|
|
|
Run For Your Life
Starring Ben Gazzara
Episode:
The Shock of Recognition
|
|
To contact us, click Homepage link above
|
Synopsis: Paul's romance with Anna Birrel (Marlyn Mason) in Spain hits a snag when her former fiancé, actor Charlie Harrod (Farley Granger) arrives to make a film and decides to try bull fighting. With Frank Silvera as Esteban, Gavin McLeod as Frank Glass, Walter Mathews as Leo Taber, Jose Ramon Tirado as Himself, Eric Mason as Phil Swahn, Fernando Roca as the Desk Clerk, Danny Bravo as Paco, Jack Krupnick as the 1st Reporter, Francisco Orteca as 2nd Reporter
|
Episode 45
Season 2 - #15
First broadcast on
January 2, 1967
Written by John D. F. Black
Directed by William Hale
|
SEE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS OF ENTIRE CAST AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Creative Team
Producer
Jo Swerling Jr
Associate Producer
Paul Freeman
Music
Pete Rugolo
Director of Photography
John L. Russell A.S.C.
Art Director
Howard E. Johnson
Film Editor
Nicholas Archer
Unit Manager
Hilton A. Green
Assistant Director
Lou Watt
Set Decorators
John McCartey &
James M. Walters
Sound
Earl Crain Sr.
Color Coordinator
Robert Brower
Color by Technicolor
Editorial Dept. Head
Richard Belding
Musical Supervisor
Stanley Wilson
Costumes Supervisor
Vincent Dee
Makeup
Bud Westmore
Hair Stylist
Larry Germain
Assistant to Executive Producer
Robert Foster
Links to Other Episodes
|
|
Anna disrupts Charlie's orchestrated entrance
|
The Plot:
Paul and his date Anna Birrell are at a Spanish airport waiting for the arrival of movie star Charlie Harrod, to whom she was once engaged. The entourage of personal manager, agent and PR man bustle the actor about to stage his entry into the terminal, much to Anna's disapproval, but he comes rushing up to kiss her, bypassing the air hostess lined up to pose with him. When she introduces the actor to Paul, Charlie asks whether he is a rival for Anna's heart, and then Charlie tells her that he has no intention of letting her slip away again.
|
|
With Frank Glass omni-present, Charlie asks Anna to stay
|
Frank Glass, Charlie's manager asks Anna, who works for the studio, when they're due on the movie location, and then sweeps everyone away, the press following, Paul remaining behind.
Anna says that she won't accompany the group to the embassy lunch, and goes back to Paul, much to Charlie's disappointment, and he keeps shouting back at her, trying to make a date to meet.
When they're gone, Anna is in tears, and over a drink with Paul, she tells him that she still loves Charlie.
|
|
Anna says she can't share Charlie with the three men
|
Paul replies that, if she feels that way, Anna can break her date with him, if she likes, but Anna goes on to say how she was dreading this encounter with her former fiancé, who is constantly pushed around by Frank Glass and his associates, something she finds very hurtful. Anna says that they own Charlie, telling him where to go, what to do, what to buy.She adds that she could be anything Charlie wanted, but just couldn't share him with the three men. Anna then explains that it was their influence that made her walk out of Charlie's life, and she is disconcerted that he's caught up with her again.
|
|
Paul says he understands her confusion
|
When Paul replies that he can't talk her into or out of marrying Charlie, she calls him the voice of reason, but Paul counters that his is actually the voice of a man who's been there.
[The soundtrack music is Jobim's Meditation, the song sung to him by Nicole Longet whom he nearly married in The Sadness of a Happy Time, implying his remark is reflecting the decision he made to marry her against all his rules.]
She asks Paul if he'll take her to dinner, and he says it can be breakfast too, if she likes
|
|
That evening Anna is distracted
|
Anna says that she would like that, and suggests that they run away together to lovely, out-of-the way places she knows, adding, “let me hide with you, Paul.”
He says he's been a lot of things, but never a place to hide, and Anna tells Paul that's the way she's always thought of him, saying that he is the only true gentleman she knows.
