"One More Pallbearer" is strong in concept but weak in execution. The tale of a petty, childish man who tries to extract revenge on different people from his past in a sort of grotesque version of "This is Your Life" is compelling. So is the final twist, which illustrates the tragedy of long-held grudges and isolation from one's fellow man. The story even has the ambiguity and complexity which make the best Zones great: is Paul Radin really a villain for desiring a simple apology? Are his three guests self-righteous and unfeeling for not giving it?
The problem is the writing. Serling was at his best when he was simple and whimsical, at his worst when he aspired to be a junior Arthur Miller and write High Theater. The script for "Pallbearer" is talky, long-winded and pretentious. Characters don't converse, they speechify. Trite metaphors are trotted out. On the positive side, the visual production has the Cold War, early Sixties TZ look we all know and love, with steel, concrete, elevators, and TV monitors. The actors are appropriately cast, even though it's difficult to evaluate their performances given the labored artificiality of the script.
The problem is the writing. Serling was at his best when he was simple and whimsical, at his worst when he aspired to be a junior Arthur Miller and write High Theater. The script for "Pallbearer" is talky, long-winded and pretentious. Characters don't converse, they speechify. Trite metaphors are trotted out. On the positive side, the visual production has the Cold War, early Sixties TZ look we all know and love, with steel, concrete, elevators, and TV monitors. The actors are appropriately cast, even though it's difficult to evaluate their performances given the labored artificiality of the script.