This is an unusual story for Armchair Theatre, in that it could be described as a rare Science Fiction offering. It's set three years hence, on 9 November 1961, to be exact. Then, the American government's space programme might not have developed much at all, but an unknown backwoods genius has built and sent his own rocket that has gone to the Moon and back with a passenger aboard. Being the first man to visit the Moon, it's reasoned, will make him the greatest hero of all time. The problem is, Jack Smurch is not an all-American clean-cut fellow like Charles Lindbergh, he's a vile criminal, who's bullied and cheated and stolen his way through life, even his mother wishes he were dead. McGoohan broadly plays him as a Marlon Brando-style slob. The president and his men try everything to make him more palatable when he's to be introduced to the hero-worshiping public, even making him a general, but he won't play along, and shouts outrageous things nonstop. The secretary of state pushes him out a window to his death, and the press corps, who are present, all conspire to hush it up, and go with an "accidental" narrative, (This really is a fantasy) to protect America's image in the world. It's pretty much played tongue in cheek, but still is commentary on perceived U.S. arrogance and the unsophistication of those gullible American citizens.
4 Reviews
Living up to the Reputation
Moor-Larkin27 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
It was delightful, after a gap of several years, to be able to review something new to me, even though it is a television play made over half a century ago. That it has survived to watch all these years later is even moor delightful.
A previous reviewer has offered a reasonable summation of the bare bones of the plot so I will not repeat what can already be read elsewhere.
Prior to watching this, I already knew the bare bones too, but had no idea of the structure. Coming at it as primarily a McGoohan fan, my perception was in some ways geared to how he would appear. He was to win a TV Actor of the Year Award in the UK in 1959 and this play was one of those quoted as justifying his coming top of the heap that year. Thus it was that, as I enjoyed Donald Pleasence and the other actors building the tension, I began to fear for McGoohan's performance. How was it going to come across all these years later? Most of all, I wondered how he could possibly meet the expectation being generated in the audience for a man so vile that even his own mother hoped he crashed and burned on re-entry?!
There was a huge plot-hole in all this build-up of course, since there were too many people who knew the real Jackie Smurch to have ever allowed his being presented to the public as an All American Hero. On the other hand, as the raucous muted trumpet sound emphasised, as each terrible anecdote was told about him, this play was very much intended as satirical Farce, so too much seeking of realism would be futile.
With that in mind, how COULD McGoohan possibly meet the expectations? He did it by simply letting go. Utilising the natural skill of an experienced theatre actor, he just 'went for it'. He didn't play the part as if Jackie was a monster; he just played him as the man Jackie was meant to be - an old-fashioned slob who compromised for nothing and nobody. He had flown to the moon to get Dames and Money, and Money and Dames would be all he would be interested in. McGoohan played him as exactly that simple. The wonder of McGoohan was that he could make us believe this character could be true. This is always what McGoohan does though - however bizarre or unlikely the character is, McGoohan always believes in himself - and so we believe in him. I can see why he won an Award for this (as well as other TV work back then) because it was just a brilliant piece of Going with the Flow.
There cannot be many other actors who could have done what McGoohan did with this role. Jackie wasn't remarkably horrid or repulsive or any other exaggeration. Jackie just refused to compromise what he was.
This isn't a quote but it just as easily could have been: "I done what I done, so how'd you like dat?!"
They didn't like it, and so the Secretary of State pushed him out of the skyscraper, to save the President's blushes. Another hero bit the dust.
McGoohan just went up another notch on my ladder of LIKE's .... Where's me thumbs-up icon hiding?
A previous reviewer has offered a reasonable summation of the bare bones of the plot so I will not repeat what can already be read elsewhere.
Prior to watching this, I already knew the bare bones too, but had no idea of the structure. Coming at it as primarily a McGoohan fan, my perception was in some ways geared to how he would appear. He was to win a TV Actor of the Year Award in the UK in 1959 and this play was one of those quoted as justifying his coming top of the heap that year. Thus it was that, as I enjoyed Donald Pleasence and the other actors building the tension, I began to fear for McGoohan's performance. How was it going to come across all these years later? Most of all, I wondered how he could possibly meet the expectation being generated in the audience for a man so vile that even his own mother hoped he crashed and burned on re-entry?!
There was a huge plot-hole in all this build-up of course, since there were too many people who knew the real Jackie Smurch to have ever allowed his being presented to the public as an All American Hero. On the other hand, as the raucous muted trumpet sound emphasised, as each terrible anecdote was told about him, this play was very much intended as satirical Farce, so too much seeking of realism would be futile.
