Writer Richard Matheson's predictions are way off in Steel: according to this episode of The Twilight Zone, human prizefighting is abolished in 1968, the sport continuing through the use of life-like androids. The story takes place in August, 1974: manager 'Steel' Kelly (Lee Marvin) and his mechanic Poley (Joe Mantell) take their almost obsolete robotic boxer Battling Maxo to his next fight, only for the mechanical mauler to break down. With no spare parts available, Kelly, a boxer himself before the law changed, is left with no option but to pose as Maxo and get in the ring.
I love the set-up for Steel, and Lee Marvin is great as the past-his-prime fighter who must take on an indomitable android opponent, but the episode as a whole is far from knockout thanks to a disappointing final act that is missing that Twilight Zone magic. Kelly is given a thorough pounding and collapses, only to receive half the fight fee he expected. The moral of the story seems to be that one can't fight the advancement of technology, but the delivery lacks punch.
I love the set-up for Steel, and Lee Marvin is great as the past-his-prime fighter who must take on an indomitable android opponent, but the episode as a whole is far from knockout thanks to a disappointing final act that is missing that Twilight Zone magic. Kelly is given a thorough pounding and collapses, only to receive half the fight fee he expected. The moral of the story seems to be that one can't fight the advancement of technology, but the delivery lacks punch.