Kraft Suspense Theatre The Robrioz Ring (1963–1965) Online

**SPOILERS** Story about a good for nothing playboy Mario Robrioz, Robert Loggia, who hasn't done an honest days work in his entire life leaving it up to the woman he romances to pay his bills and support his playboy lifestyle. It's after coming back home to rest up after his playboy activities that Mario finds out to his shock and surprise that his outraged Mama, Mariam Goldina, who sold his magic ring that's been handed down from father to son for the last 10 generations. It that Robrioz Ring that guarantees the person who wears it a lifetime of fun and games without him never having to go to work for a living.

Going to the thrift store where Mama deposited or sold the ring Mario finds out that American tourist Lucy Bram, Julie Harris, has just bought it for a cool $135.00. Lucy together with her two girlfriends Ellen & Kate, Julie Adams & Virgina Gregg, are spending their time at a swanky hotel on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Mario makes up his mind to romance Lucy out of the ring. Even if he has to end up killing her in getting it! The fact that the ring is stuck on Lucy's finger gives Mario some problems that he didn't expect.

So determined is Mario to get the ring that he lowers himself to do some work for a change becoming Lucy Kate & Ellen's personal driver so he could finally get his hands on the elusive and slippery Robrioz Ring. It's during his attempt to both romance and steal Lucy's ring that Mario completely exposes himself as the greedy and self serving heel that he really is. Still Lucy sees something good in him even if her two friends Kate & Ellen don't. With them feeling that Mario is some kind of dangerous nut who should be locked up for his as well as the publics good.

***SPOILERS*** It's at the end of the episode that Mario finally sees the light in just how insane he is when Lucy, after getting it sawed off her finger by a local jeweler, finally give him the damn thing-the Robrioz Ring-back just to get the overbearing and annoying lover boy out of her hair. It's then that Mario realizes that all this BS about the Robrioz ring is just that BS and without a second thought drops it into the Gulf of Mexico as if it was the piece of junk, or cheap prize from a box of Cracker-Jack, that it really is.

In the movie Mario find his true calling in Lucy who despite his annoying and even dangerous conduct towards her still saw that there was some good in the guy if he just dropped this strange and crazy obsession of his. Lucy like Mario's Mama did something that over 400 years of doing nothing, like having a job, by the Robrioz men couldn't accomplish. Make Mario realize what a good for nothing schnorer or leach he is and finally make something of himself! But it took getting Mario detached for good from the Robrioz Ring that finally did the trick!

Julie Harris, playing her usual spinster type, is on a vacation with two friends (Gregg, Adams) in San Diego. On a whim she purchases a gaudy ring from a shop. Unbeknownst to her, the ring was sold to the shop by an old woman whose son was suppose to inherit it. The son is a gigolo, and mom has decided to teach him a lesson. He tracks down the spinster and her friends, and acts as their sightseeing guide in an effort to regain the ring. One problem: it's stuck tight on the spinster's finger. He woos then assaults the woman in an attempt to pry the ring from her finger, and the three women chase hm off. But he sneaks back, ready to kill the spinster if necessary. Great performances by all involved, and the story (WITH TeLEPLAY BY THE LEGENDARY JAMES GUNN) IS AS FRESH AS the day it was written.

Robert Loggia stars as Mario Rubrioz. His mother sells a family heirloom--a ring which supposedly brings good luck. He is upset and MUST have it back. However, the shop then sold it to a spinster, Lucy Bram (Julie Harris), and instead of simply going up to her and saying "The ring was sold by mistake--it's a family heirloom. I'd like to buy it back" he instead concocts a stupid ruse. He offers his services as a guide to the woman and her two friends and he plans to romance away the ring! However, in the process, Mario comes to really care about Lucy. What is he to do?!

The acting is decent, though I wondered what sort of accent Loggia was supposed to be approximating. The story, while interesting, isn't the most logical you can find on "Kraft Suspense Theatre". As a result, it's interesting but kind of bizarre--and COULD have been a lot better. For example, if Mario tried to have a friend buy the ring back but Lucy refused, then the ruse would have made more sense. Additionally, Mario occasionally is a confusing character who explodes and overdoes a few scenes. After all, the part called for finesse--not explosive anger. It really makes the whole thing seem artificial and difficult to believe. Another rather disappointing episode--about the fourth in a row for this series. It's a shame, as at times this series was brilliant and exciting. In this case, it's a watchable but very flawed show.