Climax! (TV Series) Night of Execution (1955) User Reviews

Pretty exciting but I wouldn't have ended it this way.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 15 August 2012]

This is a very exciting episode of "Climax!"--and it's an amazing role for Vincent Price. Price plays an incredibly abusive husband. He is constantly riding his young son and trying to make him tough. This includes shooting the kid's pet rabbit and treating him like a deranged drill sergeant. He also is physically and emotionally abusive towards his wife. To make things worse, he is cold and calculating. So, when his wife objects, he outlines his plan to fight her in court--vowing he'll stop at NOTHING to win and to keep the boy. Considering divorce laws at the time, he probably was right--and her friend, a lawyer, tells her this. To make things worse, he's throwing her out--and he insists there is nothing she can do. In a panic, she decides there is only one path--to kill him before he destroys the boy.

Seeing Vincent Price in this role was very exciting. He really ate up the screen and made you hate him--making his character even more monstrous than many he'd later play in films. Because of this, I really was pulled into the episode. My only complaint, and it's not a huge one, is that the ending seemed a tad weak. I know I wouldn't have ended it that way. See it yourself and let me know what you think. The show is available for free download from archive.org--a website linked to many of IMDb's movie listings.

Vincent Price as an Evil s.o.b.

[gordonl56 · 8/10 · 23 December 2012]

CLIMAX! – Night of Execution - 1955 This is a "live" episode from the 1954 – 58 anthology series, CLIMAX! A total of 166 episodes were produced.

Nina Foch plays a woman in a loveless marriage. Her wealthy husband, Vincent Price, is both, physically and mentally abusive to Foch and their son, Peter Votrain. "It strengthens the character to get knocked around a bit."

While Foch can handle the abuse, she is frightened for the boy. Price latest attempt at turning him into a "man" results in Price shooting the boy's pet rabbit. Price had tried to take the boy hunting in the nearby woods. When Votrain refused, Price shot the boy's pet.

The estate's grounds keeper, Harry Bellaver, tries to comfort the lad and gets fired for his trouble. Bellaver goes to Foch and asks her to beg Price for his job back. Foch tries, but has no success.

Price now says he wants her to leave. He will keep the boy and further his "education". Foch goes to long time friend, and lawyer, Dick Foran for advice. Foran tells her that with all Price's cash, he would most likely win the custody battle. Foch returns home to decide what her next move will be.

Every dawn, Price has a habit of going grouse hunting in the woods. Foch follows Price with a gun of her own. She gives Price both barrels in the chest. She then switches guns with Price and makes it look like an accident. Price must of tripped and blasted himself.

The coroner's inquest quickly rules it an accident and Foch and the boy inherit the estate. Votrain grows into a fine young man and is sent off to college. Foch of course assumes that the Police will discover their mistake and arrest her.

At this time, Bellaver is arrested and charged with killing his girlfriend. After losing his job at the estate, Bellaver had taken to the bottle with a real passion. Foch hires Foran to defend him at the trial. The evidence though, is too much, and Bellaver gets sentenced to hang.

Bellaver, on death row, asks to see Foch for a private talk. He tells Foch that he knows she killed Price. He had been there that day in the woods himself. He had intended to kill Price. He tells Foch that he intends to admit to the crime. He knows that the murder is eating away at Foch. If he takes the blame, she will be free of guilt. "You were always kind to me." Says Bellaver.

Seven years later, Foch is telling Foran the tale of what had really happened to Price. "I intend to turn myself into the Police." Foch tells Foran. "Why?" Is Foran's reply. "No reason to keep it quiet now. My son has been killed in a plane crash."

Price really shines here as the cruel husband and father.

Great twist ending.

The director here is Allen Riesner who worked in television from 1954 to 1989. (b/w)