The Fountain of Youth (Orson Welles, 1958)

with english subtitles.
The Fountain of Youth is a 1956 TV pilot for a proposed Desilu TV series (with a tentative title, The Orson Welles Show) which was never produced, and was subsequently televised once, on September 16, 1958 for NBC's Colgate Theatre. The short film was directed by Orson Welles,based on the short story "Youth from Vienna" by John Collier, and stars Joi Lansing and Rick Jason as a couple faced with an unavoidable temptation concocted by a scientist (Dan Tobin). Welles himself is also much in evidence as onscreen narrator. The show won the prestigious Peabody Award in 1958 after its single broadcast.
Cast:
Dan Tobin as Humphrey Baxter
Joi Lansing as Carolyn Coates
Rick Jason as Alan Brody
Nancy Kulp as Stella Morgan
Billy House as Albert Morgan
Marjorie Bennett as Journalist (uncredited)
Orson Welles as Host / narrator
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Foun...)

[@timty8224]

Welles had this uncanny ability to turn every medium he touched - theater, radio, film., now television - into something audiences had never experienced before.

[@lisaburns4131]

Gosh what a voice.

[@PackerBronco]

I could listen with rapt attention to Orson Welles reading a phone book.

[@elgintv]

You should hear him trying to sell a big dish of peas, or perhaps.... monkey-glands!

[@None-zc5vg]

Same here!

[@howardhawksmovies1996]

Thanks for posting this Orson discovery. Remarkable how he makes the story all about himself with his cheeky narration in his best voice. Also terrific use of film techniques, especially the stills, and a great jazz score. Thanks to Lucy and Desi for giving Orson another shot in Hollywood, and for using film when most were using kinescope.

[@jamianmateja5574]

“It’s an amazing piece of work. It’s the direction television should have gone instead of becoming like movies.” Peter Bogdanovich

[@Fred.pSonic]

08:27 That transition was pure Welles, very cinematic for a tv production back then.

[@celiabarreira8435]

What a big pleasure to listen Orson!!! Thanks

[@robkunkel8833]

3:20 If anybody is interested, that background music, “Oh You Beautiful Doll”, is played with a C Melody Saxophone. An usual type of old instrument that plays is a rather boring key of C. The technique for making this movie is so unique. Nice comments.

[@fromthesidelines]

Frank Trumbauer played C Melody sax- and had a jazz band in the '20s and '30s, who made a lot of GREAT recordings, with Bix Beiderbecke as one of his soloists.

[@roxybrooks6937]

Orson was a genius. Whomever decided he wasn't going to do well in Television wasn't too broad minded...

[@jerryjohnson8485]

William Randolph Hearst hated him for citizen Kane

[@mvies77]

Anyone whom decided Orson would not do well in anything would be out of their mind.

[@MisterMoncivais]

@@jerryjohnson8485 cancel culture (and revenge cancel culture) has been for a while...

[@michaeldanello3966]

Billy House who plays the writer here had a great role in the 1946 RKO Val Lewton film BEDLAM which starred Boris Karloff

[@onlychilddmh]

House was also in Welles' The Stranger. From a fellow fan!

[@Morningman65]

Mr. Welles' radio chops are quite evident here. This pilot won a Peabody Award. What a wonderful series it would have made.

[@elgintv]

Well, here under protest- We know a little place in the American far west, where Humphrey Baxter chops up the finest prairie-fed monkey glands,and adds a crumb-crisp coating...and... .....This is all shit!

[@steverhodesvideos6244]

@@elgintv You missed the point of the story, or did you even watch it?

[@elgintv]

@@steverhodesvideos6244 No... I saw the story, and I agree that it was too bad Welles was not able to continue the series. Hey- that was the '50s.... been there. So I thought I'd interject a bit of humour. BAH! Evidently some folks here suffer from irony-deficient anemia. You are such pests! Whatever it is you want, I can't deliver it.

[@RussMcClay]

Excellent! Funny to see Nancy Kulp in this. She played "Jane" in the Beverly Hillbillies on television.

[@jojopuppyfish]

I saw this at the Museum of TV and Radio about 15 years ago and they had a really good print of it. If Other Side of the wind could get released, I hope Netflix gets this one released too.

[@FlyAVersatran]

You got your wish.

[@frankie8648]

Welles was simply a singular talent.

[@dclefevre]

Ack.. this is so good. Just proves that Television is a medium that loves mediocrity... then and now. Orson was never respected by any of the establishment characters, and certainly not TV.

[@orangecat53]

Based on a story by one of my favorite writers, John Collier.

