This was never one of my favourite episodes of Thriller - but I have to say it's grown on me over the years, and I really enjoy it now.
The plot concerns American Eddie Vallance (Edd Byrnes) who is drugged at a casino - only to wake up in the mansion of billionaire 'Daddy Burns', played by James Berwick.
Burns is an obsessive gambler who has to win at all costs - and has devised his own ultra-gambling duel where losing spells death for his opponent.
Vallance soon finds he has no choice but to indulge Burns in his games. He also finds there is no escape from the mansion - whose grounds are kept secure round the clock, and is therefore trapped in an 'open prison' not unlike Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner.
Ingrid Pitt really shines here too as Burns' moll, and steals every scene she's in.
Vallance is smarter though than Burns has anticipated - leading to a tense conclusion where there can be only one winner. But who will play their trump card?
This is an unusual and engaging story - nearly all set in the mansion, but spurred on by good acting and the real hope that Vallance can finally overcome his captors and win the day.
The plot concerns American Eddie Vallance (Edd Byrnes) who is drugged at a casino - only to wake up in the mansion of billionaire 'Daddy Burns', played by James Berwick.
Burns is an obsessive gambler who has to win at all costs - and has devised his own ultra-gambling duel where losing spells death for his opponent.
Vallance soon finds he has no choice but to indulge Burns in his games. He also finds there is no escape from the mansion - whose grounds are kept secure round the clock, and is therefore trapped in an 'open prison' not unlike Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner.
Ingrid Pitt really shines here too as Burns' moll, and steals every scene she's in.
Vallance is smarter though than Burns has anticipated - leading to a tense conclusion where there can be only one winner. But who will play their trump card?
This is an unusual and engaging story - nearly all set in the mansion, but spurred on by good acting and the real hope that Vallance can finally overcome his captors and win the day.