"Combat!" Laser Discs from Japan

(Thank you to Don Brockway for providing this information.)

Pioneer LDC, Inc. of Japan released several Combat! laser discs in the late '90s. They were available only in Japan. All have Japanese subtitles.

About the Discs

According to fellow fan Don Brockway:
"My dealer (Sight and Sound, 27 Jones Road, Waltham MA 02154; 617-894-8633; http://www.tiac.net/users/amadeus/s&laser.html) has never seen or sold a Color 1 box. I've ordered one from him. If it's still available, it'll be about $350 and the wait is usually about three months.

"The packaging of the box sets is quite attractive, with color or monochrome stills from the episodes, as appropriate, decorating the individual disc sleeves. This makes sense, since these discs were also sold individually.

"The Japanese subtitles are distracting at first, but the eye quickly learns to ignore them. The quality of the prints is pristine, sharp as a tack. The color episode I watched prior to creating this write-up ("Decision") showed color variability from scene to scene (technically speaking, it looks like an 'untimed' or non-color-corrected, print). This, too, is a minor problem, easily overlooked. As a Combat! collectible, my guess is that these are good investments. The quantities must have been quite limited, and it's anybody's guess as to whether episodes will be re-released when the DVD (Digital Video Disc) supplants the laser disc in coming years. It's nice to have such a solid, hefty, well-produced set on the bookshelf or in the player."

Individual Discs

• SF-050-1491 Combat TV Volume I - "The Gun" and "The Anniversary"
• SF-050-1492 Combat TV Volume II - "The Letter" and "The Gantlet"
• SF-050-1493 Combat TV Volume III - "The Losers" and "Conflict"
• SF-050-1494 Combat TV Volume IV - "A Child's Game" and "Chapel at Able Five"
• SF-050-1495 Combat TV Volume V - "The Brothers" and "Ollie Joe"
• SF-050-1496 Combat TV Volume VI - "The Outsider" and "Headcount"
• SF-050-1497 Combat TV Volume VII - "Decision" and "Gulliver"
• SF-050-1498 Combat TV Volume VIII - "Encounter" and "Cry For Help"
• SF-050-1499 Combat TV Volume IX - "Gadjo" and "Jonah"
• SF-050-1500 Combat TV Volume X - "A Little Jazz" and "Entombed"
• SF-050-1501 Combat TV Volume XI - "Nightmare on the Red Ball Run" and "The Bankroll"
• SF-050-1502 Combat TV Volume XII - "The Masquers" and "The Partisan"

The only episode from the final season not released on Japanese laser -- so far as I know -- is "The Furlough."

Boxed Sets

"Combat!" Color Selection [1]

Pioneer PILF-????, ??? Minutes, eight episodes on four discs

• The Gun
• The Anniversary
• The Letter
• The Gantlet
• The Losers
• Conflict
• A Child's Game
• Chapel at Babel Five

"Combat!" Color Selection [2]

Pioneer PILF-1868, 391 Minutes, eight episodes on four discs

• The Brothers
• Ollie Joe
• The Outsider
• Headcount
• Decision
• Gulliver
• Encounter
• A Cry For Help

Combat! Color Selection [3]

Pioneer PILF-1869, 388 Minutes, eight episodes on four discs

• Gadjo
• Jonah
• A Little Jazz
• Entombed
• Nightmare On The Red Ball Run
• The Bankroll
• The Masquers
• The Partisan

"Combat!" Monochrome Selection

Pioneer PILF-1851, 476 Minutes, ten episodes on five discs

• A Day In June
• Rear Echelon Commandos
• Forgotten Front
• Far From The Brave
• The Celebrity
• Masquerade
• Anatomy Of A Patrol
• The Duel
• What Are The Bugles Blowin' For - Part 1
• What Are The Bugles Blowin' For - Part 2