****THE BEST of the 2nd season: Vic Morrow's "THE GLORY AMONG MEN". Simply unbelievable that a film of this quality was shot in 5 days as part of a weekly, hour-long TV assembly line. Brilliant in every way, and marred only slightly by the somewhat contrived "OK, now everybody smile" business at the very end. But what a show!!
EVERY detail--every camera angle---every action shot--- every line of dialogue---every facial expression, starting with the opening card game,---is SUPERBLY created and captured by director Vic Morrow, who ALSO found time to portray Sgt. Saunders in the show!
The "No Man's Land" set is expressionistic-- stark and threatening, the Nazis unrelenting in their cruelty. Morrow specifically designed and shot the scenes with the detestable yet pitiful Eddie Ryder -- suffering, bleeding, moaning--while tangled and splayed in the dead tree branches-- to recall images of Christ's Crucifixion. Yes, there's subtle layers of true dramatic and visual ART at work here.
LOVE the real-life, fascinating interplay between characters, especially the excellent Bernard Kates as Hacker. CLASSIC exchange when he offers to risk his life for Eddie Ryder--Doc says "I thought you hated him..." to which Hacker casually replies "I do" -- before dashing out into the open.
AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ONE OF COMBAT's TOP FIVE BEST EPISODES, IMHO:
The Farmer,///S.I.W.///Cry in the Ruins///Gift of Hope,///The Glory Among Men.
LR