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Other WWII TV Shows: Black Sheep Squadron • 12 O'Clock High |
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(136) Cry for HelpRATING: 12 bayonets Written by Sheldon Stark Directed by Richard Benedict First aired 20-Dec-1966 Episode 14 of Season 5 SYNOPSIS: On a mission to destroy an observation post, Hanley's patrol encounters a German machine gun nest, loses two men, and picks up a German medic, Peter Halsman. Kirby objects to bringing the medic. But Halsman proves useful when he saves the life of the son of their French contact. Halmsman and Doc form a bond until the German must choose between saving Doc's life or taking his freedom. REVIEW: Moral of story: Medics are nice, no matter what uniform they wear. The message is a little thin to hang an entire hour upon, but the cast does a fairly nice job in this middle-of-the-road episode that's just below par. Robert Duvall has some poignant scenes: one of the best is his farewell to the German soldier he was unable to save. A gentle, quiet "Es tut mir leid." (I'm sorry). Kirby is a butthead with the German prisoner, reverting to his first-season character. The best moment of the episode is the scene in the farmhouse between Conlan Carter and Robert Duvall — a quiet moment between two strangers who share a common bond, delicately punctuated by a silent Kirby reading his newspaper. NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS: · This is the same farmhouse used in "A Child's Game," with the bullet-holes patched up from last week's filming. · In his previous Combat! appearance, Duval was billed in the opening credits. Here his name appears only in the closing credits. · Doc should tell Kirby to keep his non-sterile hand out of his medic's kit. · In scene with Duvall, Doc discuss tracheotromies. Doc thinks he could not manage one. Later in the season, Doc is willing to attempt one in "Decision." · The squad, again, captures a tri-lingual prisoner. ABOUT FILMING THE EPISODE: Conlan Carter says of Robert Duvall: "He was so good, he's frightening. He works so easy that you don't see it happening. You see it on film, and you see all the stuff happening, and you think 'Oh my god!' He's just one of the best." CAST: Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders [does not appear] Guest star Robert Duvall as Peter Halsman Jack Hogan as Kirby Dick Peabody as Littlejohn Conlan Carter as Doc Faith Domergue as Madam Fouchet Jacques Roux as Anton Fouchet Gene Kirkwood as Danny David McFarland as Henri Fouchet Chris Howard as German Officer Horst Ebersberg as 1st German Lou Robb as 2nd German |
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