The Twilight Zone (TV Series)
What You Need (1959)
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- TV-PG
- 25min
- Drama, Fantasy
- 25 Dec 1959
- TV Episode
A small time crook plans to exploit an old street peddler who has the uncanny knack of selling people exactly what they will shortly need.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Steve Cochran | ... |
Fred Renard
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| Ernest Truex | ... |
Pedott
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| Read Morgan | ... |
Lefty
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| Arlene Martel | ... |
Girl in Bar
(as Arline Sax)
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| William Edmonson | ... |
Bartender
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Doris Karnes | ... |
Woman
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| Fred Kruger | ... |
Man on Street
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Norman Sturgis | ... |
Hotel Clerk
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Juney Ellis | ... |
Woman on Street (uncredited)
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Frank Logan | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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| Ron Nyman | ... |
Police Officer (uncredited)
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John Pedrini | ... |
Man on Street (uncredited)
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| Rod Serling | ... |
Narrator (uncredited) (voice)
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Mark Sunday | ... |
Photographer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Alvin Ganzer | ||
Written by
| Rod Serling | ... | (teleplay by) |
| Henry Kuttner | ... | (based on the short story by) (as Lewis Padgett) & |
| C.L. Moore | ... | (based on the short story by) (as Lewis Padgett) |
| Rod Serling | ... | (created by) (uncredited) (creator) |
Produced by
| Buck Houghton | ... | producer |
| Rod Serling | ... | executive producer: Cayuga Productions |
Music by
| Van Cleave | ||
Cinematography by
| George T. Clemens | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Joseph Gluck | ||
Casting By
| Mildred Gusse | ||
Art Direction by
| George W. Davis | ||
| William Ferrari | ||
Set Decoration by
| Rudy Butler | ||
| Henry Grace | ||
Production Management
| Ralph W. Nelson | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Edward O. Denault | ... | assistant director (as Edward Denault) |
Sound Department
| Franklin Milton | ... | sound (as Frank Milton) |
| Jean G. Valentino | ... | sound (as Jean Valentino) |
| Van Allen James | ... | sound effects editor (uncredited) |
Animation Department
| Sam Clayberger | ... | background artist- opening title sequence (uncredited) / layout artist- title sequence (uncredited) |
| Rudy Larriva | ... | animator/animation director - opening titles (uncredited) |
| Joe Messerli | ... | effects painter-title sequence (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Bernard Herrmann | ... | composer: theme music (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Herbert Klynn | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- CBS (1959) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Image Entertainment (2010) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- The Corporation (II) (2008) (France) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- United Productions of America (UPA) (animated title)
- Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
An old man comes to the same bar every night to peddle his wares. He tells the clients what it is they need before they realize they need it. Moments after telling a washed up major league pitcher he needs a ticket to Scranton, Pennsylvania he gets a phone call offering him a job there. When the old man tells him he needs a pair of scissors, Fred Renard scoff at him but and when his scarf is caught in an elevator door, he's glad the old man was right. Renard, who has wasted most of his 36 years on Earth, decides to capitalize on the old man's gift. Written by garykmcd |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | When the leaky pen drips ink on the newspaper, indicating which horse Renard should bet on, if you look closely you will see among the names of the jockeys Clemens, Houghton, Denault and Serling; George T. Clemens was the director of photography in this episode, Buck Houghton was producer, Edward O. Denault was assistant director, and Rod Serling created it. See more » |
| Goofs | Right after the old man Pedott first comes into the bar, the camera changes to a shot of Renard sitting at the bar. For several seconds, the frames are running backward (you can see smoke coming down to the cigarette instead of rising up from it). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into What You Need (2020). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Blues See more » |
| Quotes |
Rod Serling - Narrator:
[Opening Narration]
You're looking at Mr. Fred Renard, who carries on his shoulder a chip the size of the national debt. This is a sour man, a friendless man, a lonely man, a grasping, compulsive, nervous man. This is a man who has lived thirty-six undistinguished, meaningless, pointless, failure-laden years and who at this moment looks for an escape - any escape, any way, anything, anybody - to get out of the rut. And this little old man is just what Mr. Renard is waiting for. See more » |