Combat! Season 1 episodes
Combat! Season 2 episodes
Combat! Season 3 episodes
Combat! Season 4 episodes
Combat! Season 5 episodes

 :

 :

Season 4
COMBAT! episodes:
[Season 2 (1963 - 1964)]
[Ambush]
[Bridge at Chalons]
[Doughboy]
[The Long Way Home]
[A Distant Drum]
[Bridgehead]
[Masquerade]
[Infant of Prague]
[The Wounded Don't Cry]
[The Little Jewel]
[Glow Against the Sky]
[The Party]
[Anatomy of a Patrol]
[What Are the Bugles...]
[Barrage]
[Thunder from the Hill]
[The Pillbox]
[Gideon's Army]
[General and the Sergeant]
[The Hostages]
[A Silent Cry]
[Eyes of the Hunter]
[Counter-Punch]
[Mail Call]
[The Hunter]
[Weep No More]
[The Short Day of Pvt Putnam]
[Rescue]
[Command]
[The Glory Among Men]

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

(059) The Hunter

RATING: 2 bayonets

First aired 25-Feb-1964
Episode 24 of Season 2

Written by Edward J. Lakso
Directed by Sutton Roley

SYNOPSIS:

In an abandoned French winery, Saunders and Kirby become the prey of a fanatic German captain in "The Hunter." He picks off Kirby with his specially made rifle. But Kirby, even wounded and captured, continues putting up a fight. With the captain's aide dead, Saunders and the captain engage in a private fight-to-the-death, until a well-timed barrage saves the day.

REVIEW:

Guest star Alfred Ryder plays German Capt. Heisman, a former professional hunter who keeps Saunders in his sights. Much of the story centers around the two radios, and each side trying to prevent the other from getting word to their troops. Jack Hogan is superb as a Kirby that will not give up. Bleeding and in pain, he still manages to destroys the German field radio behind the back of his captor. He has some nice, in-character moments, such as when entering the winery, he immediately checks the wine supply.

By the fourth act, the battle has become personal. Saunders is unarmed, having abandoned his jammed Thompson, but he has successfully warned the Americans by radio. Morrow and Kirby are excellent in their scenes together and the revelations about Kirby's home life help round-out the character. By reading Kirby's letter from home, the Captain Heisman find out that Kirby's family calls him Bill, that he has a brother George and a mother that lives in Chicago.

NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:

· Kirby with M1 and B.A.R.
· Filmed href="../missionvineyard.htm">at Mission Vineyard a winery still in use today.
· Normandy has no mountains, so the magnificent views of snow-covered Mt. San Antonio rising majestically above the winery are out-of-place.
· Paul Busch is the voice on the German's field radio.
· Stuntman Earl Parker doubles both Ryder and Morrow.
· If Saunders had been wearing his .45 in this episode, this episode would have gone differently.
· This episode has the smallest cast: four on-camera actors, two radio voices, and one stunt double.

CAST:

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