The Fountain of Youth
Original title: Fountain of Youth
- Episode aired Sep 16, 1958
- 27m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
524
YOUR RATING
A couple is conflicted when they are offered a chance at youth.A couple is conflicted when they are offered a chance at youth.A couple is conflicted when they are offered a chance at youth.
- Awards
- 1 win
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was intended as the pilot episode of a TV series for Desilu, consisting of short stories with a sting in the tail, all introduced by Orson Welles. However, Welles was adamant that he "didn't want it to be like Hitchcock" - although the huge success of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" was probably what inspired the idea. Welles instead planned to narrate each story, weaving in and out of the story and talking directly to the audience as he does in this pilot, thereby having the largest role without actually being a character in the plot. At the end of "The Fountain Of Youth", he actually mentions "next week's story" by name. However, it was never made and the series did not eventuate; Welles may have been compensated, perhaps, by the fact that this pilot did win the Peabody Award that year.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Greatest Show You Never Saw (1996)
Featured review
Orson Welles Presents
This minor, virtually unseen entry in Orson Welles' filmography really deserves more exposure. It's a sly little morality play very reminiscent of an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", but done with far more flair & skill.
Mixing a standard 1950's style of TV play with still imagery, blending voice-over with the spoken dialogue & Welles himself addressing the audience, 'The Fountain Of Youth' is years ahead of its time.
The tale itself is the sort of clever short story with a dark twist ending that might have been written by Roald Dahl & published by Playboy, then adapted for TV. It involves a jilted lover taking his revenge on a beautiful couple with a promise of eternal youth that tears them apart.
While it's often interesting to look at early television productions with an objective eye, very few remain anything but vaguely amusing & ultimately dated curiosities. Welles' lyrical, fluid style of direction & editing elevates what might easily have been a clever, but unremarkable, 1950's TV play to something that remains impressive & watchable nearly half a century later.
Mixing a standard 1950's style of TV play with still imagery, blending voice-over with the spoken dialogue & Welles himself addressing the audience, 'The Fountain Of Youth' is years ahead of its time.
The tale itself is the sort of clever short story with a dark twist ending that might have been written by Roald Dahl & published by Playboy, then adapted for TV. It involves a jilted lover taking his revenge on a beautiful couple with a promise of eternal youth that tears them apart.
While it's often interesting to look at early television productions with an objective eye, very few remain anything but vaguely amusing & ultimately dated curiosities. Welles' lyrical, fluid style of direction & editing elevates what might easily have been a clever, but unremarkable, 1950's TV play to something that remains impressive & watchable nearly half a century later.
helpful•172
- Michael_Cronin
- Sep 4, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Orson Welles Show
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime27 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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