Walking Distance
Encyclopedia
"Walking Distance" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
. The episode was listed as the ninth best episode in the history of The Twilight Zone
by Time
.
) stops to have his car serviced at a gas station within walking distance of his hometown, Homewood. After walking into town, he sees that it apparently has not changed since he was a boy, including the drugstore with a soda fountain
that still sells sodas for a dime, and whose proprietor (that Sloan remembers as having died) is, unbeknownst to him, still alive.
Sloan walks to the park where he is startled to see himself as a boy, and following him home, meets his parents as they were in his childhood. Trying to convince his disbelieving parents that he is their son, he shows them his identification, but succeeds only in alarming the couple, who tell him to leave.
Confused, he wanders back to the park and finds his childhood self on a carousel
, and tries to tell him to enjoy his childhood while it lasts. His advances scare young Martin, who falls off the merry-go-round and injures his leg. After young Martin is carried away, Sloan is confronted by his father who, having seen the documents and money with future dates on them in Sloan's wallet, now believes his story. The man advises his son that everyone has their time, and that instead of looking behind him, he should look ahead, because the happiness he is seeking may be in the places he hasn't looked yet.
Finding himself in present-day Homewood again, Sloan makes his way back to the gas station, now walking with a limp. He picks up his car and drives away, content to live his life as it is.
" and, to a lesser extent, "Young Man's Fancy". The episode also deals with the relentless pressures of the business world and the attempt to relive and recapture the past and how such attempts are misguided. Similar themes would be explored in "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".
The park in the episode is said to be inspired by Recreation Park in 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.
creator and Star Trek director J. J. Abrams
claimed the episode as his favorite, saying, "[The episode] is a beautiful demonstration of the burden of adulthood, told in The Twilight Zone, which everyone thinks is a scary show, but it's actually a beautiful show," and "The Twilight Zone at its best is better than anything else I've ever seen on television." The story was even revived in the form of a graphic novel. His 2011 film Super 8
includes a reference to the episode: the military's plan in the movie is called Operation: Walking Distance.
One reviewer noted that the episode "was a little more depressing than most, in that it does not have a happy ending and the man’s problems are never really resolved. But it is a deep meditation on life and lost youth that was compelling and interesting." Paul Mandell, of American Cinematographer
magazine, wrote: "[Walking Distance] was the most personal story Serling ever wrote, and easily the most sensitive dramatic fantasy in the history of television." The episode was listed as the ninth best episode in the history of the series by Time Magazine in celebration of the series' 50th anniversary. Internet celebrity James Rolfe
also listed this as his favourite Twilight Zone episode, saying "it leaves you with a bitter-sweet feeling that you can relate to. I don't know how to explain it, but I just feel touched by it."
—also composer of the first season's main title music and most of its stock music—wrote the music for this one. The very intimate and tuneful score has an isolated running time of about 19 minutes and is played by a 19-piece-orchestra consisting of strings (violins, violas, cellos, basses) and one harp. Due to the high popularity of the episode and the music itself the score has received several releases on CD in its original film version in monoaural sound and two re-recordings in stereo as well, one done by Joel McNeely
with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
(the only complete version) and the other by William Stromberg conducting the Moscow Symphony Orchestra
. Orchestrator John Morgan enlarged all sections of the orchestra for the latter, referring to Samuel Barber
's Adagio for Strings
as Herrmann's main influence on the score in the liner notes.
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
. The episode was listed as the ninth best episode in the history of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
.
Plot summary
While driving cross-country, middle-aged executive Martin Sloan (Gig YoungGig Young
Gig Young was an American film, stage, and television actor. Known mainly for second leads and supporting roles, Young won an Academy Award for his performance as a dance-marathon emcee in the 1969 film, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.-Early life and career:Born Byron Elsworth Barr in St...
) stops to have his car serviced at a gas station within walking distance of his hometown, Homewood. After walking into town, he sees that it apparently has not changed since he was a boy, including the drugstore with a soda fountain
Soda fountain
A soda fountain is a device that dispenses carbonated drinks. They can be found in restaurants, concession stands and other locations such as convenience stores...
that still sells sodas for a dime, and whose proprietor (that Sloan remembers as having died) is, unbeknownst to him, still alive.
Sloan walks to the park where he is startled to see himself as a boy, and following him home, meets his parents as they were in his childhood. Trying to convince his disbelieving parents that he is their son, he shows them his identification, but succeeds only in alarming the couple, who tell him to leave.
Confused, he wanders back to the park and finds his childhood self on a carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, and tries to tell him to enjoy his childhood while it lasts. His advances scare young Martin, who falls off the merry-go-round and injures his leg. After young Martin is carried away, Sloan is confronted by his father who, having seen the documents and money with future dates on them in Sloan's wallet, now believes his story. The man advises his son that everyone has their time, and that instead of looking behind him, he should look ahead, because the happiness he is seeking may be in the places he hasn't looked yet.
Finding himself in present-day Homewood again, Sloan makes his way back to the gas station, now walking with a limp. He picks up his car and drives away, content to live his life as it is.
