With a scene lifted straight out of "The Godfather", "Nine Hours" is a mafia-inspired episode that sees David (Bixby) working as an orderly at a hospital in which a wounded mob boss (DeKova) is recovering, while his neighbour's son (who witnessed the crime), is kidnapped to prevent any leaks. Alcoholic ex-cop (Alaimo) who also lives in the building, gets a shot at redemption when David enlists him to help protect DeKova, and recover the boy before both are assassinated.
As usual, a number of social comments and cultural observations underpin the narrative: Alaimo is pretty good as the broken ex-cop, haunted by a fatal encounter on the job, for which he attributes the blame to himself, losing his marriage, livelihood and dignity to the drink. Veteran film actor DeKova has a bed-ridden role as the recovering crime boss, whose close shave with mortality has convinced him to go straight, but not before two professional hit men plan his execution, while former Hollywood supporting actress Doris Dowling (The Lost Weekend) is the hospital matron unimpressed that scum like DeKova are given special treatment.
No doubt inspired to some degree by the hospital scene in "The Godfather", the Hulk-outs are fairly tame (bursting from a manhole and destroying a hospital ward - been there, done that) and the plot lines don't evolve to their full potential, nevertheless, it's hard to resist.
As usual, a number of social comments and cultural observations underpin the narrative: Alaimo is pretty good as the broken ex-cop, haunted by a fatal encounter on the job, for which he attributes the blame to himself, losing his marriage, livelihood and dignity to the drink. Veteran film actor DeKova has a bed-ridden role as the recovering crime boss, whose close shave with mortality has convinced him to go straight, but not before two professional hit men plan his execution, while former Hollywood supporting actress Doris Dowling (The Lost Weekend) is the hospital matron unimpressed that scum like DeKova are given special treatment.
No doubt inspired to some degree by the hospital scene in "The Godfather", the Hulk-outs are fairly tame (bursting from a manhole and destroying a hospital ward - been there, done that) and the plot lines don't evolve to their full potential, nevertheless, it's hard to resist.