Kick the Can
- Episode aired Feb 9, 1962
- TV-PG
- 25m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
An old man living in a rest home thinks he's found the secret of youth in children's games.An old man living in a rest home thinks he's found the secret of youth in children's games.An old man living in a rest home thinks he's found the secret of youth in children's games.
Earle Hodgins
- Agee
- (as Earl Hodgins)
Gregory McCabe
- Boy #1
- (uncredited)
Eve McVeagh
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
Scott Seaton
- Resident
- (uncredited)
Rod Serling
- Narrator
- (uncredited)
- …
Barry Truex
- David Whitley
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode was one of three episodes to be remade for Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983). The relevant segment was directed by Steven Spielberg.
- Quotes
Charles Whitley: Maybe, the fountain of youth isn't a fountain at all. Maybe, it's a way of looking at things - a way of thinking.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
Featured review
Arguably one of the best of all of the T.Z. episodes
KICK THE CAN takes place in an old folks home, and in the general vicinity of the front of this rest home. Don't worry, I WILL NOT GIVE AWAY THE ENDING. The surprise ending is one of the best of the T.Z. series, and it is a charming and satisfying one, but I WILL NOT GIVE IT AWAY. KICK THE CAN, starring Ernest Truax, and WALKING DISTANCE, starring Gig Young, are the two T.Z. episodes that concern nostalgia for childhood. The story gets off the ground when Mr.Truax makes plans to leave the confines of the old folks home, and to move in with his son. But Mr.Truax is somewhat disappointed when he discovers that his plan was really a misunderstanding, that is, his son had never invited him to move in. At any rate, Mr.Truax continues to live in the old folks home, and the viewer will be amused by Mr.Truax's penchant for running through the water sprinkler, and for amusing himself with other juvenile antics. At one point, Mr.Truax borrows a crumpled tin can that had been used by a neighborhood boy for playing kick the can, and he keeps it as a souvenir for himself. A continuing theme in this story, is that Mr.Truax continuously harps at his elderly colleagues to enjoy themselves, and to play kick the can. Russell Collins plays a cantankerous old man, who is steadfast in his refusal to engage in childish games. However, Mr.Truax is successful with persuading the other residents to "let go" and to engage in a childhood game or too. Tension is provided in this story, because the manager of the old folks home tries to prevent the old people from engaging in any childhood shenanigans. At any rate, there is a surprise ending which I DO NOT DISCLOSE HERE. Mr.Truax has an engaging, calm voice and demeanor. Unfortunately, Mr.Truax is in only one other T.Z. episode, WHAT YOU NEED, where he reprises the role of somebody who confronts a problem and responds with infinite calmness.
helpful•173
- folylpentaglutamate
- Apr 23, 2014
Details
- Runtime25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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