She promises to be more of a woman with him tonight than weepy thing she is now, but as they drink and listen to guitar music that evening, Paul is prompted to ask Anna where she is.
|
|
Anna tries to get the drunken Charlie to leave
|
She replies that she's there with him, but her mind is clearly on Charlie and his welfare under the influence of Frank Glass and the two other men who dominate his life. And whether she should be a part of that life again or have a romance with Paul. Then Charlie staggers in, extremely drunk. Anna is horrified - and surprised that Charlie was able to escape his minders - and tells Paul that he must help her get Charlie back to his hotel. When they go to his table, Charlie immediately calls Paul his enemy, but they still manage to return him to the hotel where he continues his drunken meanderings.
|
|
The inebriated Charlie careens through the hotel
|
Manager Frank Glass thanks Paul, and offers to reward him for getting Charlie back, but Paul offers a harsh retort, telling him to go away or face nasty consequences.
In Charlie's suite PR man Phil tries to assuage Paul's feelings, and Charlie declares he is Anna's to command, but when his handlers surround him, she and Paul leave.
Anna is crestfallen, but tells Paul she'll pull herself together by morning.
|
|
Paul returns the gifts from Frank Glass
|
But the next day, Frank Glass presents Paul with the promised gifts, and tells him that Anna and Charlie have gone off together, something Frank doesn't like at all.
Moreover, he says that he doesn't want Charlie and Paul to come to blows over Anna, worrying that Paul might hit or sue the actor.
Paul returns to his room, and tells the desk clerk to make up his bill and reserve onward travel arrangements - to anywhere. When he goes to check out, there's a note for Paul from Frank.
|
|
Paul tells Anna that he's leaving Spain
|
So, instead of going direct to the airport and leaving Anna's car there for her, he drives out to a location where bull fighters are being trained. He observes Charlie learning to fight a bull, then goes up to Anna to tell her he's brought her car, meaning that any possible romance between them is over, and that Paul is leaving Spain.
Anna tells him that she owes him an explanation, and says that Charlie has bought a bull which he intends to fight, adding that she's come here with him to talk the actor out of the madness.
|
|
Charlie tells Paul that he loves Anna
|
Charlie walks up, and says, “but she won't,” and apologizes for his behavior the previous night. He then introduces Paul to matador Estaban Aguilar, proprietor of the bull ranch, who presents his protégé Jose Ramon Tirado.
Charlie returns and tells Paul that he loves Anna, and wants to marry her, then - since Paul no longer has a car - Charlie invites him to stay overnight at the establishment as his guest, fearing that if Paul left, Anna might go with him.
|
|
Estaban demonstrates technique
|
Estaban is instructing Charlie in the art of bull fighting. Charlie suggests that Paul give it a try, but he replies that motor racing is more his sport.
“It would be very good for my ego, Paul,” Charlie adds, “someone else who didn't know what the devil they were doing.”
Anna watches them both practicing, very distressed. Estaban demonstrates how to kill the bull with a sword. Paul says that, for him, the bull should stay forever young, and go back to the green grass and his lady friends.
|
|
Charlie doesn't understand Paul's disinterest in bull fighting
|
Charlie is puzzled by Paul's attitude, and wonders why the test of courage doesn't appeal to him. But Paul continues to show no interest in fighting a bull
Frank Glass walks up, and wants to know when Charlie will play matador, proposing to bring in the press to witness the event.
He suggests Charlie stage the show on the very afternoon, but Estaban declares that Charlie isn't ready yet. However, the actor asks him if he will ever be any better in a few days, and Estaban says that he won't, but that Charlie would be more sure in his craft.
|
|
Anna again begs Charlie not to fight the bull
|
Charlie tells Estaban to set up the confrontation for later in the day, then turns to Paul and admits that he's “one frightened fellow,” but adds that he likes the feeling.
The press begin to arrive, and Anna says it's like a three-ring circus, and she again begs Charlie not to fight the bull, but he says it's something he must do - even if he were to lose her.
