramas, but this one is mostly interesting because of the acting with the likes of Gig Young, as a successful criminal lawyer totally dedicated to his job. A task for whom he put everything in balance to succeed. You have understood that it's a character study which you deal with here, and Young is at his very best, putting his own health in jeopardy to defend a young Mexican boy accused of a murder he claims not to have commited. I did not pay attention about the case itself, if yes or not the Mexican boy was guilty of murder. What's the importance? I focused instead on the main lead's performance. I also saw this episode as a kind of critism of the modern society and its hypocrisy. The scene of the party in which Young is totally drunk, in front of the guests, is more than worth. I thought of DAY OF WINE AND ROSES about this side of the topic. That's a very good drama we have here, better than most big screen features.

A very hoary story titled "Jacob and the Angel" (you know, about pride goeth and all that jazz) is not up to the dramatic standards of "Climax!". Gig Young seems okay casting at first, but the role of a glib lawyer, who finally loses a big case under the influence of intense migraine headaches and a drinking problem, then finding redemption, is beyond his range.

The supporting cast is fine, featuring TV staples like Eva Gabor, June Lockhart and Hugh Marlowe, but the material is a bore. One expects exciting courtroom conflict, but at one point the trial is reduced to a montage, with music drowning out dialogue.

Watching Gig fainting, grabbing his temples in pain, or frequenty hitting the bottle is Cliches on Parade. His sudden redemption by turning into a do-gooder for the final reel is fake. At times like that my mind tends to wander, in this case wondering how Lady Gaga would have handled this role (given her constant TV commercials lately for Nurtec ODT).