"The Golden Ingot" is a decent episode from "Tales of Tomorrow" though the plot seemed a bit flawed. It's the story about a nutty old guy (Gene Lockhart) who has wasted his life trying to turn lead into gold--like the alchemists of old. However, eventually he disheartens in his quest--so much that he tries to kill himself. His daughter is naturally alarmed and comes up with a poorly thought-out plan--to pretend that his machine works so he'll not try to kill himself again. Hocking everything, she buys a gold bar and places it inside his machine--and he's convinced he's finally done it. But now he not surprisingly plans on making many more and a life of wealth. What sensible thing can she do? Yep--keep lying and hope it all somehow works out anyway--which it doesn't. There is a bit of a twist at the end, but otherwise it's only a fair episode--one that is worth watching but isn't particularly memorable.
3 Reviews
I Wonder What That Ingot Would Be Worth Today
Hitchcoc6 August 2013
This is just really stupid. You have old Gene Lockhart (father of June and one-time Ebenezer Scrooge) running some device from his apartment, trying to turn base metals into gold. Because he is such a nut case, his daughter deceives him by using the same gold ingot time after time so he won't attempt suicide. He is whiny and irrational and continues on his mission, despite ruining his daughter's life and going into financial ruin. The young woman does not heed the advice of her lover, to give the old man the bad news and so perpetuates his silly behavior. We are never let in on just how the guy is hoping to accomplish his task, just that he is. Also, that machine, which looks like a potter's kiln, is running in a residential apartment. The ending, of course, is so predictable. This is one of the worst of these episodes.
A Nicely Acted Fairy Tale
jayraskin15 February 2014
While not great, this is a good episode. A daughter tries to save her father who is a failure as an alchemist.
The story has a nice fairy tale quality. The daughter has to use the same gold ingot over and over again to convince her father that he can make gold.
Monika Lovett gives a touching performance as the daughter who tries to save her father's life by convincing him that he has successfully made gold.
Gene Lockhart was a bit character actor, probably best known as the sheriff in "His Girl Friday," and the judge in "Miracle on 34th street. His career revived in early television where he did around 50 shows between 1950 and 1956. He was the real life father of actress June Lockhart ("Lassie" and "Lost in Space") He is fine as the father-frustrated gold-maker.
The story has a nice fairy tale quality. The daughter has to use the same gold ingot over and over again to convince her father that he can make gold.
Monika Lovett gives a touching performance as the daughter who tries to save her father's life by convincing him that he has successfully made gold.
Gene Lockhart was a bit character actor, probably best known as the sheriff in "His Girl Friday," and the judge in "Miracle on 34th street. His career revived in early television where he did around 50 shows between 1950 and 1956. He was the real life father of actress June Lockhart ("Lassie" and "Lost in Space") He is fine as the father-frustrated gold-maker.
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