This is a very uncharacteristic Twilight Zone episode. It's a Christmas themed show that is sentimental and uplifting (and perhaps even a tad schmaltzy), yet which maintains Serling's cutting commentary on the misery of inner city poverty. It also includes one of the finest examples of his signature character type: the noble, sympathetic urban man trapped in the brutality of a mid-century American society with no room for the weak, or the humble, or the poor.
Henry Corwin is a "professional" department store Santa Claus, who ekes out a seasonal living in a tattered and grimy old Santa suit. But Corwin is also a drunkard. He drinks to blot out the grinding hardship of his fellow ghetto dwellers, hardship he cannot reconcile with the free-flowing greed he sees in Christmas shoppers at the store where he has his latest gig. "Just one Christmas" he says to an angry store manager, "I'd like to see the meek inherit the earth". With this, and a rather ordinary looking burlap bag, begins a very unusual night for Corwin: a night of the meek.
Serling's crackerjack writing is only part of this episode's greatness. The rest is courtesy of the inimitable Art Carney. He steps entirely away from his goofy, campy Norton character to provide a remarkable portrait of a besotted, though big hearted, department store Santa. In Henry Corwin he delivers stately dignity and empathy blended with a convincing portrayal of desperate alcoholism. I think it was the best performance he ever gave, and it's a great one.
For me, this is one of those classic 60's TV Christmas shows that has become a seasonal viewing tradition, along with "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". But it's good enough to watch anytime of year. 9.0/10.
Henry Corwin is a "professional" department store Santa Claus, who ekes out a seasonal living in a tattered and grimy old Santa suit. But Corwin is also a drunkard. He drinks to blot out the grinding hardship of his fellow ghetto dwellers, hardship he cannot reconcile with the free-flowing greed he sees in Christmas shoppers at the store where he has his latest gig. "Just one Christmas" he says to an angry store manager, "I'd like to see the meek inherit the earth". With this, and a rather ordinary looking burlap bag, begins a very unusual night for Corwin: a night of the meek.
Serling's crackerjack writing is only part of this episode's greatness. The rest is courtesy of the inimitable Art Carney. He steps entirely away from his goofy, campy Norton character to provide a remarkable portrait of a besotted, though big hearted, department store Santa. In Henry Corwin he delivers stately dignity and empathy blended with a convincing portrayal of desperate alcoholism. I think it was the best performance he ever gave, and it's a great one.
For me, this is one of those classic 60's TV Christmas shows that has become a seasonal viewing tradition, along with "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". But it's good enough to watch anytime of year. 9.0/10.