TWILIGHT ZONE, THE: MR. DENTON ON DOOMSDAY (TV)
Summary
One in this science-fiction/fantasy anthology series hosted by Rod Serling. This episode, set in the old west, tells the story of Al Denton, a once-notorious gunslinger who has been reduced to a grovelling town drunk. Bullied around by Hotaling, a vicious younger marksman, and ridiculed by the locals, Denton barely puts up a fight when he is pushed in the middle of the street and forced to sing several bars of "How Dry I Am." Only Liz, a waitress in the saloon, offers the besotted has-been a sympathetic ear. One afternoon, Denton wakes up from a stupor to find a revolver in his hand, and a mysterious tonic salesman named Henry J. Fate lurking nearby. Confronted by Hotaling, who mockingly goads him into a duel, Denton accidentally fires the gun. To his surprise, his miraculous shot disables Hotaling. While the townspeople shower him with respect, a puzzled but pleased Denton forswears liquor and vows to change his lifestyle. Days later, cleaned-up and sober, Denton is troubled to learn that his rejuvenated reputation as a gunslinger has already summoned a challenger, a smirking youth named Pete Grant. Denton confides in Liz that it was his deadly accuracy with a gun -- and the constant need to defend that reputation -- that drove him to drink in the first place. Convinced that his accuracy has again deserted him, Denton prepares to die. Henry J. Fate intervenes, however, to offer him a second chance at life. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: October 16, 1959 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:00
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:34432
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Fantasy; Science fiction; Shooters of firearms
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1959-1964
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rod Serling … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer, Host
- Buck Houghton … Producer
- Allen Reisner … Director
- Bernard Herrmann … Theme Music by
- Dan Duryea … Cast, Al Denton
- Martin Landau … Cast, Dan Hotaling
- Jeanne Cooper … Cast, Liz
- Malcolm Atterbury … Cast, Henry J. Fate
- Ken Lynch … Cast, Charlie
- Arthur Batanides … Cast, Leader
- Bill Erwin … Cast, the Man
- Robert Burton … Cast, the Doctor
- Doug McClure … Cast, Pete Grant