The cast really doesn't matter all that much in this episodic drama about the various hands that a gun ends up in, even though there are some nice performances in the various vignettes of this movie of the week. It's the well written script that guides this, taking the viewer through many hands and households, from an older man who purchases the brand new gun legally after a home break-in (getting rid of it because the gun makes his wife uncomfortable) to a disillusioned businessman fired from his job and fantasizing about shooting up the Century City shopping center to illegal salesmen, a petty thief and various others.
My favorite story involved the Mexican American family who are worried about the aging father, grieving over the death of his last friend, disappearing without telling anyone where he's going, and at one point taking the gun with him. The warmth of the younger son determined to help his father while expecting a baby is really touching, with Pepe Serna excellent in that role. Fans of "Welcome Back Kotter" will recognize John Sylvester White as the business owner who reacts to bring robbed in a brave but drastic way. This reminded me of "Tales of Manhattan" (1942) which dealt with a tuxedo jacket in various hands.
My favorite story involved the Mexican American family who are worried about the aging father, grieving over the death of his last friend, disappearing without telling anyone where he's going, and at one point taking the gun with him. The warmth of the younger son determined to help his father while expecting a baby is really touching, with Pepe Serna excellent in that role. Fans of "Welcome Back Kotter" will recognize John Sylvester White as the business owner who reacts to bring robbed in a brave but drastic way. This reminded me of "Tales of Manhattan" (1942) which dealt with a tuxedo jacket in various hands.