- Walking Distance
Infobox television episode
Title = Walking Distance
Series = The Twilight Zone
Caption =Gig Young in Walking Distance
Season = 1
Episode = 5
Music = Original score byBernard Herrmann
Airdate =October 30 ,1959
Production = 173-3605
Writer =Rod Serling
Director = Robert Stevens
Photographer =
Guests =Gig Young : Martin Sloan
Frank Overton : Martin's FatherIrene Tedrow : Martin's Mother
Ron Howard : The Wilcox Boy:
Byron Foulger : Charlie
Patrick H. O'Malley Jr. : Mr. Wilson
Episode list =List of Twilight Zone episodes
Prev =The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine
Next =Escape Clause “Walking Distance” is an episode of the
American television anthology series "The Twilight Zone".Opening Narration
Plot Summary
A middle-aged man, Martin Sloan, is driving cross-country when he stops his car. He walks toward his hometown, which appears exactly as it was when he was a boy. He goes into a drugstore, and has an ice cream soda while recalling his memories from the past. He says "One of the greatest memories I have is old man Wilson, may God rest his soul, sleeping in his comfortable chair just like he did before he died". The cashier looks shocked but doesn't say anything and as Martin leaves the store, the cashier goes up to a room where Mr. Wilson is sleeping and says "We'll need more chocolate syrup Mr. Wilson." He responds by saying "I'll order some more of it this afternoon."
Martin continues walking until he eventually sees himself as a boy, and following him home, meets his parents. The park in the episode is said to be inspired by Recreation Park in Rod Serling's hometown of
Binghamton, New York . Like the park in "Walking Distance", Recreation Park has a carousel and a bandstand. There is a plaque in the Recreation Park bandstand commemorating the episode. [http://www.rodserling.com/carouselbccoc.htm] [http://www.westsidebinghamton.org/recpark.html]Additional Narration
Trying to convince his parents that he is their son from the future, he succeeds only in proving his insanity. Martin tries to warn his younger self to enjoy his childhood before it is too late, but his advances scare young Martin, who falls off the merry-go-round and injures his leg. Finally, his father confronts him. Having seen the papers in Martin's wallet and now believing him to be who he says he is, he tells him to return to his own time. Martin finds himself back in his own time, walking with a new limp.
Closing Narration
Themes
Similar themes are explored in “
The Incredible World of Horace Ford ” and, to a lesser extent, “Young Man's Fancy”. The episode also deals with the relentless pressures of the business world, which also serve as the basis for “A Stop at Willoughby ”, “The Brain Center at Whipple's ” and two Serling teleplays from before and after "The Twilight Zone": "Patterns" and the "Night Gallery " episode “They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar ”.Critical response
:"It's been three decades since he made that journey but the experience still tingles the flesh and waters the eye. This was "Walking Distance,” Episode Five of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone". Originally aired on
October 30 1959 , it was the most personal story Serling ever wrote, and easily the most sensitive dramatic fantasy in the history of television. The yearning to recapture one's youth is an inescapable part of the human condition, and to discover, in the end, that the past is irrevocably behind you can be heartbreaking and sobering. With mesmerizing performances by Gig Young and Frank Overton, Serling played out this theme of ice cream and irony, of band concerts and broken dreams, and allowed us to take a better look at ourselves in the process. Devoid of the gimmickry that pervaded other episodes, "Walking Distance" stands alone in its simplicity and maturity. It captured the essence of Serling's poignant pen. Moreover, it's a fine example of how inventive cinematography and inspired direction could propel a half-hour teleplay forward—a rarity in the "golden days" of harried, grind-'em-out production schedules." —"Paul Mandell , excerpt from "'Walking Distance' from The Twilight Zone", first published in the June1988 of theAmerican Cinematographer magazine."References
*Zicree, Marc Scott: "The Twilight Zone Companion". Sillman-James Press, 1982 (second edition)*DeVoe, Bill. (2008). "Trivia from The Twilight Zone". Albany, GA: Bear Manor Media. ISBN 978-1593931360
*Grams, Martin. (2008). "The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic". Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing. ISBN 978-0970331090External links
*
* [http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-237/epid-12589 TV Tome episode page]
* [http://twilightzoneproject.blogspot.com/2007/05/15-walking-distance.html "Walking Distance" review] at "The Twilight Zone Project"
* [http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_twilight_zone/video/video.php?cid=621774886&pid=eEho0ey9HbofC1HPxA5g50tgQamOcHjx&play=true&cc=0 Full video of the episode at CBS.com]
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