Mike Connors stars as volatile circus performer Mario Petrusscio, who belongs to a family of trapeze artists, and finds himself at odds with his father, who openly disapproves of his young wife Carlotta(played by Yvette Vickers) who clearly has no respect for any of them. This angers Mario, and leads to disaster when his father has a near-fatal plunge during a show, and lays near death in a hospital. Guilt-ridden, Mario vows to never take up the trapeze again, but is unable to find other work, and with no where else to go, takes to the ring again to appease his father, who offers a most unexpected helping hand... Good cast makes this predictable episode work well.
7 Reviews
High Wire Accident and the Supernatural Aftermath
tinman1960200321 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A trapeze artist (Connors) has an argument with his father. During the act, he loses his grip on his father's wrist and the older man plummets to the ground, gravely injured.
Feeling remorseful, the young man cannot bring himself to see his father in the hospital. The old man does not leave the hospital for quite a time and the family breaks up the act when the son cannot perform due to his feelings of guilt.
Finally, when he does return to the trapeze, he falls from his high perch only to be caught by his father. When he goes to the hospital to see his father, he is shocked to discover the old man has not left his bed, and could not have saved him! Yet he was there!
This episode is more of a character study about what guilt can do to a person. But based on a true event, this strange tale suffers from a side plot involving jealousy between the brothers and the wife of one brother, who is not entirely in love with her husband. What this has to do with the miraculous rescue by the father, is unclear, as is the transfer from the kine-scope.
However, it is, after all a public domain copy and subject to the vagaries and cheapskate efforts of the second rate pirates who have transfered it to DVD without attempting to restore it. Let us hope that these rare old programs will yet be restored by World Vision and released in a decent collection.
Feeling remorseful, the young man cannot bring himself to see his father in the hospital. The old man does not leave the hospital for quite a time and the family breaks up the act when the son cannot perform due to his feelings of guilt.
Finally, when he does return to the trapeze, he falls from his high perch only to be caught by his father. When he goes to the hospital to see his father, he is shocked to discover the old man has not left his bed, and could not have saved him! Yet he was there!
This episode is more of a character study about what guilt can do to a person. But based on a true event, this strange tale suffers from a side plot involving jealousy between the brothers and the wife of one brother, who is not entirely in love with her husband. What this has to do with the miraculous rescue by the father, is unclear, as is the transfer from the kine-scope.
However, it is, after all a public domain copy and subject to the vagaries and cheapskate efforts of the second rate pirates who have transfered it to DVD without attempting to restore it. Let us hope that these rare old programs will yet be restored by World Vision and released in a decent collection.
I wouldn't come back if you gave me the entire circus and threw a parachute in for good measures!
kapelusznik1824 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Trouble is stirring under the big top when the catch man of the famous "Flying Patruzzios" Mario, Michael Connors, had a falling out with his dad Paul, Ruggero Romor, over his cheating wife Carlotta, Yvette Vickers, that lead Mario being slapped silly by his dad. Feeling hurt and humiliated Mario wasn't exactly at his best when the show was to start on the trapeze with him pouring sweat over his hands and body. As it turned Mario lost his dad's grip and had him fall 80 feet to the ground where he ended up paralyzed from the neck on down. Guit ridden and afraid that his comatose dad felt he dropped him on purpose Mario quit the act and started to drink his troubles away not having the nerve to see his dad and ask his forgiveness which he felt he'll never get.
It took a while but with Carlotta laving him Mario realized that his dad was right about her and that his fight with him over her made him look both foolish and ridicules. With his younger brother Gino,Robert Carricart, begging him to get back to work Mario felt that he first has to do what he feels he has to do to, get back on the high wire, in order to get his confused and guilt ridden head and conscience straighten out. In the deserted circus Mario got back on the flying trapezes and preform without a net or catch man and let the chips, as well as himself , fall where they may. As crazy as Mario's idea was it turned his life around not only surviving this brainless act of his but somehow having his dad forgive him for what he in fact caused him!
***SPOILERS*** Hard to explain but what Mario did and what happened to him convinced him that his dad, who's paralyzed for life, came through for him when he needed him most! Not just saving him from breaking his neck and possibly ending up dead but giving him the both the strength & courage as well as confidence to get back to the life, as a member of the "Flying Patruzzio's", that he left behind and buried! A life that his paralyzed dad somehow convinced him wasn't worth throwing away!
It took a while but with Carlotta laving him Mario realized that his dad was right about her and that his fight with him over her made him look both foolish and ridicules. With his younger brother Gino,Robert Carricart, begging him to get back to work Mario felt that he first has to do what he feels he has to do to, get back on the high wire, in order to get his confused and guilt ridden head and conscience straighten out. In the deserted circus Mario got back on the flying trapezes and preform without a net or catch man and let the chips, as well as himself , fall where they may. As crazy as Mario's idea was it turned his life around not only surviving this brainless act of his but somehow having his dad forgive him for what he in fact caused him!
***SPOILERS*** Hard to explain but what Mario did and what happened to him convinced him that his dad, who's paralyzed for life, came through for him when he needed him most! Not just saving him from breaking his neck and possibly ending up dead but giving him the both the strength & courage as well as confidence to get back to the life, as a member of the "Flying Patruzzio's", that he left behind and buried! A life that his paralyzed dad somehow convinced him wasn't worth throwing away!
