Combat! reviews by Jo
Davidsmeyer * Episodes rated from 0 to 4 bayonets
The Prisoner
(010)
Rating:
3 bayonets
Teleplay by Robert Kaufman and James S. Henerson
Story by Robert Kaufman
Directed by Robert Altman
Produced by Robert Blees
First aired 25-Dec-1962
(Episode 12 of Season 1)
Guest Star Keenan Wynn
SYNOPSIS:
Braddock, the squad goldbrick, finagles a soft job as temporary driver for a Colonel.
But Braddock gets more than he bargained for when during their tour of the frontline
positions, the jeep is overturned and Braddock is captured by the Germans. Finding him in
the Colonels coat and with a Colonels helmet, they disregard his claim that
hes a mere private. And when Braddock starts enjoying the luxuries a captured
Colonel can enjoy, he starts throwing his weight around.
REVIEW:
"The Prisoner" highlights the talents of Shecky Greene. Here, director Robert
Altman succeeds in letting Greene shine. He's delightful throughout, especially in his
moments with Keenan Wynn, starring as the blustery Colonel Froggy Clyde.
This is one of Robert Blees favorite episodes.
As to be expected from such an experienced standup comedian, Greenes comic timing
is flawless. But to anyone who would question if this king of the Vegas script could act,
this episode proved that not only could the comic act, he could act very well. He is so
easy and natural in this episode that he makes it look effortless. The simplicity hides a
complex craft. He carries the show easily on his shoulders, moving from light humor,
warmth, slapstick, and to blustering audacity with remarkable skill.
I enjoy the episode as a departure from Combat! This episode originally aired on
Christmas night. The censors, always leery of the violence on Combat!, were
especially hesitant to allow any gore to be broadcast on a religious holiday.
"The Prisoner" is such a different episode for this television series. The
tight, self-contained story could stand on its own and shine as a single segment in an
anthology series. But, as part of the Combat! world, it is an oddity. I am rather
glad that scheduling conflicts prevented Greene from continuing his Braddock charactor
into future seasons. Greene did a lovely job creating a believable conniver and scrounger.
That would have worked quite well on most other war shows of the period, such as
"McHales Navy" and "Hogans Heroes." Such series eschewed
realism in favor for entertainment that showed how fun WWII was. Combat! was one of
the few to show the opposite.
NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:
-
Why does Braddock showers without his dog tags? No one else does.
-
Captain Harper is in charge of K Company, not Captain Jampel.
-
Altman enjoyed working on this episode with his friend Shecky Greene. Shecky kept both
him and the crew laughing. Several of his ad libs wound up in the final cut, including his
line about capturing the German cook.
CAST:
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders
Shecky Green as Braddock
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Sasha Hardin as Capt. Gemmerman
Adam Williams as Lt. Col. Nash
Richard Bakalynn as Sgt. Wolfson
John Alonzo as Bialos
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Special Guest Star
Keenan Wynn as Colonel Clyde
Tom Skerritt (uncreditted)
Walter Koenig (uncreditted)
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Related Reading:
Thrice Caught: An American Army POW's 900 Days Under Axis Guns
by Odell Myers
For POWs of any war, talking about what happened to them is difficult. But even
more painful is talking about what happened inside them. The physical, mental, and
emotional effects never quite heal. This gripping memoir tells the story of 2nd Lt. Odell
Myers, a pilot in the 438th Squadron, 319th Medium Bombardment Group, 12th USAAF, who was
captured by the Germans on three different occasions and imprisoned for almost three
years.
Paperback, 174 pages.
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