User Reviews

Newly crowned heavyweight boxing champion Jim Figg (Gary Lockwood) finds himself in an alternate reality in which he'll be challenged by a self proclaimed title holder who needs to prove himself against all manner of opponents. Seeing Roderick Blanco (Chuck Connors) stand toe to toe with Figg in a boxing ring seemed like a no contest for this viewer, as the nearly six foot six Connors towered over his ring foe with a weight advantage to boot. Perhaps it was fatigue that set in for Blanco, who stated his title reign began in 1861. So a century as champion probably played a factor in his one sided loss to the dual champ and challenger Figg. Considering it was a winner take all contest, one has to wonder what Figg actually 'won' in defeating his opponent. This is the kind of match that would have been right at home in Rod Serling's Twilight Zone, which actually did manage a couple of boxing stories with the first season's 'The Big Tall Wish', and a fifth season entry called 'Steel'. Both of those took place in a more traditional setting.

Cocky newly crowned boxing champion Jim Figg (a fine and credible performance by Gary Lockwood) gets taken to a mysterious hotel where he's forced to fight longtime undefeated pugilist Roderick Blanco (well played with imposing resolve by Chuck Connors).

Director Jeannot Szwarc relates the absorbing story at a snappy pace and ably crafts an intriguing enigmatic atmosphere. The sound acting from the capable cast rates as another substantial asset: Joan Van Ark as Blanco's sultry spouse Sondra, Charles Davis as smooth servant Hayes, and Ji-Tu Cumbuka as the bitter Big Dan Anger. The high stakes match is quite long and grueling, with a bleak outcome for both participants and a grim central message on the brutal price one must pay to be number one. A worthy episode.

A tough young boxer, Jim Figg (Gary Lockwood of "2001: A Space Odyssey" fame), has just won the heavyweight championship. But what price will he pay for this? After he takes a shower, he is mysteriously transported to a cliff-side hotel where a VERY grim man named Roderick Blanco ('The Rifleman' star Chuck Connors) asserts that HE has been the champion for an eternity. And Blanco intends to win against Figg in a winner-take-all fight. Blancos' hot young wife Sondra (Joan Van Ark of 'Knots Landing') worries over how stressed-out her husband is feeling, and implores Figg to throw the fight.

This decent episode (script credited to Robert Malcolm Young, based on a short story by Edward D. Hoch) definitely has some good atmosphere, as it takes on a Hellish tone. (The abundance of the color red is not for nothing.) Lockwood is okay but is far outshone by Connors, who is undeniably well cast considering his own past as a top athlete. Van Ark has a very seductive quality, while fine support is provided by Ralph Manza ("Get Shorty") as the manager Max and Ji-Tu Cumbuka ("Blacula") as Big Dan Anger, the former champion whom Figg had just dethroned.

Overall, the impact of this tale is rather mild. It entertains well enough, but is pretty forgettable. Which is too bad, considering some of the talent involved; once again, prolific 'Night Gallery' director Jeannot Szwarc handles the proceedings quite capably.

Seven out of 10.

In the Quentin Tarantino universe of films, the role of Jim Fugg was not played by Gary Lockwood. Instead, this was another role for Rick Dalton in the wake of his career resurgence after he violently a home invasion from several hippies. But in our world, this is the episode of Night Gallery that we got.

"The Ring With the Red Velvet Ropes" is the story of Figg (Lockwood), who has finally won the championship from "Big" Dan Anger (Ji-Tu Cumbuka) even if that victory seems not altogether a shoot, in the parlance of pro wrestling. That is to say, it seems like the fix was in.

But when Figg's manager comes back from answering the press, he tells him that that would be impossible, because Anger is in the hospital.

After a shower, Figg wakes up in a classy hotel, confused by how time is passing. He soon meets the gorgeous Sandra Blanco (Joan Van Ark) who informs him that he's due to box her husband, Roderick (Chuck Conners), a fighter who has never been defeated and who will fight him in a ring of fire. Or at least red ropes.

Before the fight, Sandra begs Figg to lose to her husband. She thinks he's the first man who has the ability to defeat him and claims that it would be much better if he just did the job here. Figg responds that he's never thrown a fight.

After a war in the ring. Figg wins. As he looks down on his defeated foe, the man disintegrates into dust and bones. The referee says, "The champion is dead. Long live the champion." That's when we learn that Roderick had been the champ since 1861 and now Figg must take on the role. Does he get Joan Van Ark? Because that would make this all worth it.

Directed by season three workhorse Jeannot Szwarc and written by Robert Malcolm Young, who also wrote "The Girl With the Hungry Eyes" and "Fright Night," this was based on the story by Edward D. Hoch. It's almost the same story as the Twilight Zone story "A Game of Pool." But it never really explains how we've entered the world of the fantastic or the stakes. It's yet another just there episode in the lame duck feeling season three.

When it was called A Game Of Pool, season 3 episode 5 of The Twilight Zone. From 1961. Same plot, and no unanswered questions. This episode of Night Gallery had potential and a great cast. The story just falls flat. Nothing is really explained. Then it's over.