Combat! reviews by Jo Davidsmeyer
*
Episodes rated from 0 to 4 bayonets
(123) The Ringer
RATING: 3 bayonets
Teleplay by Gene L. Coon
Story by Gene L. Coon and Del Carnes
Directed by Michael Caffey
First aired 15-Feb-1966
Episode 23 of Season 4
SYNOPSIS:
In "The Ringer," a suspicious straggler joins the squad and behaves
erratically, endangering the lives of Saunders and company. Who is he? Where did he come
from? Is he even an American? He convinces Saunders he has seen enough action
to warrant his accompanying the squad on a mission, where he disobeys orders and
raises everyone's suspicions.
REVIEW:
Mart Hulswit is Arthur Adams, the mysterious straggler with something to hide
and something to prove. Some good action sequences at the end of the episode
surround an ultimately unsatisfying conclusion, but, what-the-heck, getting there
is fun.
Morrow does his usual excellent job, especially chewing out Adams. Hogan, as
Kirby, again shows his gentler side in this episode. This is a trend that I
hated to see developed. By fifth season, Kirby has been so "niced-up" that he has
become nearly a caricature: "the curmudgeon with the heart of gold."
The exterior sets and devastation at the bombed out house look cartoonish and
contrived. The craters, fence, and buildings look hastily assembled and fresh.
The interior sets do not quite match the exteriors.
NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:
· Much of the opening fight is reused footage from first season episodes.
· Caje is wearing a pinky ring and a wedding ring C when did he have time for a wedding?
· In the first battle, the wooden barrel Morrow hides behind is shot through,
but the bullets exit the side (making fountains of water) instead of passing
straight through to hit Saunders.
· Pierre Jalbert's pant leg catches fire as he tries to put out the fire in the
farmhouse. After Caje puts out the fire, it is still burning in a later clip.
· Filmed at Franklin Canyon and MGM.
· At first, Littlejohn is shot in the shoulder, but the blood and treatment are
on the arm.
CAST:
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Guest star
Mart Hulswit as Arthur Adams
Jack Hogan as Kirby
Pierre Jalbert as Caje Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Peter Colton as Johnson
Tom Pace as German #1
Mike Krempels as German #2
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