Arnold-7

Like many others, I came across The Runner by accident. In my case, I just happened to turn to the Mystery Channel on cable here in Tokyo as it started. I was intrigued enough by the title to see who was in it. Then the opening shot that draws the viewer into Las Vegas drew me into the movie. I had no idea what a "runner" is, but I soon learned a few things about Las Vegas I had never imagined. And then I got caught up in the story of the loser that keeps getting another chance. Of the many fine points about this movie, the one that stands out for me is the script. In particular, John Goodman's "insights" into the dilemma faced by fathers as their little girls grow up will probably stick with me the longest.

This is one of my favorite game shows of all time. The celebrity contests were especially exciting. Michael Landon was one of the best, but as I recall, Sandy Baron beat him out for the championship. Those guys would often guess the phrase even before their partner had stuck the letters on the board.

This early film by Roger Corman was a promising start to what turned out to be an extraordinary career as a director and producer. It demonstrated his ability to tell an interesting story without much to work with. The story was interesting, it moved right along, and there was a bit of a surprise at the end.