(140) Anniversary

RATING: 2 bayonet

Written by William R. Yates

Story by Edward J. Lakso

Directed by Michael Caffey

First aired 01-24-67

Episode 18 of Season 5

SYNOPSIS:

A French resistance fights, Jon, who has lost his wife and daughter in the war, becomes a lone avenger, killing Americans and Germans alike. Suffering from shock and delirium, Jon captures a German officer and threatens Hanley's life.

REVIEW:

This psychological drama is a change of pace for the series. I applaud the producers for trying new styles in the fifth season. Unfortunately, this experiment fell flat. Telly Savalas, as Jon, has all the right moves as an alternately troubled, then dangerous, man trapped in the past. Ultimately, though, he is an unsympathetic madman.

The show has no substance, especially contrasting it with "Cry In The Ruins." The two episodes share a similar premise — a person is driven mad by a tragic loss. Both stories were by Edward J. Lakso (though the teleplay for "Anniversary" was written by William R. Yates). In "Cry in the Ruins," Lakso uses the tragedy of the mother to shed light on the larger issues and to bring two warring factions together. In "Anniversary," no greater message is attempted, no insights offered.

Director Michael Caffey provides some lovely aerial shots and pans of the French village. With creative camera work, Michael Caffey creates beautiful contrasts between Savalas' idyllic memories of a perfect marriage and perfect village, and the reality of a home torn asunder by war. The shots slipping into and out of his memory in the dress shop are well executed. His camerawork surpasses the quality of this episode's script. The show ends, symbolically, with Savalas' broken body on the ground below and the puppet, now hanging from one string, above in the church.

NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:

· When Telly Savalas is in the church loading his German rifle, he fumbles with the new magazine for several seconds. In the next cut, from a different angle, the magazine easily snaps in.

· Robierre was the collaborator in "The Tree of Moray" and the innkeeper in "Any Second Now."

· Telly Savalas starred in the episode "Vendetta."

CAST:

Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley

Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders [does not appear]

Guest Star

Telly Savalas as Jon

Jack Hogan as Kirby

Pierre Jalbert as Caje

Dick Peabody as Littlejohn

Conlan Carter as Doc

John Van Dreelen as Lt. Kramer

and

Anne Wakefield as Anne

Emile Genest as Robierre

Richard Jeffries as Pvt. Heller

Michele Montau as Dressmaker

Chris Howard as German Medic

Chris Anders as Karl

and

Sofia-Marie as Marie