A matter of interpretation

The Twilight Zone is generally regarded as one of the finest television programs ever to light the small screen, Perhaps I am a heretic, but while there are some very good episodes there is a lot of schlock. The acting is generally good, but many times the production values fall way short and the stories seem forced.

I like stories where people grow, usually when at least the main character is a better person in the end than he was in the beginning. Homer Smith (and most of the other main characters) in Lilies of the Field learns that respect and happiness go hand-in-hand. In Akira Kurosawa's Japanese film Ikiru, the protagonist, Kanji Watanabe, finds happiness before he dies half-way through the film -- the balance of the film occurring at his memorial service when those who knew Watanabe discuss what made him made him change so much in his final months.

One of my favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone, The Big Tall Wish,  was from the first season. It stars Ivan Dixon -- an actor who is always worth the price of admission -- as Bolie Jackson, a never successful fighter with one last chance to make it big. This video review gives an overview of the episode. The video and my comments have spoilers so be forewarned although it is still worth seeing anyway..

I have seen several lists that rank The Big Tall Wish in the bottom third of all episodes. The reviewer in this video rates it highly as do I. However, he sees the episode as most other reviewers see it and that is different from how I see it. Most see it as a paranormal story -- I see it rooted in terra firma. That, to me, makes it better.

Most people see the story as young Henry Temple, brilliantly played by young Steven Perry, as having the ability to make his wishes come true. Henry makes a wish that Bolie wins in this last shot at boxing success, but Bolie rejects the wish and ends up with another in a long line of failures.

In the end, Henry grows up a little bit -- but so does Bolie. There is nothing paranormal about the story. When Bolie switches from lying on the floor of the ring to being declared the winner it is not because Henry's wish took hold -- it was because Bolie was lying stunned and wondering "What if Henry's wish could come true?" When, in his delirium, Bolie tells Henry that wishes do not come true he is not telling Henry -- he is telling himself as he lies on the floor of the ring. Bolie goes home and faces the derision of his neighbors who watched the fight on television. He talks to young Henry who realizes that his wish did not come true. It never did nor could it ever come true.

But that does not matter. Bolie has found inner peace. The smile I see on his face looks like the most contented smile he has worn in years. He has a good relationship with Henry and, I sense that he will have a closer relationship with Henry's single mother. Bolie has realized what is really important and how he already has it.

Someone I knew in high school dropped out to be a boxer. I have tried to look him up but have never found anything about him. He was another in a long line of Bolie Jacksons. May they all find peace.