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![[Picture of Steve Rubin]](rubin.jpg)
FROM COMBAT! DISCUSSION LIST ARCHIVES
Producer Steve Rubin discusses the COMBAT! Movie
Date: Saturday, 21 September, 1996 Subject: re: Combat! The Movie
Dear Dodger,
You're very clairvoyant. When I first optioned the movie rights to COMBAT! from ABC, I resolved to write a screenplay on spec (as you may recall, the first time I tried to sell the series as a movie back in 1989, there were no takers and all I had was a story outline). I, indeed, decided to move the squad into Germany, circa March 1945. Saunders and the squad have just crossed the Remagen Bridge and are assigned the task to track and pinpoint a secret Nazi jet base where they're flying the Me 262 (which actually were bombing the Remagen bridgehead at that time). I also came up with an interesting secondary story. A unit of wounded Wehrmacht troops are retreating when they're halted by an SS unit which demands that they turn over their trucks and ambulances. When the much decorated Major in charge of the outfit refuses, he is shot down in cold blood and his unit is annihilated. The SS drive off leaving the bodies to rot on the side of the road (they're headed for the Swiss border and a trip that will lead them hopefully to South America and the beginnings of a Fourth Reich). It turns out that the murdered major is the brother-in-law of a local German regional police magistrate who now resolves to track the murderers. While Herr Veitig is on his mission, Saunders' squad is captured. Gradually, the two stories merge and Saunders actually joins forces with the police magistrate to track the SS men. It's an unusual Combat! story, but I thought I did a pretty good job.
However, as soon as the project came together as a big studio movie with Willis et al, Bill Wisher joined the ranks and wrote a new script from scratch. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind being totally rewritten, but I thought my take was a unique one and I am very proud of it (perhaps Paramount will consider it for COMBAT 6). Anyway, you were right on target thinking a good Combat story could take place later in the war. My reasoning was that the squad had spent five years in France. Wasn't it time they crossed into Germany?
My first action scene had Hanley leading two squads of green recruits through a forest when they're ambushed by two concealed German machine gun nests. They're getting cut to pieces when Saunders and his squad appears on the edge of the tree line. We first see Saunders from ground level looking at his muddy combat books and panning up his frame until we see the Thompson Submachine Gun as he pulls back the bolt. We then see Kirby and his BAR, Caje and his beret, Littlejohn, etc. It's one of those great cinema moments. Of course, they knock out the two nests and save the day.
Best,
Steve Rubin