Themes
Similar themes are explored in "The Incredible World of Horace FordThe Incredible World of Horace Ford
"The Incredible World of Horace Ford" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:Horace Ford is a toy designer who keeps remembering his childhood. Every time he remembers back it happens in a repeat...
" and, to a lesser extent, "Young Man's Fancy". The episode also deals with the relentless pressures of the business world and the attempt to relive and recapture the past and how such attempts are misguided. Similar themes would be explored in "A Stop at Willoughby
A Stop at Willoughby
"A Stop at Willoughby" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. Rod Serling cited this as his favorite story from the first season of the series.-Synopsis:...
", "The Brain Center at Whipple's
The Brain Center at Whipple's
"The Brain Center at Whipple's" is an episode of the American television series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:In the year 1967, Wallace V. Whipple, owner of a vast manufacturing corporation, decides to upgrade his plant to increase output by installing a machine named the "X109B14 modified...
" and two Serling teleplays from before and after The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
: Patterns and the Night Gallery
Night Gallery
Night Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
episode "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar".
The park in the episode is said to be inspired by Recreation Park in Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
. 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.
Critical response
"Walking Distance" has continued to be one of the most popular and critically acclaimed of all Twilight Zone episodes. LostLost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
creator and Star Trek director J. J. Abrams
J. J. Abrams
Jeffrey Jacob "J. J." Abrams is an American film and television producer, screenwriter, director, actor, and composer. He wrote and produced feature films before co-creating the television series Felicity...
claimed the episode as his favorite, saying, "[The episode] is a beautiful demonstration of the burden of adulthood, told in The Twilight Zone, which everyone thinks is a scary show, but it's actually a beautiful show," and "The Twilight Zone at its best is better than anything else I've ever seen on television." The story was even revived in the form of a graphic novel. His 2011 film Super 8
Super 8 (film)
Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction action film written and directed by J. J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler and was released on June 10, 2011 in conventional and IMAX theaters...
includes a reference to the episode: the military's plan in the movie is called Operation: Walking Distance.
One reviewer noted that the episode "was a little more depressing than most, in that it does not have a happy ending and the man’s problems are never really resolved. But it is a deep meditation on life and lost youth that was compelling and interesting." Paul Mandell, of American Cinematographer
American Cinematographer
American Cinematographer is a monthly magazine published by the American Society of Cinematographers.American Cinematographer focuses on the art and craft of cinematography, going behind the scenes on domestic and international productions of all shapes and sizes...
magazine, wrote: "[Walking Distance] was the most personal story Serling ever wrote, and easily the most sensitive dramatic fantasy in the history of television." The episode was listed as the ninth best episode in the history of the series by Time Magazine in celebration of the series' 50th anniversary. Internet celebrity James Rolfe
The Angry Video Game Nerd
The Angry Video Game Nerd , is the main character and title of a series of farcical retrogaming video reviews created by and starring James Rolfe...
also listed this as his favourite Twilight Zone episode, saying "it leaves you with a bitter-sweet feeling that you can relate to. I don't know how to explain it, but I just feel touched by it."
Musical score
Unlike some episodes of the show that were accompanied by pre-composed stock music cues, Walking Distance was underscored with music specially written for it. As for other Twilight Zone episodes, Bernard HerrmannBernard Herrmann
Bernard Herrmann was an American composer noted for his work in motion pictures.An Academy Award-winner , Herrmann is particularly known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo...
—also composer of the first season's main title music and most of its stock music—wrote the music for this one. The very intimate and tuneful score has an isolated running time of about 19 minutes and is played by a 19-piece-orchestra consisting of strings (violins, violas, cellos, basses) and one harp. Due to the high popularity of the episode and the music itself the score has received several releases on CD in its original film version in monoaural sound and two re-recordings in stereo as well, one done by Joel McNeely
Joel McNeely
-Biography:Joel McNeely was born in Madison, Wisconsin. Both of his parents were involved in music and theater, and as a child he played the piano, saxophone, bass, and flute...
with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
(the only complete version) and the other by William Stromberg conducting the Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1989, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra comprises 80 musicians, including graduates from such institutions as the Moscow Conservatory, Kiev Conservatory, and Saint Petersburg Conservatory. The orchestra is produced by Stas Namin, and conduced by Konstantin Krimets. It has recorded over 100...
. Orchestrator John Morgan enlarged all sections of the orchestra for the latter, referring to Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
's Adagio for Strings
Adagio for Strings
Adagio for Strings is a work by Samuel Barber, arranged for string orchestra from the second movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11. Barber finished the arrangement in 1936, the same year as he wrote the quartet...
as Herrmann's main influence on the score in the liner notes.
Sources
- 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 978-0970331090
- Mandell, Paul. "'Walking Distance' from The Twilight Zone", American Cinematographer (June 1988, print)
External links
- Walking Distance review at The Twilight Zone Project
- Walking Distance music score
- Full video of the episode at CBS.com (only in the United States)