Shudder Day: 'Tales From the Crypt'- 'Dig That Cat...He's Real Gone'

 A look back at the final 3rd of the Show's actual Premiere.

When it debuted, the Show had 3 Segments run back-to-back-to-back.  I covered the first one, but I'm skipping the 2nd one (since it is Christmas themed).

As such, let's take a different look at death in...

Like the first one, we get a Cryptkeeper Intro and then an Intro from the Lead Character.

I'm curious to see when this drops off and why.

In any event, this guy- Joe Pantoliano- is bragging about how he can't die and stay dead...from inside of a coffin.

In a flashback, he shows us that he was a hard on his luck guy who met with a Scientist.

The guy did an experiment on him that involved transplanting an organ from a cat that is somehow the thing that 'gives it nine lives.'

Now he's got it.

After the Doctor shoots him (one life down) to prove that it would work, he comes up with a get rich plan.

The Doctor pitches an Act where the guy dies and comes back to life.
Robert Wuhl is just crazy enough to try it.

Yes, this is from later, but I take the Caps I can get it.

And so the man- Ulric- begins a series of limited engagement Shows where, he, well, dies.

After the crowd nearly leaves the first time, things are escalated with very gimmicks such as hanging or an Archery Gallery.

He eventually betrays the Doctor, since he's greedy.
Another life down.

The cumulative effects are starting to pile up (something later used in Happy Death Day) and he's even betrayed by the beautiful Carny Woman when he gets rich.

He sets up one last trick in which he'll get 100% of the profits.

It is only then that he (sort of, but not really) miscounted- since the Cat lost one of its lives- and he'll die for real.

This actually doesn't track, but, regardless, The End!

A fun, flashy Tale of irony and greed.

For starters, this one was Directed by Richard Donner, who is one of the 47 Producers on this Show.  As such, it looks great and is dynamically Filmed.

With the Sideshow Theme, they often make you feel like you're really in the Audience.

It also helps that we have some strong Leads like Pantoliano (hot off of The Goonies) and Wuhl (hot off of Batman).  They make this one really stand out.

The build up with the character is nice as he's not a great guy first and you can see things really go to his head.  When he gets his comeuppance at first, you're sad...but he also deserved it.

A pretty simple Moral on display here.  Given that this is based on a '50s Comic, that tracks.

Now can I do an 'Alas Poor Urich' joke if the other guy is also a Skeleton?

A fun example of the style and charm of the Show.  With good Actors and a great Director, you can't go wrong.