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SYNOPSIS:
A German bombardment strikes a prison,
releasing convicted criminals into the countryside. One unscrupulous convict, Boulanger,
assumes the identity of a French resistance fighter and teams up with Hanley's squad.
Boulanger uses the squad to travel safely to a rendezvous with his son. The son believes
in the father, thinking him guiltless of any crime.
REVIEW:
This light-weight story benefits from
the presence of veteran screen actor Gilbert Roland. He instills passion and energy in
this slight story of a hard-bitten convict and his devoted son.
Hanley starts out with the squad, but after a convenient wounding, hitches a ride to
the rear on a steam locomotive. In reality, Rick Jason had received an invitation to go
hunting on the Korbel winery property and wanted
out of that episode. His exit provided some magnificent shots of the Lieutenant riding
MGM's grand old steam engine.
Director McEveety shoots some entertaining sequences at the mine and provides a
well-choreographed battle. The predictable plot, though, is uncompelling.
NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:
- Action takes place near Avignon.
- The trainman uses an American Colt .45 revolver to shoot Hanley.
ABOUT FILMING THE EPISODE:
Jack Hogan remembers working with Gilbert Roland, that he was not "the
warmest guy in the world" but a fine actor. "He had been around since silents.
He was a legend and was supposed to be a health-food addict. He was getting on and he
looked better than we did."
CAST:
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders
Guest star
Gilbert Roland as Boulanger
Jack Hogan as Kirby
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Clive Clerk as Pierre
Peter Camlin as French Engineer
Benito Prezia as Andre
Sheldon Jacobs as German Major
Chris Anders as German
and
Robert Carricart as Lambrelle