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I served 6 years honorably in the United States Marine Corps. Having said that, there is a very soft spot in all (or most human hearts) including mine where the past is involved. We ALL have family memories. Childhood memories. Even some carnival merry-go-round memories and yes, cotton candy. Where me and my siblings played marbles, cowboys and indians. Etc. Most people WILL have fond memories of their past IMO. Some may not. I for one DO.
All that we have is the present to actively do anything about things - to do or change things. The future we can plan. Yes, the past is gone BUT for me, like Rod Serling, the past is full of very fond, special memories. The sights, sounds and smells etc.
I still live in my hometown thankfully which keeps the past alive. And yes, even hard-core Marines can be moved deeply by this very treasured episode, "Walking Distance." Deeply emotional and masterfully created along with the amazing music! It touches one's heart ... and moves one to tears. Just like "Kicking the Can." Indeed, we all have a "Walking Distance" pointing to our childhood. I watch it a few times a year, EVERY year. Thanks Rod Serling I am not far from your hometown. :) Walking Distance ...
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My fave ep too, and I'm neither a marine nor a resident of my home town. Or American. This episode touches anyone with a heart.
Yes, it does, and I have learned that this episode is in fact Rod Serling's favorite episode. And it shows. Amazing what he and the crew and actors and actresses accomplished in just 30 minute length episode. I must emphasize also the music score is hauntingly amazing.
The music score for Rod Serling’s episode “Walking Distance” was composed by Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann, who also composed the main title music and some of the stock music for the first season of The Twilight Zone, is known for his brilliant and memorable scores. His work on “Walking Distance” is often considered one of the best music scores of the entire Twilight Zone series.
Herrmann is film score royalty
I concur! You can actually find the music sheets. There are YouTube videos specifically for this film score. Copy & paste the following keywords into the YT browser:
Bernard Herrmann music score Walking Distance
Well said
It’s one of the finest pieces of television ever made.
Yes it is.
I think the most powerful thing about this episode is the idea of your own father telling you as an adult, though in the past, to stop looking back and look forward. Brilliant.
Yes, and a loving and WISE father would.
I had a similar feeling of nostalgia when I visited my childhood town I went to school in. I went to the local pharmacy which also sold scoops of ice cream. I used to have 60 cents for a 2 scoops in the 90s when I went back in the 2020s it was a few bucks.
Ha-ha yes don't we all. Especially seeing your childhood schools, the buildings, parks and so on are there as landmarks to bring the nostalgia.
Yesterday I was taking the train and had the Twilight Zone scripts book with me, so I decided to read the script for this classic. Ended up getting so emotional... The way the script is written is so powerful!
Yes, I must read the script. Put it on my Kindle. Those that have the ability to form vivid word pictures while reading, also are deeply emotional and why Walking Distance is so powerful. I suppose the more vivid we can translate words and images the deeper imapct it has on us. Music score is amazingily beautiful as well.
I think if there's any episode that is universally loved, it's this one.
I, for one, have to be in the right mindset for it or it will just make me sad.
It is universally loved by most people I am sure. Something is very wrong (unless deep scars have altered their past which is understandable) if people are not moved by Walking Distance, if not, they are not human.
What a piece of crap take! I've never liked this episode, so I'm not human to you? Try being less judgemental sometime like an actual human.
For 15 years I lived down the street from the park this episode is recreated to look like. (Rods childhood home was 3 blocks down.) Every time I'd go to the park I could not help but think of Rod as a boy playing on the grounds, riding the same carousel I rode. (Yes, it's still there and running!) Then him returning as a grown man, inspired to pen this story.
Thank you for sharing your heart-felt experiences and memories. Indeed, the park where Rod Serling played were the happiest times for him. Embedded deep in his heart. The sights and sounds of those hot summer days of childhood. Cotton candy. Merry-go-round carousel. Children innocently playing. All this Rod captured masterfully in 30 minutes. Amazing. I tell everyone here too, do not forget the royalty status of the film music score too by Hermann. This also brings the tears ,,, from the deepest depths.
I adore Serling's work. It is so lovely to be in a group with people like yourself who have deep admiration for him and his work as well.
Thank you. :) Indeed I concur with you. The core fundamental force of all humanity is LOVE. The greatest of all things is LOVE. The most innocent among us are children. In the midst of the horrible things going on in this world today ... one wonders and thinks what happened to those little children that were born innocent. To turn out so bad as adults. Look into a little childs eyes. They need GOOD role models. BTW I also love "Kick the Can", "Changing of the Guard" and "Stop at Willougby" Fun fact: my late mother and father were both born the same exact year as Rod serling, same month amost same day. Rod Bd: 24 Dec 1924 ... my late parents (noth WW2 vets) Born: 24 December 1924. And I am not too far from Rod's birth place. :) Exciting times then to watch TZ as a little boy. :)
Love is everything.
TZ has provided us with timeless lessons and insights on how to create a better world.
Beethoven St and Bennett Ave! A friend of mine grew up across the street from the Serling house, actually met Rod once in the early 70s walking down the street. He said he would sometimes check out the old neighborhood. Serlings had a home on Cayuga Lake, about an hour from Binghamton- Cayuga is also the site of Taughannock Falls, famously portrayed in one of the paintings in "Midnight Sun".
Living in Binghamton and being able to visit Rec Park, the carousel and bandstand STILL there and the neighborhood of Serlings childhood still fully intact and beautiful as it was 100 years ago - it definitely helps a lifetime TZ fans framing of many of the episodes, none more than "Walking Distance".
How cool for your friend! His daughters return yearly, carrying his torch.
"Cayuga is also the site of Taughannock Falls, famously portrayed in one of the paintings in "Midnight Sun". I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing. :)
Serling's family hit hard times while in Binghamton as I understand it. They moved from the home to an apartment above a store in Binghamton.
Worth looking at on Google Street view - 68 Bennett Ave, Binghamton. Those West Side streets are reminiscent of Walking Distance, Monsters on Maple St, many others.
I've walked those streets many times, especially taking my kids trick-or-treating. :)
Now that I'm in another state the only thing I miss about living there is the TZ nostalgia.
Thanks everyone for commenting and sharing your experiences with Walking Distance.
Yes, it does, and I have learned that this episode is in fact Rod Serling's favorite episode. And it shows. Amazing what he and the crew and actors and actresses accomplished in just 30 minutes. I must emphasize also the music score is hauntingly amazing.
The music score for Rod Serling’s episode “Walking Distance” was composed by Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann, who also composed the main title music and some of the stock music for the first season of The Twilight Zone, is known for his brilliant and memorable scores. His work on “Walking Distance” is often considered one of the best music scores of the entire Twilight Zone series.
What I love about this episode was that it not only sooke to thoughts and feelings that most people have, but showed us how to move through it and use it to inform your future instead of getting stuck in them.
The past is gone ... we have the present to plan for the future BUT the memories of the past are very profound as humans ... families and their bonds of love are eternal. "Kick the Can" is another great similar TZ episode. As well as "A Stop at Willougby."
Bernard Hermann did the score for walking distance. It’s perfect!
YES, exactly and was a PERFECT masterpiece for this episode!
Never really understood why people like the ep. It doesn't do anything for me.
I think it’s the nostalgia & theme of “you can’t go home again” that really resonates with people. Plus the score of the episode is just so well done, I don’t know , but I think it just stays with you.
Probably my favorite episode. Always brings a tear or two.
Rt 54? We do Fenwick every summer. 😁👍
That looks like a fun place, fresh seafood, boats, views of the bay, and memorial beaches indeed. :)