Talk:In Praise of Pip

Trivia

• Filmed on location at the Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica, California.
• Contains what is likely the first reference to an American casualty in Vietnam on dramatic television, especially significant for the line “There isn’t even supposed to be a war going on there, but my son is dying.” Serling’s original script had Pip serving in Laos. The network corrected him, noting that there were no American soldiers stationed in Laos, and suggested Vietnam as an alternative. There is a more explicit reference to Vietnam in “I Am the Night-Color Me Black”.
• Jack Klugman's fourth and final Twilight Zone appearance.

Usually, when I watch this episode, I do wonder about this endlessly.

It does seem that Jack Kennedy had gotten soldiers into Iraq, uh, Afghanistan, I mean Laos, I mean Korea, I mean Vietnam.

term_start=January 20, 1961

term_end=November 22, 1963

birth_date=May 29, 1917

death_date=November 22, 1963

originalday=September 27

originalyear=1963

I do not have a clear recollection of the premier;

I was not quite four years old.

If any of you recall this year more clearly, please do comment.

< http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0052520/combined#comment >;

< http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0052520/epcast >;

< http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0734579 >. Thank You. Hopiakuta 06:18, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

If Wallace Buford & James_"Earthquake_McGoon"_McGovern_Jr. died in Laos, in 1954, nine years earlier, then that puts this episode in perspective. I have no intention of adding that to the article; but, possibly, someone would. Laos, Kampuchia {Kambuja, Kampuchea, Cambodia}, Vietnam. Thank You. [[ hopiakuta | [[ [[%c2%a1]] [[%c2%bf]] [[ %7e%7e%7e%7e ]] -]] 11:20, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Dwight David Eisenhower's 1952 campaign had been: "Vote for peace, vote for Eisenhower." Some peace,...?? [[ hopiakuta Please do sign your signature on your message. ~~ Thank You. -]] 06:20, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Vietnam vs Laos plot location

I don't believe CBS requested a change from Laos to Vietnam, the U.S. government did. America was engaged in a secret war in Loas and went to extraordinary lengths to keep it that way. Sergeante5 (talk) 20:33, 12 September 2019 (UTC)

The U.S. government couldn't have the word get out publicly about our military involvement in neutral Laos. Even though the Communists knew we were there because they were there. But we weren't supposed to be there because of Laos neutrality. As a result,the "Secret War In Laos" had to stay that way as far as the American people were concerned. It was so secret that the Special Forces personnel weren't allowed to wear any type of military clothing, had barely the necessary arms to defend themselves, and weren't supposed to engage with the Communists in combat at the beginnings of the American secret war. We were supposed to train up the Royal Laos military first and when they were ready for war take them there. But when Rod Serling wanted to place our Special Forces in Laos, Uncle Sam stepped in. Even when this episode was aired in April 1963, the American public didn't know much about Special Forces operations in Vietnam and they had absolutely no idea of us being in Laos. But what amazed me the most wasn't the Special Forces Operators and their exploits, impressive for sure, but that Mr Serling knew about these things. Who or how did he find out about Laos? He was among "The Greatest Generation" who saw the very worst of humanity through his personal World War 2 experiences. He was an amazing genius, a great human being. 2464143SmedleyB (talk) 03:42, 27 August 2021 (UTC)

Only four cast members are credited

It may be noted that, in addition to several non-speaking roles (soldiers and hospital personnel in Vietnam, people in amusement park), this episode has ten speaking roles.

Those are (in order of appearance): 1) doctor and 2) lieutenant in Vietnam who discuss Pip's grave condition; 3) Max Philips and 4) Mrs. Feeny, whose conversation defines their characters; 5) George Reynold who comes to Max's room to explain that his bet with Max was with stolen money; 6) Mr. Moran and 7) his gun-carrying henchman; 8) surgeon in Vietnam who says that Pip may survive; 9) young Pip who appears in the amusement park and 10) Pvt. Pip, seen on a stretcher in the opening scene, speaks for the first time in the closing scene when he arrives at the amusement park with Mrs. Feeny and her little granddaughter.

However, in the closing credits, only four members of the cast receive billing. For the record, below is a reproduction of the cast listing in the end credits:

Twilight Zone      Created by ROD SERLING

"IN PRAISE     OF PIP"

Starring JACK KLUGMAN              as      Max Phillips

with CONNIE GILCHRIST    as Mrs. Feeny      ROBERT DIAMOND          as Pvt. Pip                and           BILLY MUMY          as Young Pip

                                                                                                                                 Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 05:21, 21 July 2021 (UTC)