[@bobtaylor170]

Collier may have been the most entertaining writer I've ever read.

[@mrgobrien]

Eventually remade in 1983 as Youth From Vienna with Dick Smothers and Sharon Gless as part of the Tales Of The Unexpected series.

[@ssppeellll]

3:30 -- The earliest reference to the "Six Degrees of Separation" principle that I've ever heard. (Though here it's three degrees of separation.)

[@jeffdawson2786]

The tension in this is excruciating. Welles always set people on edge.

[@nativevirginian8344]

This is storytelling. Telling tales. Narrating life. All Welles needed was a campfire.

[@modfin]

LOVE the music!!

[@jessfrankel5212]

Just terrific. Joi Lansing was gorgeous and has her best role, perhaps, but Orson Welles' technique is on full display, as is his voice. Excellent show in every way.

[@bonniemerchant9692]

Just fabulous

[@anamariabaorebatta2832]

Me encanta esta película esta mi protagonista de COMBATE 💚 💜 el teniente Hanley. Esta guapísimo RICK JANSON. Se q falleció q DIOS lo tenga en su SANTA GLORIA.

[@radiootoo]

Excellent hitchcockian tone in a neatly-resolved short story co-starring the fine Rick Jason of COMBAT! fame.

[@EPA18]

There's nothing remotely Hitchcockian about this mess

[@GaryWells1972]

Thanks so much for sharing!! Don't know where else I could possibly see this. All I can say is...Joi Lansing.

[@blueskye6372]

Nice. I was 10 years old then. 📽📺

[@divingduck1970]

Masterful storytelling. Thank you.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

A project of DesiLu’s. The concept was theirs: photo stills, film, narration and a continuous musical score. Orson was chosen by Desi. This was a pilot for a series using this innovative technique. Ordinary was a problem as usual. They could have sold it was an anthology series. Orson was difficult to get a hold of and even harder to get to commit. Plus, he wanted to be paid a fortune! This killed the series! Years later Desi would say, when ever this series was mentioned, that this should have been a way to tell a story on tv.

[@holden190]

I think you’re downplaying Welles here. This has Welles all over it. He might have been given a rough idea of what Desilu wanted, but I can’t believe that an executive came up with the whole concept. Still it’s wonderful but way too sophisticated for the 50s.

[@nstix2009xitsn]

@@holden190 Orson Welles Cult Alert! Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz revolutionized TV production. OW cultists are always giving him credit for other people's work.

[@kevinkrochak2546]

Way ahead of its time!!

[@TonyBoyIsHere]

Lucille Ball attempted to help Welles stage a comeback in America after years in Europe, living and making movies and mostly attempting to raise money so he could ... make movies.

[@valediggler]

I love it, if only there were episodes 😪

[@daleholmgren6078]

Very clever story.

[@gaminawulfsdottir3253]

This is fascinating.

[@Robbi496]

Rick Jason a few years before he was the Platoon Leader on "Combat!"

[@alexanderclaylavin]

That first minute was mind-blowing

[@PaulGruendlerBeau]

Rick Jason as the Tennis Pro!

[@onlychilddmh]

Rick is so missed Combat! was one of the greatest series of all time.

[@ernestkovach3305]

This was quite fascinating. One wonders why the studio decided not to give this pilot the go ahead and turn it into a tv series of diverse stories.

[@nostalgik._]

Orson Welles got cold feet, that's why.

[@maunster3414]

Velly interesting story.

[@danielneuenschwander7381]

I believe the uncredited journalist is incorrect. The lady portraying the "Hedda Hopper" like character was Madge Blake.

[@TonyBoyIsHere]

Daniel Neuenschwander Absolutely right Daniel. One of those many people in fllms and TV who you recognize, but cannot name. Well, except for you.

[@TonyBoyIsHere]

Daniel Neuenschwander I always wondered who was meaner -- Hedda Hopper, Louella Parsons or Walter Winchell. All were so mean they probably would fight over the title of "Meanest Columnist".

[@TonyBoyIsHere]

The voice ... The one voice even the greatest of impressionists cannot mimic. When speaking to audiences, Peter Bogdanovich attempts it, but fails. In fact, Bogdanovich replaced Rich Little in Welles' unfinished "The Other Side of the Wind".

[@mickeleh]

TonyBoyIsHere Maurice LaMarche does a pretty good Welles. Search KZbin for for a sample.

