During much of his early career, Mickey Rooney played nice kids...kids that were so gosh-darn swell. These films made him a mega-star and made millions. What folks don't remember as well is that later Rooney got far away from these 'nice' roles and often played the most amazing sociopathic sadists...and he was really, really good at this. The best example is the prison film "The Last Mile" where he played 'Killer' Mears--a death row inmate that has ice in his veins and who was 100% no good. He was the best thing in the film by far! Here in "Kraft Suspense Theatre" he plays a very similar sort of sadistic jerk...but this time he's a sheriff!
The show begins with a beach bum (James Caan) riding about in the middle of no where and not within many, many, many miles of the ocean (despite his surf boards in his wagon). He breaks down in a hellish town where the locals have an odd sport--tracking down prisoners and setting the dogs on them and enjoying it as the folks are torn to pieces!! The beach bum witnesses this and they might just have let him go...but he made the mistake of telling someone over the phone about this. And the Sheriff's aunt is the switchboard operator...and she listens to all the phone calls! Soon this guy is also being chased by the dogs...an unwelcome addition to the town's favorite sport!
This is a SUPER-tense show and I found myself jerking in my seat as Caan tried to make his escape. The action is excellent and the character played by Rooney is one of his best TV roles--slimy, evil and a real sicko. Well worth seeing.
The show begins with a beach bum (James Caan) riding about in the middle of no where and not within many, many, many miles of the ocean (despite his surf boards in his wagon). He breaks down in a hellish town where the locals have an odd sport--tracking down prisoners and setting the dogs on them and enjoying it as the folks are torn to pieces!! The beach bum witnesses this and they might just have let him go...but he made the mistake of telling someone over the phone about this. And the Sheriff's aunt is the switchboard operator...and she listens to all the phone calls! Soon this guy is also being chased by the dogs...an unwelcome addition to the town's favorite sport!
This is a SUPER-tense show and I found myself jerking in my seat as Caan tried to make his escape. The action is excellent and the character played by Rooney is one of his best TV roles--slimy, evil and a real sicko. Well worth seeing.