User reviews

A fruity performance from Ron Moody as arrogant wine snob Richard Pratt and lecher to boot.

At a dinner party, Pratt usually has a bet with a wealthy stockbroker Mike Schofield to guess the wine that is being served.

This time Pratt demands an unusual bet. He has his seedy eyes on Schofield's teenage daughter and wants her hand in marriage. If he loses, Schofield will win two of Pratt's houses.

Schofield is adamant that Pratt will never guess the wine and takes on the bet, despite the protests from his daughter.

Written by Dahl in 1945. This vintage adaptation certainly ratchets up the tension after a slow beginning. Moody gives so much away regarding Pratt's interest in the daughter, it was a surprise that Schofield did not spot his intentions.

Of course there is a twist and this one is done rather satisfactorily with a nice bouquet.

I won't say it is as delightful as a glass of wine because I hardly make the difference between wine and water. So British in the treatment, dialogues, you have to follow it carefully to be totally impregnated by this amusing, weird episode, so much in the mood of this TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED anthology series, the best of this period, and one of the best ever concerning the British TV broadcast industry. The wine taster reminded me Vincent Price in a Roger Corman's film adapted from Edgar Allan Poe TALES OF TERROR, or THE RAVEN. Here, the taster is not Vincent Price but convincing enough to make his performance great and the episode worth the watch.