Temptation scene in bar POSSIBLE SPOILERS

I saw this movie in the early 70's ,and found it to be pretty good overall. The acting was fairly good and the story managed to hold my interest.

But there was one sequence that sticks in my memory as a pretty odd scene.

SPOILERS AHEAD
The frustrated father Joe, played by James Whitmore, has stormed out of his house and gone to a nearby bar. There he runs into an old Army buddy he hasn't seen in years. The pal Mitch is accompanied by a sexy girlfriend, and describes his life in enviable terms to the beleaguered Joe.

Mitch makes a tempting suggestion that Joe join him in some kind of fun and exciting adventure. Joe, burdened with a dull job, a cranky boss, his wife expecting their second child, a cop who seems to give him a ticket every day, and an annoying aunt living with them thinks this sounds like a wonderful idea.

But something happens to change his mind. He manages to get to his feet, and says something to the effect that Mitch is the devil, tempting him away from his responsibilities. He drunkenly apologizes for making the comparison, and staggers out of the bar and goes home.

This sequence seems to have struck many viewers as peculiarly memorable, as there is at least one thread discussing this scene elsewhere.I would be interested in other viewers' thoughts about this scene. One person declared that it was about the most ridiculous drunk scene he had ever seen in a movie.

So step right up and give us your opinions.