This is my favorite episode of the series, I just love it from beginning to end. I always like suspense tales about gambling which is fitting since in gambling there is always a high degree of risk involved as it is based on the fifty-fifty chance of winning or losing. These kinds of tales are the most suspenseful as every gambler even non-gamblers always carry the fear of losing because whose to say whenever you play any kind of game you never do.
There have been plenty over the years in that subcategory of suspense, like the "Chopping Cards" episode from "Tales from the Crypt" and even "The Ledge" story from Steven King's Night Shift and the film "Cat's Eye". This one was one of the first and still one of the best in my book and of course this was based on one of the suspense stories from Roald Dahl which is awesome as he's one of my suspense thriller writers.
I remember being on the edge of my seat when I watched this episode. When it came time for Steve to light that sucker once more, I thought, "Oh God, please light up." It was so nerve racking because there are so many ways things could go south, like may 'be his thumb wouldn't slide across the knob right, he would fail to press the gas button at the right time, the gas in the lighter would go dry.
But also, what makes this episode is the main character play well by legendary actor Steve McQueen, this episode was his acting debut and I'll just say it was one hell of a good start, you can say also one hell of a combo of both a legendary episode and actor. Along with veteran actor Peter Lorre whom as usual plays the shady character that contains quiet menace, or in his case a cleaver. The girl Neile Adams was decent, there is good chemistry between Steve and her, which is ironic as both were married.
Can Steve make that perfect succession, you'll just have to wait and see?
Rating: 4 stars