The Twilight Zone – “The Night of the Meek”

The Twilight Zone Season 2 DVD

Original Air Date: December 23, 1960
Starring: Art Carney, John Fiedler
Directed by: Jack Smight

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Henry Corwin (Art Carney) loses his job as a department store Santa for being drunk on Christmas Eve then finds a sack that magically produces perfect presents.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Henry is dressed as Santa as he walks the streets. A tabby cat suddenly jumps down from some garbage cans, knocking a bag of cans to the ground. Moments later Henry looks back and sees the bag is full of presents.

The Twilight Zone - The Night of the Meek - tabby cat knocking sack off garbage cans

The Twilight Zone - The Night of the Meek - tabby cat knocking sack off garbage cans animated gif

After handing out several gifts, Henry’s activity draws suspicion from a policeman named Flaherty (Robert P. Lieb) who brings him into the station. The department store manager, Mr. Dundee (John Fiedler) assumes that the presents were stolen from the store. Dundee is excited about catching Henry with the goods and rummages in the bag, only it is again filled with empty cans. Dundee is then shocked when he pulls the tabby cat from the bag!

The Twilight Zone - The Night of the Meek - tabby cat being pulled out of bag by Mr. Dundee John Fiedler with Henry Art Carney and Flaherty Robert P. Lieb

The Twilight Zone - The Night of the Meek - tabby cat being pulled out of bag by Mr. Dundee John Fiedler with Henry Art Carney and Flaherty Robert P. Lieb

The Twilight Zone - The Night of the Meek - tabby cat being pulled out of bag by Mr. Dundee John Fiedler with Henry Art Carney and Flaherty Robert P. Lieb animated gif

The cat sits on the table for much of the scene. This is very likely cat actor Orangey playing this role.

The Twilight Zone - The Night of the Meek - tabby cat on table with Mr. Dundee John Fiedler and Henry Art Carney

Final Mewsings: The cat was the best gift to come out of the bag!

Many thanks to T.j. Dotson for letting us know about the cat in this episode!


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