Who would not love the opportunity to be given a second chance in life? This is a theme that Rod Serling considered in several of his TZ episodes, and Mr. Denton on Doomsday (MDOD) is perhaps his first exploration of that idea in the series. Aided by an excellent cast, script and director, MDOD is a lesser known but nonetheless quite worthy gem from the astonishing First Season of TZ.
Cast against type, veteran villain Dan Duryea shines as the beaten down former gunslinger (and now alcoholic) who gets a second chance to regain his self respect only to be later challenged by a younger version of his earlier self. The touching tale gave Duryea a rare sympathetic role, and he earns the viewer's empathy by learning through experience the value of courage, reflection and humility. Serling created in Al Denton a very human, vulnerable and likable character, and this episode should be included among the best work of that celebrated First Season.
Part of TZ's enduring popularity rests through its use of actors who became better known after they moved on from the series.. For example, the then little known Martin Landau (who played the principal villain in MDOD) would reach major stardom in just a few short years through his Rollin Hand character in the celebrated Mission Impossible television series. And Jeanne Cooper (cast as the kindly saloon girl in MDOD) established an extraordinarily long acting experience by starring as Katherine Chancellor in The Young and the Restless from 1973-2013-----the year of her death! Also, Doug McClure (the young secondary villain in MDOD) ended up by having a rich acting career on TV highlighted by his celebrated role as Trampas during the entire run of The Virginian TV series (1962-1971). Finally, the part of the mysterious Henry J. Fate in MDOD was played by veteran character actor Malcolm Atterbury. He achieved cinematic immortality through his uncredited part as the rural fellow at the crossroad, who makes an astute observation to Cary Grant just before the climactic crop dusting scene in Alfred Hitchcock's classic North by Northwest (1959).
Interestingly, Serling began with a quite different idea for this episode when he originally began thinking of it. The story was to be something entitled "You Too Can Be a Fast Gun" and concerned a meek school teacher who would realize his dream of becoming a tough Western gunfighter after taking a magic potion. We should be grateful that Serling abandoned this rather pedestrian story line in favor of the much more substantial one he ultimately employed in MDOD.
The consistently high level of quality attained during the run of the original TZ series in general and its First Season in particular is absolutely incredible!
Cast against type, veteran villain Dan Duryea shines as the beaten down former gunslinger (and now alcoholic) who gets a second chance to regain his self respect only to be later challenged by a younger version of his earlier self. The touching tale gave Duryea a rare sympathetic role, and he earns the viewer's empathy by learning through experience the value of courage, reflection and humility. Serling created in Al Denton a very human, vulnerable and likable character, and this episode should be included among the best work of that celebrated First Season.
Part of TZ's enduring popularity rests through its use of actors who became better known after they moved on from the series.. For example, the then little known Martin Landau (who played the principal villain in MDOD) would reach major stardom in just a few short years through his Rollin Hand character in the celebrated Mission Impossible television series. And Jeanne Cooper (cast as the kindly saloon girl in MDOD) established an extraordinarily long acting experience by starring as Katherine Chancellor in The Young and the Restless from 1973-2013-----the year of her death! Also, Doug McClure (the young secondary villain in MDOD) ended up by having a rich acting career on TV highlighted by his celebrated role as Trampas during the entire run of The Virginian TV series (1962-1971). Finally, the part of the mysterious Henry J. Fate in MDOD was played by veteran character actor Malcolm Atterbury. He achieved cinematic immortality through his uncredited part as the rural fellow at the crossroad, who makes an astute observation to Cary Grant just before the climactic crop dusting scene in Alfred Hitchcock's classic North by Northwest (1959).
Interestingly, Serling began with a quite different idea for this episode when he originally began thinking of it. The story was to be something entitled "You Too Can Be a Fast Gun" and concerned a meek school teacher who would realize his dream of becoming a tough Western gunfighter after taking a magic potion. We should be grateful that Serling abandoned this rather pedestrian story line in favor of the much more substantial one he ultimately employed in MDOD.
The consistently high level of quality attained during the run of the original TZ series in general and its First Season in particular is absolutely incredible!