The Last Night of a Jockey is a showcase for the acting talent of Mickey Rooney, who puts in an impressive performance as Michael Grady, a jockey who has been banned from his sport for alleged horse-doping and race fixing. While in his apartment, Grady hears a voice - his conscience or alter-ego - that, after a few home truths, claims it can grant one wish for the washed-up jockey.
The moral of this episode is that you don't measure the size of a man with a ruler but by his actions. A fair point, and one that would have been close to 5' 4" Rod Serling's heart, but it doesn't make for a particularly engaging tale. The story is really drawn out, even at 25 minutes, and despite Rooney's best efforts, this dreary, dialogue-heavy, one-man show runs out of steam way before the predictable outcome.
3.5/10, rounded up to 4 for the scaled-down set made to make Rooney look like the big man he wishes to be.
The moral of this episode is that you don't measure the size of a man with a ruler but by his actions. A fair point, and one that would have been close to 5' 4" Rod Serling's heart, but it doesn't make for a particularly engaging tale. The story is really drawn out, even at 25 minutes, and despite Rooney's best efforts, this dreary, dialogue-heavy, one-man show runs out of steam way before the predictable outcome.
3.5/10, rounded up to 4 for the scaled-down set made to make Rooney look like the big man he wishes to be.
