Goodyear Theatre 1.15

The Giant Step

starring Robert Ryan, Michael Landon

written by Leonard Freeman, Floyd Beaver

directed by Robert Florey

Two sailors from a submarine are sent (during the midst of World War 2) to find a deadly snake on an island held by the Japanese. Gunner Smith (Robert Ryan) would rather be on the mission with anyone but Karl Wallace (Michael Landon). Wallace was tried but found innocent of actions that might have resulted in the death of Barney Callan, Smith's best friend. Smith doesn't care that Wallace was found innocent. He still blames Wallace for Callan's death.

Thoughts

This isn't a bad episode but it's not all that great either. Both leads do a great job but the story is wrapped up much too quickly. 

Notes

This is one of four episodes of this show in which Robert Ryan appeared but this is the only one of those four that I can find on YouTube. I saw him recently in The Set-Up (1959), one of several movies he was in that I have watched.

This is the only episode of this show in which Michael Landon appeared. 

Harold J. Stone played the part of the submarine captain. This is the only episode of this show in which he appeared. He appeared in episodes of Alcoa Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955). The Twilight Zone (1959), Kraft Suspense Theatre, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. He was also in The Man with X-Ray Eyes (1963) and The Wrong Man (1956).

This is one of two teleplays that Leonard Freeman wrote for this show. He also wrote an episode of Four Star Playhouse. Floyd Beaver wrote the story which was the basis for this episode. It is one of two episodes of this show that he had a hand in writing.

This the fifth of nine episodes of this show that Robert Florey directed. He directed episodes of numerous anthology shows in the 1950s and 1960s.