When the show begins, Paul (Ben Gazzara) has gotten a second opinion from another doctor. Like the first, the next one also tells Paul he's only got a short time to live--about 18 months. So, Paul decides to quit his job as a lawyer and move to the French Riviera and live out his final months in style.
Soon after arriving, Paul falls in with a group of REALLY stupid and spoiled rich young people. They love to drive fast, sky dive and scuba to amazingly deep depths--all because they are bored and valueless. To keep up, he's willing to take all the risks--after all, what does he have to lose?
This is a rather dull episode despite all the crazy stunts. Much of it is because most viewers will have a hard time caring for the characters, as too many of them just seem spoiled and annoying. You could understand Paul--after all, he had nothing to lose. But the show just left me flat and isn't among the better episodes from the series. How they managed to make a spin-off series from this, I have no idea.
By the way, for non-scuba divers, when they talk in this episode about diving to 240 feet, this is TRULY insane. Recreational divers are today taught never to go deeper than 130 feet and the equipment was a lot more primitive back in the 60s! Without dive computers and old fashioned equipment, the chances of survival would be very, very slim and death would be very unpleasant! There would be no way a first- time diver could even come close to these depths and survive.
Soon after arriving, Paul falls in with a group of REALLY stupid and spoiled rich young people. They love to drive fast, sky dive and scuba to amazingly deep depths--all because they are bored and valueless. To keep up, he's willing to take all the risks--after all, what does he have to lose?
This is a rather dull episode despite all the crazy stunts. Much of it is because most viewers will have a hard time caring for the characters, as too many of them just seem spoiled and annoying. You could understand Paul--after all, he had nothing to lose. But the show just left me flat and isn't among the better episodes from the series. How they managed to make a spin-off series from this, I have no idea.
By the way, for non-scuba divers, when they talk in this episode about diving to 240 feet, this is TRULY insane. Recreational divers are today taught never to go deeper than 130 feet and the equipment was a lot more primitive back in the 60s! Without dive computers and old fashioned equipment, the chances of survival would be very, very slim and death would be very unpleasant! There would be no way a first- time diver could even come close to these depths and survive.