[@UNOwen1]

This was filmed as a pilot for an aborted Desilu series (ironically, it won a Peabody award). According to a book about Desilu, Welles moved in to the Arnazes guest house for what was supposed to be 3 weeks, but turned into an 'interminable 3 months'. When he left there were 'innumerable telephone and grocery bills'. Martin Leeds (who worked at Desilu) had the 'unenviable task of informing the imposing director of the networks refusal to consider an hour-long anthology series (which Welles was to appear as host in each). The final straw (according to Lucille Ball) was when Welles expanded a 5-day shooting schedule into a 6-well production and then spent $10 thousand (almost $100 THOUSAND adjusted) for the wrap party - billed to.... (who else?) Desilu.

[@Beardman29]

Kind of an early Twilight Zone.

[@michaelwertzy9808]

More like "One Step Beyond", dontcha think?

[@sockmonkey22]

Jane Hathaway/Nancy Kulp 😊

[@pacotellez1]

paradoxically Joi Lansing would pass away at 44 ....

[@enriquesanchez2001]

wow

[@Robbi496]

This reminds me a bit of "F For Fake"

[@vernandel]

whats the music during the intermission at 16:10?

[@ssppeellll]

7:40 - 8:25 Mrs. Morgan = Jane Hathaway?

[@michaeldanello3966]

Yes, Nancy Kulp

[@ssppeellll]

4:30 The actress playing this gossip columnist is, I believe, the same actress that played Dora Bailey, the gossip columnist in "Singing in the Rain." Coincidence?

[@fromthesidelines]

Yes...MADGE BLAKE.

[@JHarder1000]

Together with the Ernie Kovacs Show,*The Twilight Zone*, "The Fabulous Fifties", "Demon with A Glass Hand", "Opie the Birdman", "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres', *The Wire*,,*The Prisoner*,*the Forsyte Saga*, "turkey's Away", and about a dozen others, one of the handful of instances where television has become art.

[@mike-kn5jf]

Thanks for the Outer Limits plug, my favorite episode. Thriller, Dobie, Car54, One Step Way Out Man, Mr Lucky, Chuck McCann, Soupy,

[@DJ-Brownie-UK]

8 47 looks like the kemp brothers from Spandau Ballet father or other family relation no doubt about it

[@scooterdooter]

Glands

[@christopherking2999]

Nancy Culp?

[@holden190]

Yep, noticed her too

[@cagdky]

tick tock tick tock tick tock

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Joi

[@kbirdus]

The Arnazes were pissed because Orson Welles went way over schedule and budget for this thing, and he was staying in their guest house while he was making it.

[@MTMF.london]

They should have known Orson Welles was notorious for being always over budget and over schedule.

[@TeaParty1776]

@@MTMF.london Welles was Welles.

[@TreadwellJay]

Writing this was a condition of staying in that house, and he put off working on it so long, that Desi had to threaten him with physical violence.

[@TeaParty1776]

​@@TreadwellJay That should have been made into an "I Love Lucy" episode!

[@samsoncrosswood7259]

This ...

[@billgorrell6166]

Miss Hathaway

[@TreadwellJay]

...but THEN what happened?

[@michaelwertzy9808]

Tick-tock, clock or metronome?

[@STONECOLD1987]

her hair never moves lol

[@christopherlangdon2892]

I'm a huge fan and admirer of Welles...tremendous talent and personality. However, I don't care for this effort. The music is intrusive and distracting and the performances are second rate. What a shame...I wish he would've tried a Shakespeare for the masses approach.

[@restoreamericanvalues3380]

It's a lot like twilight zone...Wells instead of Serling...

[@cjktoo]

sorry to be late to the game -- but -- HMFG he was a genius! How many years of his life went wasted? And when did Rod Serling see this? (No disrespect, Rod. But, come on!)

[@__1758]

Everyone who ask about age never ask really about age. Always behind is some expectation. So is nonsense answer.

[@TeaParty1776]

Welles is mad. A genius, of course. But quite mad.

[@jeffreylockhart6444]

keep dropping the kitten and youth be damned

[@DJ-Brownie-UK]

mans eyes at 18:31 creepy as hell

[@timhall5229]

Did I see Jane Hathaway?

[@harrylangdon491]

I didn't get the ending.

[@jakealhalabi8194]

The scientist told them about this fountain of youth in order to get them to break up so he could have the girl. In the end, he reveals to her that the vital with the fountain of youth extract was nothing more than a placebo to cause animosity and hatred towards them to break off the relationship

[@macsnafu]

At least Rod Serling knew when to shut up and let the actors carry on. Orson just keeps interjecting as the omnipresent narrator throughout. And hey, Nancy Kulp in an early role! Best known as Miss Jane Hathaway from the Beverly Hillbillies. Edit: I take it back. This episode wouldn't be half as interesting without Orson's narration.

