(065) The Long Walk

The squad picks up a wounded G.I., who is really the leader of a specially trained group of German infiltrators. Larkin, a boot-camp friend of Saunders, discovers the deception, but is gunned down by the infiltrator. With his dying breath, he tries to warn Saunders. The infiltrator tricks the squad into carrying him several miles to his rendezvous with his troops. But in the end, Saunders' deception proves better than the German's.

Saunders vs. an Aryan superman. Guess who wins? Roddy McDowall as Murfree, the S.S. infiltrator, is both charming and chilling. Though spending the bulk of the episode flat on his back, he gives an energetic and engaging performance.

The first time I saw this episode, the ending took me by surprise. But even knowing the "surprise," the episode holds up well on repeat viewing. Morrow does a superb job of playing the many levels that this script requires. No moralizing or intellectual introspection in this episode, just quality entertainment.

· Last scene between Saunders and the infiltrator, the bottle of wine that Saunders' holds switches hands between shots, then just disappears.

· Littlejohn offers Murfree a drink of wine from a corked bottle. In the next cut, Littlejohn drinks from the bottle, which is suddenly uncorked.

· The bridge that crosses a dry ditch in most episodes has water running under it. This is a spillway connecting the upper and lower reservoirs of Franklin Canyon.

Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley (does not appear)

Guest star
Roddy McDowall as Murfree

Conlan Carter as Doc
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
William Bryant as Larkin
Maurice Marsac as Armand
Peter Brocco as Lambert
Chris Howard as German