Night of the Meek
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“Night of the Meek” is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.
[edit] Details
- Episode number: 47
- Season: 2
- Original air date: December 23, 1960
- Writer: Rod Serling
- Director: Jack Smight
- Producer: Buck Houghton
- Director of photography: none [fourth of six episodes consecutively recorded on videotape]
- Music: none credited
[edit] Cast
- Henry Corwin: Art Carney
- Mr. Dundee: John Fiedler [first of two TZ appearances—see Episode notes]
- Burt: Burt Mustin [first of two TZ appearances—see Episode notes]
- Officer Flaherty: Robert Lieb
- Sister Florence: Meg Wyllie
- Bartender: Val Avery
- Elf: Larrian Gillespie
- Fat Woman: Kay Cousins
[edit] Rod Serling's opening narration
"This is Mr. Henry Corwin, normally unemployed, who once a year takes the lead role in the uniquely American institution, that of department-store Santa Claus in a road-company version of 'The Night Before Christmas'. But in just a moment Mr. Henry Corwin, ersatz Santa Claus, will enter a strange kind of North Pole which is one part the wondrous spirit of Christmas and one part the magic that can only be found in...the Twilight Zone."
[edit] Synopsis
Henry Corwin, a department store Santa Claus, is fired on Christmas arriving drunk for work. He walks around, still in his Santa suit, until he finds a bag. It gives out any item that's asked of it. Corwin proceeds to pass gifts out to everyone. Officer Flaherty suspects the merchandise is stolen, and takes him to the police station. Mr. Dundee, the man who fired him, is there, and tries to find the "stolen merchandise" in the bag, but all he finds is a stray cat and some garbage. Corwin passes out gifts the rest of the night, until the bag is empty. Burt, a friendly bum, points out that Corwin has taken no gift for himself. Corwin replies that his only wish is to do this every year. His wish is granted: In an alley he finds an elf, sleigh and reindeer waiting to take him to the North Pole.
[edit] Rod Serling's closing narration
"A word to the wise to all the children of the twentieth century, whether their concern be pediatrics or geriatrics, whether they crawl on hands and knees and wear diapers or walk with a cane and comb their beards. There's a wondrous magic to Christmas and there's a special power reserved for little people. In short, there's nothing mightier than the meek, and a merry Christmas to each and all."
[edit] Episode notes
- Busy character actor John Fiedler performed in hundreds of radio shows, TV episodes and movies starting in the 1940s. Appearing on TV from its earliest days, he was one of the cadets in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet from 1951 to 1954, had regular roles in three series between 1973 and 1984 and did countless cartoon voices, including that of Piglet for Disney. His other TZ part was in the third season's penultimate episode, Cavender Is Coming, a sitcom pilot complete with a laugh track.
- A unique character actor, Burt Mustin was a retired car salesman who began acting in films and television in 1951 at the age of 67 and continued as a performer for the next twenty six years, dying three weeks short of his ninety-third birthday. Here, he's one of the derelict recipients of Henry Corwin's presents—in his other TZ appearance, he's one of the residents of the old-age home in third season's Kick the Can.
- A stage musical based on this episode was written by lyricist/librettist Patrick Cook and composer Frederick Freyer. It has not been produced because of copyright issues.
[edit] Themes
A similar theme was explored in the episode I Dream of Genie. As Henry Corwin states to his boss, "Christmas is more than barging up and down department store aisles...I wish that the meek shall inherit the earth." He is the epitome of the true meaning of Christmas amid the crass commercialism and consumerism.
[edit] External links
- "The Twilight Zone" episode Night of the Meek (1960) at the Internet Movie Database
- TV.com episode page
