In Praise of Pip 

A wearied bookie, learning of his grown soldier son Pip dying in South Vietnam, gets to spend one last delightful hour with a ten-year-old version of him at an amusement park.

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writers:

Rod Serling, Rod Serling (created by)

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

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Plot Keywords:

bookie | amusement park | shooting gallery | injured leg | reference to robin hood | 

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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,CBS Television Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The carnival scenes were shot at Pacific Ocean Park, an amusement park in Santa Monica, California.

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Goofs

The US Army would not call a parent when his son was on the operating table with an unknown fate.

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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 ...

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Connections

Featured in Not Fade Away (2012)

User Reviews

One pf the First

Rod Sterling was one of the first to tackle serious issues. He was the first to criticize the Vietnam War. Why is my son dying there, there is not even suppose to be a war there. Your to child, to young to die! He had to fight with the network and the sponsors. A powerful message against the war. To Bad President Johnson and Robert McMarra did not watch this episode. Rod Sterling has taken on many issues form Racism, to prejudice and he hits the nail on this issue if he were alive today we could be speaking about Iraq. Jack Klugman give one of his best performances. The direction and irony of the amusement park and the hall of mirrors all adds to the message. This is on of the 5 best, up there with To Serve Man and the Howling Man.