Amazing!!!
rhr9558 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
One Step Beyond was a good show, with unitary stories more or less paranormal.
But here its creator and presenter, John Newland, leaves the set, and heads to the deep Mexican desert to film a documentary, accompanied by experts, including the famous neurobiological and medical researcher Barbara B. Brown, mother of the concept of biofeedback. The subject: hallucinogenic mushrooms, which he ingests on camera, later exhibiting surprising consequences. Nothing in this episode is acted, which makes the scenes more valuable and impressive. One of the most extraordinary episodes of the series, and of the history of American television.
But here its creator and presenter, John Newland, leaves the set, and heads to the deep Mexican desert to film a documentary, accompanied by experts, including the famous neurobiological and medical researcher Barbara B. Brown, mother of the concept of biofeedback. The subject: hallucinogenic mushrooms, which he ingests on camera, later exhibiting surprising consequences. Nothing in this episode is acted, which makes the scenes more valuable and impressive. One of the most extraordinary episodes of the series, and of the history of American television.
"Momma, he thinks I dropped him!"
classicsoncall28 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Of the handful of One Step Beyond episodes I've seen so far, this is one that defies credibility the most, in as much as series host John Newland claims that they represent real events that have occurred. Others before me here have detailed the events of the story, however no one mentioned the fact that at the time Mario Patruzzio attempted his solo trapeze jump and was 'saved' by the grasp of his hospitalized father, a nurse at the father's bedside claimed that he reached with outstretched arms in a gesture of 'catching' his son. At the time he was paralyzed and remained so after being examined thoroughly following the nurse's report. Newland offers the theory of 'bilocation' as a possible explanation for the apparent miracle. There have been other credible reports of bilocation but I don't know enough about the phenomenon to offer an opinion.
Fans of the TV show 'Mannix' will be pleased and perhaps surprised to see Mike Connors here as the guilt ridden son Mario. Sultry Yvette Vickers portrays Mario's philandering wife Carlotta, who by the time the story is over beats a hasty exit out of the aerialist's life. Besides the puzzler over the miracle catch, the other mystery for me involved Mario's brother Paul (Ruggero Romor). How did this man with blonde hair wind up in an Italian family like the Patruzzio's?
Fans of the TV show 'Mannix' will be pleased and perhaps surprised to see Mike Connors here as the guilt ridden son Mario. Sultry Yvette Vickers portrays Mario's philandering wife Carlotta, who by the time the story is over beats a hasty exit out of the aerialist's life. Besides the puzzler over the miracle catch, the other mystery for me involved Mario's brother Paul (Ruggero Romor). How did this man with blonde hair wind up in an Italian family like the Patruzzio's?
Mike Connors Misses His Father
wes-connors4 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Italian circus performer Mike Connors (as Mario Patruzzio) has an argument with father Robert Carricart (as Gino Patruzzio) just before they are to perform their high-wire trapeze act, as "The Amazing Patruzzios". Mainly, Mr. Connors won't listen to his Latin poppa's warning about Connors' slutty wife, curvaceous Yvette Vickers (as Carlotta Patruzzio). The hot-tempered group, made a quartet by brother Ruggero Romor (as Paul Patruzzio), go on with the show.
But, tragedy strikes when Connors fails to catch his father. Guilt-ridden, Connors turns to drink. Connors is unable to provide for brother Romor, and Ms. Vickers moves on to greener pastures (becoming July's "Playboy Playmate of the Month"). Vickers tells Connors, "You're not that big a bargain, remember that." Realizing his paralyzed father was correct about Vickers, Connors decides to kill himself... Only Romor is fully convincing, as an Italian trapeze man.
*** The Aerialist (4/28/59) John Newland ~ Mike Connors, Yvette Vickers, Ruggero Romor
But, tragedy strikes when Connors fails to catch his father. Guilt-ridden, Connors turns to drink. Connors is unable to provide for brother Romor, and Ms. Vickers moves on to greener pastures (becoming July's "Playboy Playmate of the Month"). Vickers tells Connors, "You're not that big a bargain, remember that." Realizing his paralyzed father was correct about Vickers, Connors decides to kill himself... Only Romor is fully convincing, as an Italian trapeze man.
*** The Aerialist (4/28/59) John Newland ~ Mike Connors, Yvette Vickers, Ruggero Romor
The Aerialist
Prismark103 November 2021
The Amazing Patruzzios a circus trapeze act are hit by tragedy. The patriarch Gino is paralysed after an argument with his son Mario (Mike Connors) over his floozy wife.
Mario fails to catch his father who falls. Mario has had enough of the circus but he does not have the skills or the education for any other job.
The family needs to circus act to continue just to pay the bills.
One day Mario decides to practice on the trapeze where a sudden helping hand prevents him falling.
Host John Newland calls it bilocation. I wonder if this was because Mario came to realise that his wife was no good.
A weaker entry. It is a more a soap opera on the perils of how circus families have little going for them outside the circus.
Mario fails to catch his father who falls. Mario has had enough of the circus but he does not have the skills or the education for any other job.
The family needs to circus act to continue just to pay the bills.
One day Mario decides to practice on the trapeze where a sudden helping hand prevents him falling.
Host John Newland calls it bilocation. I wonder if this was because Mario came to realise that his wife was no good.
A weaker entry. It is a more a soap opera on the perils of how circus families have little going for them outside the circus.
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