[@farswept]

What's with the shifty eyes?

[@SenorZorrozzz]

farswept he’s reading his lines.

[@johneyon5257]

i had a girlfriend named "Joi" - named after the actress here - Joi Lansing - her mother had liked the name - - to my eyes - Joi Lansing was the prettiest of the blonde bombshells - less overboard on the sexual flaunting - and a competent actress - i wish she had done more & had better roles - i'm afraid this is typical of the roles she got - except this was actually a lead role

[@fromthesidelines]

The problem was, Orson spent a lot of Desilu's production funding on other things besides filming the pilot {Desi Arnaz warned him, "This is my 'Babalu' money, so don't you fuck around with me."}. Welles was considered unreliable when it came to producing any TV projects- as executive Jim Aubrey discovered a few years later when Orson blew the advanced money he was given on another potential TV project doing "other things". Aubrey talked to Desi about the lack of progress on Orson's part- "So far, he spent $150,000, and I haven't seen one fucking foot of film yet.". "Serves you right", Desi shot back.

[@steverhodesvideos6244]

Not according to the Wikipedia entry for The Fountain of Youth. In fact, the exact opposite. I sometimes think it's too bad that anyone can write whatever they want on social media, true or not, with absolutely no consequences.

[@fromthesidelines]

Desi himself recalled what happened in his autobiography, "A Book".

[@gmoke]

From Michael Korda's Charmed Lives on getting Orson Welles to play Harry Lime in The Third Man, chasing him from Rome to Naples to Venice to Capri to Nice, just after WWII when fresh fruit was still unavailable in the UK: "Once we were airborne, my father fell asleep, and gradually Orson, having finished the Nice-Matin and yesterday's Paris edition of the New York Herald-Tribune, began to eye the fruit. Sleepy myself, I noticed him pick up a piece of fruit and fondle it, but when I woke up an hour or so later, I realized to my horror that he had systematically taken a single bite out of each piece of fruit, even the ones whose rinds made this a difficult proposition. Having effectively destroyed Vincent's fruit basket, he was now at peace with himself, and slept soundly, his immaculate appearance marred only by a few spots of juice on his shirt front. "I thought there was nothing to be gained by telling my father about Orson's revenge, and when we landed and he saw his devastated fruit basket, he merely sighed and asked the chauffeur to deliver it to Mr. Welles's suite at Claridge's. Not a vindictive man, Vincent was always surprised that others were, he made a allowance for talent. 'I give you a word of advice,' he said, as we turned into Wilton Place - 'never trust an actor!'"

[@Beardman29]

This strikes me as a precursor to Rod Sterling's Twilight Zone. The format is too similar. It wouldn't surprise me if they copied from Welles.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Serling copied from several different radio shows such as suspense, and the tv shows One step beyond and Tales if Of Tomorrow.

[@jimbarton3956]

Twilight Zone came a year later, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents started in 1955.

[@goodtimefolkrock]

Way too quirky and off beat to get picked up by the stuffed suits at Desilou

[@okjoe5561]

Desilu produced TV shows but it was the networks' decision whether or not to order it.

[@MTMF.london]

Desilu were the ones who backed him. Networks didn't pick up.

[@elgintv]

It's just a can of frozen peas. A big dish of peas. You are such pests! Whatever it is you want, I can't deliver it.

[@persistence_of_vision]

Carolyn Coates = Diana Dors?

[@wadebarnett2542]

Cast: Dan Tobin as Humphrey Baxter Joi Lansing as Carolyn Coates Rick Jason as Alan Brody Nancy Kulp as Stella Morgan Billy House as Albert Morgan Marjorie Bennett as Journalist (uncredited) Orson Welles as Host / narrator

[@persistence_of_vision]

wade barnett Sheesh. I knew somebody would point out that it's played by Joi Lansing... that's not the point at all, I was wondering whether the character was based on Diana Dors.

[@wadebarnett2542]

PersistenceOfVision Sorry, I didn't understand that.

[@ernestkovach3305]

Marilyn.

[@johneyon5257]

Persistence - you must be british - even at her height - Dors wasn't especially influential in america - blonde bombshells at the time would be imitating the much more famous Marilyn Monroe - she was then at her height (Some Like It Hot would premiere in 1959)

[@EPA18]

I truly hated this. I think it was absolutely awful. Way too much talking by Orson Welles, and irritating story.

[@bobtaylor170]

Yes, I'm about twelve minutes in, and am going to have to quit. The John Collier story this is based on, "Youth From Vienna," is terrific. For that matter, every John Collier story is terrific.