Shadow Of Evil (1959)
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- Elliot Silverstein
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- Howard Rodman(teleplay)
- James Aswell(story)
- Stars
- Cliff Robertson
- David Brian
- Mary Murphy
A heated gubernatorial race is punctuated when a man comes around the apartment of Parker Sefton, one of the candidates, and asks questions pertaining to his drinking problem before he is thrown out, revealing that he was sent by Bard Kanger, the current governor. Sefton is convinced that Kanger and his “decadent” party are on the way out and that his governorship is assured, although Kanger’s people are not as forthcoming as he imagined. He waits with his wife Carli, whom he credits with helping rehabilitate him and make him a better person, and he wants to return the favor by becoming governor. He is briefly tempted to drink alcohol but remembers his promise to his wife to stop, and he resists the urge. One of Kanger’s men attempts to get Sefton to come downstairs to meet with him, but Sefton insists on having Kanger come up to his apartment to talk. Kanger finally arrives and Sefton’s behavior demonstrates that he had stopped drinking some time ago. Kanger asks Sefton to come downstairs with him, but Sefton doesn’t want to leave until Kanger signs off on a “program” of his. Sefton’s father was once governor and Sefton wants to follow in his footsteps, and he goes with Kanger.
Sefton believes he has his nomination for governor locked in and is excited to tell his wife about it, believing that his victory is all-but certain. However, she notes that he hasn’t been able to accomplish his goals yet, specifically pertaining to public improvements such as overhauls to the electrical and school systems. He tells her that he intends to follow through on such promises, although she fears that being governor has become more important to him than these promises. Kanger asks Sefton to meet with Pike, one of his father’s old opponents, but Sefton considers him an untrustworthy and selfish political boss and wants nothing to do with him. Sefton, Kanger, and Carli argue about it and eventually Sefton is convinced to see Pike, although he makes his loathing of him quite apparent.
Pike attempts to get Sefton to give him a payoff in exchange for securing enough votes for him to earn his nomination for governor. Specifically he wants to have the new hospital built in his county and to handle all the building contracts. Sefton refuses but Pike warns him that if he leaves he will lose the governorship and revert back to his former drinking ways. This proves compelling enough to get Sefton to change his mind and give Pike the hospital despite Carli’s protestations. Sefton is wracked with guilt and is again tempted to take a drink. Carli nervously pours him a drink, although he is reluctant to take it. He soon becomes drunk and stumbles downstairs, late to a speech he is to give. Kanger dismisses him as he collapses, accompanied by Carli; it is implied that she gave him alcohol to discount him from the nomination and preserve his personal ethics.
