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JOHN PEYSER
Director for TV Series Combat!
Grabbing the honor of second-most prolific Combat! director is John Peyser
with twenty-seven episodes. He is a yeoman director, always putting in competent,
professional work. He doesn't exhibit any specific style from episode to episode. His work
always matched the quality of the script. He showed a great ability to deal with rough
filming locations and difficult filming situations. He had a flair for mixing actors and
heavy equipment in a dramatically interesting (and safe) way. He handled most of the
"mechanized" Combat! episodes -- those featuring our favorite squad
using jeeps, tanks, earth-moving equipment, and even a steam locomotive. He also was the
only director to use high-altitude shots from a helicopter (or possibly a small plane).
Unfortunately, when not dealing with the tough requirements of interacting human flesh
with hardware, he didn't bring anything special to the camera, letting the acting and the
writing either shine or flounder on their own.
Two notable exceptions are the early "Masquerade," which features a lot of
interesting camera movement and the fourth season "S.I.W." In
"S.I.W.", I don't know if he was inspired, helped, or frightened by directing
two skilled directors (Morrow and Cassavetes) or if he was confidently coming into his own
behind and before the camera; but something made this episode sharply different in style
and execution from his other outings. Throughout it he is in firm command of the action,
the camera, and the characters, creating some stunning visuals and gut-wrenching emotional
moments.
He went on to direct other action shows, including "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."
and ten episodes of "Garrison's Gorilla's."
Combat! episodes:
- A Distant Drum
- Masquerade
- Infant of Prague
- The Little Jewel
- The Party
- What Are The Bugles Blowin' For - Part One
- What Are The Bugles Blowin' For - Part Two
- Thunder From The Hill
- Gideon's Army
- Counter-Punch
- The Duel
- Vendetta
- Operation Fly Trap
- The Enemy
- A Walk With an Eagle
- Birthday Cake
- The Steeple
- The Long Wait
- Heritage
- The Hell Machine
- Beneath the Ashes
- Evasion
- Breakout
- The Farmer
- The Raider
- S.I.W.
- The Mockingbird
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