Escape Clause

The entry's far from a grabber, but does manage a philosophical nudge. So what would any of us do were we indestructible with a few thousand years to live. Hypochondriac Walter (Wayne) spends his time in bed insisting he's ill despite what the doctor tells him. But it's getting boring. So he gets a chance at renewed life after selling his soul to the devil (Gomez). But what he finds out is rather surprising and ironical, even if not well thought out.

The hammy Gomez is a good choice for Lucifer, furnishing some needed color. But I worried when the matronly Virginia Christine went over backwards—did that mean I wouldn't get my morning cup of Folgers. And old-timers like me may recognize the distinctive voice of Wendell Holmes from radio's classic Mr. District Attorney.

Cast members aside, the premise raises an interesting question, but fails to do much with it. Then too, the ending's not very plausible when you think about it. After all, Walter is indestructible giving him all sorts of options. Still, I get Serling's idea that risk is what makes life interesting. Remove it, and boredom likely results. Interesting thought. Anyway, premise aside, it's not one of the TV host's better-thought-out screenplays.