Combat! reviews by Jo
Davidsmeyer
Episodes rated from 0 to 4 bayonets
What Are the Bugles Blowin' For? Part 1 & 2
(047 & 048)
RATING: 3 bayonets (both episodes)
Part 1:
Aired 03-Mar-1964
Episode 25 of Season 2
Part 2:
Aired 10-Mar-1964
Episode 26 of Season 2
Written by Edward J. Lakso
Directed by John Peyser
SYNOPSIS:
(part one) When Hanley orders an exhausted Saunders to hand carry a retreat order to a
British unit whose radio is dead, he tries to leave the squad regulars behind for a
well-deserved rest. The squad opts to stays by him, unwilling to trust his safety in the
hands of green recruits. When told of the retreat, British Captain Johns refuses to
abandon his position, and orders Saunders to help him hold his ground. Saunders knows
staying means that the comrades who came to protect him, might die beside him.
(part two) Saunders wants to get his squad out from under the command of a stubbornly
courageous British Captain. But he won't retreat, and soon finds his command surrounded by
the Germans. Saunders also faces opposition from the British regulars, who blame him for
the death of one of their own.
REVIEW:
A story of obsession, "What Are the Bugles Blowin' For?" pits Saunders
against a British officer (Capt. Johns, played by Ronald Howard) who is fixated on holding
his ground, at any cost. Also in the mix, a French child determined to find his sister's
assailant.
Actors and production staff most often mention the two-parter "What Are the Bugles
Blowin' For?" as a favorite episode (right after "Hills Are for Heroes). Both
parts were filmed on MGM lot 2 at the old English train station.
Veteran British actor Ronald Howard gives a superb performance as the oh-so-proper
British officer. He was the son of film great Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes in Gone with
the Wind). "Nice man," recalls Carter. "I liked him very much."
The scenes between Carter and Howard are excellent, as are all the scenes in the makeshift
hospital. Vic Morrow, comforting a wounded and delirious Caje (with Jalbert playing the
moment perfectly), is moving as he tries to be confident in a hopeless situation, and
fails to hide his guilt over bringing Caje to this place.
NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:
· The opening barrage
is reused footage of the final barrage from "Far from the Brave," with rain overlaid on it.
· At the end, while Saunders is walking the French boy toward Hanley, in
the background, above the fence, sixties-style traffic whizzes by.
· This episode re-uses the stunt from "Glow
Against the Sky," where the stunt
double for Billy Nelson "hit" by incoming artillery, performs a backflip into an
existing crater. In "Bugles," the same shot is shown, but from a higher angle.
· The British sergeant uses an authentic sten gun. The German half-track
and command car are American.
· The episode title is the opening line of the Rudyard Kipling poem,
"Danny Deever," about a soldier's execution.
ABOUT FILMING THE EPISODE:
Pierre Jalbert rates this episode highly. With his expertise in editing and filming, he
appreciates the technical aspects of the show, as well as the fine acting. "This to
me, is the best episode ever done on Combat!, I'm talking about texture, physical
application, the story was also rather fascinating. I think it was done excessively well.
The texture of it felt really real. When you can imagine that this was done in about ten
days, it's mind-boggling."
ABOUT FILMING THE EPISODE:
Director John Peyser worked closely with special effects master A.D. Flowers to create
some of the most sensational pyrotechnics of the whole series. Tom Lowell says, "That
was fun. A lot of night shooting. Setting up the explosives, watching that all go off, was
really a trip. Massive explosions. Went down the whole train. And I remember John had this
big long dolly shot with cranes and everything, the train blowing up, and Vic running. It
was a very well-done show."
Director John Peyser worked closely with special effects master A.D. Flowers to create
some of the most sensational pyrotechnics of the whole series. Tom Lowell says, "That
was fun. A lot of night shooting. Setting up the explosives, watching that all go off, was
really a trip. Massive explosions that went down the whole train. And I remember John had
this big long dolly shot with cranes and everything, the train blowing up, and Vic
running. It was a very well-done show."
CAST:
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Guest Star
Ronald Howard as Captain Johns
Jack Hogan as Kirby
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Conlan Carter as Doc
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Tom Lowell as Nelson
Philippe Chapelle as Robaire
William Beckley as Corporal Joyce
Michael St. Clair as Marcher
Terence Mitchell as Newsy Meggs
James Forest as Giles
James Wixted as Mason
John Orchard as Robin (1st part only)
Richard Peel as Bolt
Eric Micklewood as Deeds
Richard Chambers as William
Erik Holland as German Lieutenant (2nd part only)
Norbert Meisel as German Corporal (2nd part only)
and
John Alderson as Sergeant Rawlings
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