If I didn't know better, one could make a case that this was an early inspiration for the movie "The Godfather". There are a number of elements here that appeared in the 1969 Mario Puzo novel, later made into a feature film by Francis Ford Coppola. Chief among them is the rise to power of a young hood who becomes the boss of a crime family, and resists the mob's involvement in dealing narcotics due to the effects it might have on kids in the local neighborhood. What makes this 'Thriller' episode strangely prescient is the appearance of John Marley as the good brother Tony, who grew up to be a doctor like his family wanted him to. His name isn't that familiar as an actor, but you'll remember him as the guy who woke up with the horse's head in his bed, culminating in a deal he couldn't refuse from Don Corleone.
Aside from all that however, this is a story that really doesn't go anywhere. Every scene and event is fairly well anticipated, as gangster thug Harry Ganz (Jay C. Flippen) makes his play to replace Cesare Romano/Charlie Roman (Frank Silvera) for the godfather role in their operation. Charlie Roman's heart attack scene didn't strike me as very realistic with his lawyer Lou (Everett Sloane) making a feeble attempt to get out of Ganz's grasp, and fellow mobster Johnny Longo (Anthony Caruso) just wimping out instead of helping Roman.
The ending as well was somewhat unsatisfying for my taste. A tap on Lou's phone signaled Ganz's boys that he was about to testify against him, so Ganz makes his play and has him rubbed out as he leaves his apartment. The ensuing chase scene by the cops is handled off-screen, with the sound of gunfire and a car crash to signal that the jig was up with Ganz. No pools of blood for 1960 TV as Lou Adams lies dead at the bottom of the steps riddled with machine gun fire. When Sonny Corleone got hit, you knew that movie violence had reached a whole new level.
Aside from all that however, this is a story that really doesn't go anywhere. Every scene and event is fairly well anticipated, as gangster thug Harry Ganz (Jay C. Flippen) makes his play to replace Cesare Romano/Charlie Roman (Frank Silvera) for the godfather role in their operation. Charlie Roman's heart attack scene didn't strike me as very realistic with his lawyer Lou (Everett Sloane) making a feeble attempt to get out of Ganz's grasp, and fellow mobster Johnny Longo (Anthony Caruso) just wimping out instead of helping Roman.
The ending as well was somewhat unsatisfying for my taste. A tap on Lou's phone signaled Ganz's boys that he was about to testify against him, so Ganz makes his play and has him rubbed out as he leaves his apartment. The ensuing chase scene by the cops is handled off-screen, with the sound of gunfire and a car crash to signal that the jig was up with Ganz. No pools of blood for 1960 TV as Lou Adams lies dead at the bottom of the steps riddled with machine gun fire. When Sonny Corleone got hit, you knew that movie violence had reached a whole new level.