Twilight Zone...a game of pool

If you like the story, there are two different versions of the "Game of Pool". The first one was a 1961 Rod Serling production where Jack Klugman played Jackie Gleason (Jessie and Fats) for the eternal title. The second version was made in the 80's and the game --- ended with a different outcome. Imagine if you will......
 
DWoods6354 said:
If you like the story, there are two different versions of the "Game of Pool". The first one was a 1961 Rod Serling production where Jack Klugman played Jackie Gleason (Jessie and Fats) for the eternal title. The second version was made in the 80's and the game --- ended with a different outcome. Imagine if you will......
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The actor opposite Jack Klugman was Jonathan Winters. Winters played the character named Fats Brown.
 
pwd72s said:
Just my opinion, but I think this is far better than the 1980's version...
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There were at least three different versions with different actors. Winters/Klugman was the best by far in my opinion. I chased down three versions and had them on an old computer. A sudden crash and my usual sloppy back-ups. There were at least four different versions of the movie "Stagecoach" too that made John Wayne a real star. I used to watch multiple versions of movies just to compare. Reminds me, I wonder how many times they remade some of the old science fiction movies? I would have thought they wore out the costume for the creature from the black lagoon.

Winters and Klugman were solid pool players, some of the later actors seemed to be purely acting. The same way I rated players moving around a table I rated these later guys. Some seemed to be just making a video. Winters and Klugman seemed to be doing it for fun, not that they turned down the dollars!

Hu
 
Just watched it. I saw it years ago and wasn't all that impressed. It's way better than I thought! I musta been in a bad mood or something the first time.
 
Jonathan Winters was superb in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, more than holding his own in a truly classic movie full of legendary actors.

Always been one of my favourites.
 
I've seen the 1960s version only and I absolutely loved it. The message that being the best at anything means having to keep proving it is an enduring one, and the psychological relief that comes when one falls off the top rung of the ladder and need no longer carry that burden is real. On reflection, Fats Brown was as much a winner in defeat as he'd have been in victory. The episode's final line, "Fats Brown, having relinquished the champion's mantle, has gone fishing" surely made you think of SVB, didn't it?
 
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ShootingArts said:
There were at least three different versions with different actors. Winters/Klugman was the best by far in my opinion. I chased down three versions and had them on an old computer. A sudden crash and my usual sloppy back-ups. There were at least four different versions of the movie "Stagecoach" too that made John Wayne a real star. I used to watch multiple versions of movies just to compare. Reminds me, I wonder how many times they remade some of the old science fiction movies? I would have thought they wore out the costume for the creature from the black lagoon.

Winters and Klugman were solid pool players, some of the later actors seemed to be purely acting. The same way I rated players moving around a table I rated these later guys. Some seemed to be just making a video. Winters and Klugman seemed to be doing it for fun, not that they turned down the dollars!

Hu
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In one of the versions Fats missed a shot on purpose and it wet in the wrong hole. Maybe a 3 rail bank. Do you remember the shot? When I saw it 50 or 60 years ago I thought it was great. Then later on I saw it again and thought it was easy.
 
sjm said:
I've seen the 1960s version only and I absolutely loved it. The message that being the best at anything means having to keep proving it is an enduring one, and the psychological relief that comes when one falls off the top rung of the ladder and need no longer carry that burden is real. On reflection, Fat Brown was as much a winner in defeat as he'd have been in victory. The episode's final line, "Fats Brown, having relinquished the champion's mantle, has gone fishing" surely made you think of SVB, didn't it?
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I always thought UJ Puckett had it right. Fish every morning, play pool in the evenings, a little ballroom dancing he was fond of. Much like Old Blue Eyes, he did it his way!

I just watched this again mostly for the Twilight Zone music and introduction but this wasn't the one I liked or maybe I confused it with Night Gallery. Watching this time I noticed something I have never seen done. On the racks during a run they left the money ball position open rather than the front ball. Never saw that in real play.

Tennesseejoe said:
In one of the versions Fats missed a shot on purpose and it wet in the wrong hole. Maybe a 3 rail bank. Do you remember the shot? When I saw it 50 or 60 years ago I thought it was great. Then later on I saw it again and thought it was easy.
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I don't remember that offhand. Funny how different things look when you play pool. You see all of the set shots and things seem much less impressive!

Hu
 
Electric Boogaloo said:
This one is INCREDIBLY bad. It will make you hate pool, the Twilight Zone, the color green, and maybe yourself for watching it.
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I have a feeling of Déjà Vu re: this issue, but regardless…I only ever played rotation as a single rack game (to 61 points), never continuous, and never racked with the center ball missing (?!). Also, much like 8 ball, I’ve never seen a pro break safe. Object being to make a ball and then run out. Maybe the Philippine players know (?)
 
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