Charlie then expresses the opinion that Paul too would like to take the bull on, but Paul says he doesn't think he has the courage.
|
|
Paul considers the prospect living a year in a few seconds
|
Charlie asks Estaban if Paul has had enough practice to try it, and the matador replies that Paul might attempt a few wide passes.
Charlie offers Paul to try that with the bull he has bought. Paul looks like he may be changing his mind.
Then he considers what Estaban said earlier about a man living a year of life every time the bull goes by, and says, “I can't think of a better way to spend the next ten minutes. Estaban hands Paul the red cape, and they stand at the edge of the ring as Tirado fights with the bull.
|
|
Paul challenges the bull
|
Paul takes his turn in the ring, and throws himself into the act completely, goading the bull and holding him at bay for many a pass, delighting the assembled crowd, but afterwards, Estaban tells him that he worked too close to the bull.
Charlie then enters the ring with exhilaration. Everything about him is dramatic.
But after only a few dramatic passes, he lowers the red cape, stares at the bull intently, and then walks away, handing the cape to Estaban, and telling him that it is his to do with what he wants.
|
|
Charlie walks away from the press
|
The press crowd around Charlie, and ask what happened. “You saw it. Write it any way you want to,” the actor tells them, and hurries away.
PR man Phil Swahn then addresses the assembled reporters, and asks what man could train for months to conduct one pass of the bull. “And why?” he adds, “to see if it could be done.”
Anna tells Paul bitterly that the three minders will cut Charlie to ribbons so that there is nothing left. “Don't be too sure,” Paul replies.
|
|
Leo and Charlie chastise Charlie
|
Frank has already started. “What do you call that?” he shouts at Charlie who responds coolly, “anything you want to.” But Frank goes on viciously and relentlessly, deeply annoyed with the performance Charlie has put on. The actor, however, indicates that Frank would never understand, adding that Paul probably does. Paul encourages him to tell Frank. Charlie takes on the challenge, saying that he stared into the eyes of the poor dumb beast expertly bred and trained not to disappoint when someone called “action,” and what he saw was himself, the only difference being that Frank was killing Charlie in bits, not one giant blow.
|
|
Charlie says that he's the boss from now on
|
Frank says Charlie doesn't know how good he has it, and Charlie replies that what he wanted to kill wasn't the bull but himself. “And you even told me when to go out and do it so that you could have the press there to watch!” Frank and agent Leo disregard his words, and say they'll all go back to the house. “I'm going to Madrid,” Charlie tells them, adding, “I'll send the car back for you.”
“We'll all go,” says Leo, but Charlie says, “wrong. I'm going back. I'm the dog, and you're the tail. I wag you. You don't wag me. No more.” He states his plans, and adds that he likes being an actor, “but not your actor.”
|
|
Paul asks the bull how long he'll live
|
He says if they can live with that, fine. But if they can't …. “no hard feelings.”
He strides away . At Paul's urging, Anna goes to Charlie. But Frank and Leo don't believe the actor, feeling they've known him too long to take Charlie seriously, and go into the shade await the return of his car.
Paul walks back into the ring, and looks the bull in the eye, asking, “what's your guess brave brother? How much time do you have left?” Then he turns, and walks away.
|
|
Notes & Comments: Paul doesn't look too comfortable being the one the girl leaves instead of vice versa.
For once, an interesting episode title is realized when the experiences of both actor Charlie Harrod and Paul are paralleled in associating themselves with the bull, Charlie as a pawn in someone else's game, and Paul wondering whether he or the bull has the most time left to live.
|
Farley Granger as
Charlie Harrod
|
Frank Silvera
as Esteban Aguilar
|
Marlyn Mason
as Anna Birrel
|
Gavin McLeod
as Frank Glass
|
Walter Mathews
as Leo Taber
|
Jose Ramon Tirado
as Himself
|
|
Eric Mason as
Phil Swahn
|
Fernando Roca
as the Desk Clerk
|
Danny Bravo
as Paco
|
Jack Krupnick
as the 1st Reporter
|
Francisco Orteca
as 2nd Reporter
|
|