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Title

If I Can't Have You

Plot

The threat of the secret police keep a duo of rivals in check as they compete for the affections of a woman in this complex love triangle.

Episode

0935

Air Dates

  • First Run - December 25, 1978
  • Repeat - July 5, 1979

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

47
34     13


6 Responses to Episode 0935

"...I don't want nobody ba-beeehhhhh". ops: (Sorry, mercifully, the RMT was a wonderful alternative to the disco music (some of which was decent) born during the same era as most of the Mystery Theatre's episodes.) Actually, this one involves a Soviet-era love triangle between three classical musicians. I've previously noted how Fred Gwynne and Mandel Kramer had some vocal similarities. This one paired two other RMT actors with similar voices: Russell Horton and Bob Galaban. Galaban's character had a wandering eye for other ladies, to the chagrin of his lady musican/companion. (Can't remember what instruments the trio played...I think it was violin, cello and piano.) Horton's character secretly loved the lady. They all lived in those wonderful U.S.S.R. apartments. This was during the time when you could snitch on your enemies and end up sending them to the Gulag for re-education or whatever they called that trumped-up punishment for desiring freedom. Galaban's character ends up falling for (or seeming to) a television reporter. He ends up being called into a lady secret police agent's office, with the offer of good things happening to him (or rather, bad things not happening to him) if he keeps an eye on Horton's character for them. Lots of people rat one another out in this one in the name of love.

Menhard Rogers

This episode #0935 "If I can't have you" is great. RMT did several "anti-Nazi" shows, but they also did some "anti-Soviet" ones, including this "non horror" one where the Soviet system was essentially a plot device...plus there were one or two RMT regulars who had similar voices, and this paired two of those (Russel Horton and Bob Kaliban).

Kurt

One of the better episodes about a totalitarian state. I liked the realistic way that the characters are portrayed, and making it a "love" triangle actually makes the story more interesting than just a political morality play. I find that I am always riveted to the story, even after hearing it more than once. it always holds my attention. As pointed out above, since the voices are so similar, I sometimes get the characters confused and it's sometimes hard to tell who is who. That's the only problem with this episode. I am still trying to figure out exactly what happened at the end. Still, the acting is very well played out and the story is good.

Amy

Btw, does anyone else recognize Anne Williams in the leading role? She isn't credited in the list of actors, nor is she listed in the section where it lists the episodes she appeared in.

Amy

E. G. Marshall says her name with the cast list at the end of the episode.

Rachel

I meant Ann Williams.

Amy


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