With that in mind, how COULD McGoohan possibly meet the expectations? He did it by simply letting go. Utilising the natural skill of an experienced theatre actor, he just 'went for it'. He didn't play the part as if Jackie was a monster; he just played him as the man Jackie was meant to be - an old-fashioned slob who compromised for nothing and nobody. He had flown to the moon to get Dames and Money, and Money and Dames would be all he would be interested in. McGoohan played him as exactly that simple. The wonder of McGoohan was that he could make us believe this character could be true. This is always what McGoohan does though - however bizarre or unlikely the character is, McGoohan always believes in himself - and so we believe in him. I can see why he won an Award for this (as well as other TV work back then) because it was just a brilliant piece of Going with the Flow.
There cannot be many other actors who could have done what McGoohan did with this role. Jackie wasn't remarkably horrid or repulsive or any other exaggeration. Jackie just refused to compromise what he was.
This isn't a quote but it just as easily could have been: "I done what I done, so how'd you like dat?!"
They didn't like it, and so the Secretary of State pushed him out of the skyscraper, to save the President's blushes. Another hero bit the dust.
McGoohan just went up another notch on my ladder of LIKE's .... Where's me thumbs-up icon hiding?
McGoohan is Actually Hilarious!
NellsFlickers1 July 2020
Any 1950s McGoohan television appearance is a rarity to see, so I had to watch this one!
In short, the first half is a bit slow, but once you see the whole show you understand why. The whole idea of Smurch being "what he is" has to be established before we actually meet him.
Patrick McGoohan's Smurch is surprisingly hilarious. He should have tried more comedy! His American accent is a cross between Marlon Brando and every dummy-character from the radio days. It is, while over the top, by far one of his most believable American accents. His delivery and expressions are a hoot! Not sure how many sticks of gum ended up in his mouth, but it looks like a LOT!
Pleasence and some of the other actors aren't the most convincing Americans, and in a way the whole story seems ever-so-slightly anti-American, but all in all it is an interesting premise and most of the performances are good, especially given the date and format.
A fun little story, a bit dark, but the ending is entirely worth a viewing!
In short, the first half is a bit slow, but once you see the whole show you understand why. The whole idea of Smurch being "what he is" has to be established before we actually meet him.
Patrick McGoohan's Smurch is surprisingly hilarious. He should have tried more comedy! His American accent is a cross between Marlon Brando and every dummy-character from the radio days. It is, while over the top, by far one of his most believable American accents. His delivery and expressions are a hoot! Not sure how many sticks of gum ended up in his mouth, but it looks like a LOT!
Pleasence and some of the other actors aren't the most convincing Americans, and in a way the whole story seems ever-so-slightly anti-American, but all in all it is an interesting premise and most of the performances are good, especially given the date and format.
A fun little story, a bit dark, but the ending is entirely worth a viewing!
I wish he'd done more comedy!
jinx_malone13 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, the Paddy is playing it big and broad, but that's the character, and he's totally having a ball. There are definitely some performances scattered here and there throughout his career where he's obviously not all that interested and is therefore not doing the best job; but this isn't it.
It's obvious that the live setting was enervating and fun for him, and he does a terrific job at portraying a goofy boor from beginning to end. From the buildup of the first act until we lay eyes on Jackie halfway through the second act-if you know anything about James Thurber, you're probably cottoning to the fact that Jackie is going to be an enormous, uncontainable mess, and McGoohan does not disappoint. He explodes into the previously staid proceedings as the shmoozy, boozy, loudmouth who can't stop or help but to be the bum he is.
I was particularly impressed by his ability to smoke a cigarette and simultaneously chew about six sticks of gum!
He's clearly not in any way the hero that was needed, so it's no real surprise that Jackie will come to a bad end. I loved it.
It's a short play, but it's fun and moves quickly. Very nice to see Donald Pleasence, another favorite, in the role of the harried President who has to deal with the nightmare that Smurch presents. So cool to see the Paddy having fun with a role and just letting go. Pick it up from Network, it's ridiculously cheap these days.
It's obvious that the live setting was enervating and fun for him, and he does a terrific job at portraying a goofy boor from beginning to end. From the buildup of the first act until we lay eyes on Jackie halfway through the second act-if you know anything about James Thurber, you're probably cottoning to the fact that Jackie is going to be an enormous, uncontainable mess, and McGoohan does not disappoint. He explodes into the previously staid proceedings as the shmoozy, boozy, loudmouth who can't stop or help but to be the bum he is.
I was particularly impressed by his ability to smoke a cigarette and simultaneously chew about six sticks of gum!
He's clearly not in any way the hero that was needed, so it's no real surprise that Jackie will come to a bad end. I loved it.
It's a short play, but it's fun and moves quickly. Very nice to see Donald Pleasence, another favorite, in the role of the harried President who has to deal with the nightmare that Smurch presents. So cool to see the Paddy having fun with a role and just letting go. Pick it up from Network, it's ridiculously cheap these days.
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