Combat! reviews by Jo Davidsmeyer •
Episodes rated from 0 to 4 bayonets
(136) Cry for Help
RATING: 1-1/2 bayonets
Written by Sheldon Stark
Directed by Richard Benedict
First aired 20-Dec-1966
Episode 14 of Season 5
SYNOPSIS:
On a mission to destroy an observation post, Hanley's patrol encounters a
German machine gun nest, loses two men, and picks up a German medic, Peter Halsman.
Kirby objects to bringing the medic. But Halsman proves useful when he saves
the life of the son of their French contact. Halmsman and Doc form a bond until
the German must choose between saving Doc's life or taking his freedom.
REVIEW:
Moral of story: Medics are nice, no matter what uniform they wear. The message
is a little thin to hang an entire hour upon, but the cast does a fairly nice
job in this middle-of-the-road episode that's just below par.
Robert Duvall has some poignant scenes: one of the best is his farewell to the
German soldier he was unable to save. A gentle, quiet "Es tut mir leid." (I'm
sorry). Kirby is a butthead with the German prisoner, reverting to his
first-season character.
The best moment of the episode is the scene in the farmhouse between Conlan
Carter and Robert Duvall — a quiet moment between two strangers who share a
common bond, delicately punctuated by a silent Kirby reading his newspaper.
NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:
· This is the same farmhouse used in "A Child's Game," with the bullet-holes
patched up from last week's filming.
· In his previous Combat! appearance, Duval was billed in the opening credits. Here his name appears
only in the closing credits.
· Doc should tell Kirby to keep his non-sterile hand out of his medic's kit.
· In scene with Duvall, Doc discuss tracheotromies. Doc thinks he could not
manage one. Later in the season, Doc is willing to attempt one in "Decision."
· The squad, again, captures a tri-lingual prisoner.
ABOUT FILMING THE EPISODE:
Conlan Carter says of Robert Duvall: "He was so good, he's frightening. He
works so easy that you don't see it happening. You see it on film, and you see all
the stuff happening, and you think 'Oh my god!' He's just one of the best."
CAST:
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders [does not appear]
Guest star
Robert Duvall as Peter Halsman
Jack Hogan as Kirby
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Conlan Carter as Doc
Faith Domergue as Madam Fouchet
Jacques Roux as Anton Fouchet
Gene Kirkwood as Danny
David McFarland as Henri Fouchet
Chris Howard as German Officer
Horst Ebersberg as 1st German
Lou Robb as 2nd German
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