This post is in honor of the Canadian actor Maury Chaykin, who played James “Fats” Brown in this Twilight Zone episode. On Saturday, it will have been 3 years since his passing.
A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the original “A Game of Pool” episode from The Twilight Zone that aired in 1961. It is arguably one of the best billiards TV episodes ever.
In 1989, that episode was remade as part of CBS’ short-lived, three-season revival of The Twilight Zone. The remake of “A Game of Pool,” now in color, casts Esai Morales as local pool shark Jesse Cardiff (originally played by Jack Klugman) and Maury Chaykin as the deceased James “Fats” Brown (originally played by Jonathan Winters). For the most part, it’s the same story about a life/death bet to be the best pool player. But, it can’t hold a candle to the original episode.
For starters, Morales and Chaykin were not well-cast. Morales, an award-winning actor best known for his role on NYPD Blue, is too anxious and overblown in his portrayal of Cardiff. And Chaykin, who fans fondly remember as the armchair detective Nero Wolfe, lacks the gentlemanly cool and confidence that Winters nailed. Instead, he seems just pugnacious.
The switch from black-and-white to color also does not help. The bar room atmosphere no longer feels so chilling and claustrophobic. Instead, it feels ordinary, like a TV studio set. (Check out this great article on the visual treatment of the original Twilight Zone.) Similarly, the addition of the jazz horn as background music fails to create tension and rather seems contrived.
The pool-playing is also notably different, and not for the better. Both Morales and Chaykin look downright uncomfortable holding a cue. It’s hard to imagine Cardiff being “the best” the way Morales holds and jerks the cue (see 10:39). It’s also surprising that both players rely entirely on an open bridge, generally preferred by less experienced players.
Another subtle change in the pool-playing is the game of choice. In the original, they opt to play 14.1 continuous pool (i.e., straight pool). In the remake, they play rotation pool, a game largely popular in Asian countries. The objective of rotation pool is to score the most points by pocketing higher-numbered balls than one’s opponent. However, like 9-ball, the cue must always first strike the lowest-numbered ball on the table.
Finally, the major difference that most people note is the choice of ending. While I won’t give it away entirely, let’s just say it’s not the same player who wins in the original. Interestingly, the remake actually reflects the author George Clayton Johnson’s original script. Is it a better ending? That’s a coin toss to me. Is it a better billiards TV episode? Not even close.
For additional commentary, check out Postcards from the Zone.
