In Praise of Pip (27 Sep. 1963)
"The Twilight Zone" In Praise of Pip (original title)

In the early 1960's, small-time bookie Max Phillips (Jack Klugman) hates his life. His only pride is his son, Pip, then serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. When a young bettor uses... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writers:

Rod Serling, Rod Serling (creator)

Stars:

Jack Klugman, Connie Gilchrist, Bobby Diamond

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jack Klugman	...	Max Phillips
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Feeny
Bobby Diamond	...	Pvt. Pip (as Robert Diamond)
Bill Mumy	...	Young Pip (as Billy Mumy)

Storyline

In the early 1960's, small-time bookie Max Phillips (Jack Klugman) hates his life. His only pride is his son, Pip, then serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. When a young bettor uses company funds to bet with Max, then loses everything, Max returns his money, angering Max's bosses.

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Plot Keywords:

bookie | regret | deal | wound | self sacrifice | 

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cayuga Productions, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of only three Twilight Zone episodes to feature the line "Submitted for your approval" during Rod Serling's opening narration, which is probably the phrase most closely associated with the show that comes from those monologues.

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Quotes

Narrator: [Opening Narration] Submitted for your approval, one Max Phillips, a slightly-the-worse-for wear maker of book, whose life has been as drab and undistinguished as a bundle of dirty clothes. And, though it's very late in his day, he has an errant wish that the rest of his life might be sent out to a laundry to come back shiny and clean, this to be a gift of love to a son named Pip. Mr. Max Phillips, Homo sapiens, who is soon to discover that man is not as wise as he thinks - said lesson to be ...

User Reviews

One of the first TV Shows to mention the Vietnam war

In 1963, Most Americans were barely aware of our increasing involvement in Vietnam. However, three TV shows pioneered in Using it as a theme. Many people forget that the character who replaced Buzz Murdock on Route 66 was a Vietnam veteran. Several of the episodes allude to his experiences in Vietnam. That forgotten, under-rated, college drama, Channing, had an episode called A Window on The War, in which Don Gordon enrolled at Channing, in part to "get back" at a pro-war Professor.Finally, there was this wonderful episode of the Twilight Zone. Jack Klugman plays a slightly sleazy bookie, who cares about one thing, his son "Pip" ( Imagine! A bookie who reads Dickens!) Klugman learns that his place has been wounded in battle in some place called "South Vietnam' So, these sadly washed up man decides to offer God his life in exchange for that of his son. A moving morality tale.