Combat! episode reviews by Jo Davidsmeyer
Episodes are rated from 0 to 4 bayonets

(144) Decision

RATING: 2 bayonet

Teleplay by Esther and Bob Mitchell and Paul Playdon

Story by Peter Barry
Directed by Georg Fenady

First aired 15-Nov-66
Episode 9 of Season 5

Guest Star James Franciscus

SYNOPSIS:

Saunders is tasked with knocking out a radar and communication setup with help from a demolition expert, Harris. He is a doctor who has turned his back on his profession. Though he has given up saving lives, Harris cannot bring himself to take life with his own demolitions. He must re-evaluate his career decisions when the life of an officer depends on his using his medical skills.

REVIEW:

James Franciscus plays Harris, a man so afraid that he cannot live up to his father's legacy that he abandons it. He has a crippling fear that he might do something that will kill somebody, both as a doctor and as a demolition man.

Franciscus and Morrow are both good. Morrow shows that incredible intensity that makes Saunders so memorable. But the Harris character comes off as whiney.

The resolution is simplistic. Franciscus comes to the realization that, "It's not easy when you've been afraid of something as long as I have, but, I'm going to give it a try." The moral of this story is, just try.

NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:

· Same cave as in "Entombed."

· As the squad marches during the opening credits, one soldier's M1 gets caught in the camoflage netting and is knocked from his shoulder.

· McCall's flesh wound required a tourniquet.

· Doc runs to help McCall when he's hit, but ignores Adams.

· An incredibly long and uninteresting firefight, with much repeated action. The sequence contains fifteen instances of Caje jumping around the same tree and firing his rifle.

· Littlejohn is only in the opening sequence. He was on crutches and could not film the action sequences.

CAST:

Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders

Guest star
James Franciscus as Pfc. Charles Harris

Jack Hogan as Kirby
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Conlan Carter as Doc
William Bryant as McCall

Maurice Marsac as Elderly Frenchman
Louis Elias as Adams
David "Buddy" Pantsari as G.I.
Wes Bishop as Wounded Soldier

Combat! Episodes