The Prisoner
(010)

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 Colonel’s coat and with a Colonel’s helmet, they disregard his claim that he’s 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, Greene’s 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 leary 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 "McHale’s Navy" and "Hogan’s 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.

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