Combat! reviews by Jo Davidsmeyer •
Episodes rated from 0 to 4 bayonets
(149) Encounter
Guest star James MacArthur
RATING: 2 bayonets
Written by Frank Moss
Directed by Bernard McEveety
First aired 31-Jan-1967
Episode 19 of Season 5
Guest star James Daly
SYNOPSIS:
Jack Cole, a war correspondent, encounters his estranged father while covering
the war. His father, Captain Dewey Cole, is an Engineer Corps veteran whom the
platoon has been assigned to assist. The captain resents his son's civilian
status and refuses to allow him to accompany them in the field. But when facing
death together, father and son reconcile.
REVIEW:
Take one domineering, no-nonsense military father, mix with one sensitive,
Mamma-raised intellectual son, stir in long-held resentments and what do you get?
A heart-tugging reconciliation before the final credits. Nothing original here.
But director McEveety tries his best to put a little spit and polish on the
old theme. The acting is solid, direction professional, the plot predictable.
When all is said and done, in "Encounter" you spend a pleasant hour with the squad
without overly taxing your brain or your emotions.
The show ends with Saunders coming over the hill like the U.S. Cavalry. He and
the squad mow down the entire German patrol without taking a single casualty
in a pristine bloodbath.
"Encounter" is the closest to a "squad" episode that viewers get in fifth
season. Only four episodes feature the entire cast. This is the only one that has
good squad interaction.
NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:
· Filmed at Franklin Canyon.
· A German leaves behind his rifle to advance and toss a grenade into the house.
He then shoots Private Kean with his rifle (which he did not bring with him).
CAST:
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders
Guest star
James Daly as Capt. Cole
Jack Hogan as Kirby
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Conlan Carter as Doc
Special Guest Star
James MacArthur as Jack Cole
Karl Sadler as German Soldier
Buddy Pantsari as Squad G.I.
Paul Busch as German Officer
Richard Ever as Pvt. Kean
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the US by Paramount Pictures. It is not our intention to infringe on the
copyrights of the creators of Combat! This web page is meant for
the free enjoyment of Combat! fans everywhere. Unless otherwise noted, materials Copyright Jo
Davidsmeyer. All rights reserved. Photographs from the TV series
copyright ABC-TV.
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