Combat! (TV Series) The Prisoner (1962) User Reviews

The Colonel

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 11 June 2017]

While working as runner for Lt. Hanley, Braddock accepts to serve as the driver of the boastful and noisy Col. Clyde. He asks Braddock to have a shower and wear clean clothes, and he forgets his identification tag in the bathroom. The colonel decides to drive the jeep in high- speed and Braddock sneezes. Col. Clyde gives his coat to Braddock but soon he has an accident. The jeep falls off a bridge, the colonel vanishes and Braddock faints on the road. A German patrols finds Braddock and mistakenly takes him as an American colonel. Braddock first discloses the truth but the Germans do not believe him / Braddock decides to pose as a colonel to have a better treatment for him and other privates. Meanwhile Col. Clyde returns to his base while the Germans propose to exchange Braddock per a German colonel captured by the allied forces. What will happen to Braddock?

"The Prisoner" is a witty episode of "Combat!" directed by Robert Altman. Braddock steals the show posing as a colonel and enjoying the privilege of an officer even as a prisoner. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): ("O Prisioneiro")

Shecky Green and guest star Keenan Wynn provide the hilarious stuff in "The Prisoner" ep of "Combat!"

[tavm · 10/10 · 11 August 2012]

"Combat!", as far as I know was usually a dramatic depiction of soldiers' hardships during World War II. In the one, however, a hilarious story of mistaken identity ensures concerning one Private Braddock (Shecky Green) and a Col. Clyde (guest star Keenan Wynn) of whom the Germans capture one of them after an accident concerning a jeep. I'll stop there and just say how hilarious to see one impersonate the other especially when he says a certain phrase. And hearing the bellowing of Wynn was what got me starting with the laughing. But I also loved it when Wynn himself was laughing when he found out what's what. So on that note, "The Prisonor" ep of "Combat!" sure got a great rise out of me which didn't surprise me considering that later M*A*S*H helmer Robert Altman was responsible for this one.

"COMBAT :The Prisoner" Provided a sort of "Truce" in the Season's Video Hostilities.

[redryan64 · 10/10 · 29 December 2010]

IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, COMBAT was one series that was faithfully watched by all seven of us; that being, a Mommy & Daddy Ryan, two Girls and three Boys.The appeal of the series was broad and with good cause; for it is probability the finest TV Drama of the Allied Forces (though mainly American) in day to day battle in Western Europe following the D Day, June 6, 1944 Invasion. In a sense it corresponds to BATTLEGROUND, which must take the prize for a Film theatrically produced and released.

THE SERIOUS TONE of the series was always foremost in the production team; for, after all, it was depicting the everyday horrors of modern battle in what was a particularly realistic fashion for a Drama on Primetime Network Television. But even in war, be it real or in a dramatic recreation, there are moments of levity. In fact, if it weren't for the possession of a healthy funny bone, there would hardly a survivor of such an ordeal. As a further evidence in real life, we submit the popularity of G.I. Cartoonist Bill Mauldin's comic strip panels of UP FRONT featuring the 2 quintessential dog-faces, Willie & Joe.*

TODAY'S SPECIAL REVIEWEE, COMBAT: The Prisoner (Season 1, Episode 12, 1962), is a fine example of a bit of comic relief for the series. Its careful blending of standard military story' but peppered with 'chaeacters' to provide the laughs.

SAFEGUARDING THE INTEGRITY of the episode in its relationship to the entire series was a definite number 1 concern of the creative partnership. This feat was brilliantly accomplished by the use of characters which have all of the idiosyncrasies of real, flesh sand blood people; you know, those characters one inevitable meets on the journey through life.

IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH the successful transfer of the idea and concept of a weekly installment as a comic change of pace, the producers wisely went to the use of the very talented guest star to carry the load. In this case they cast comedian Shecky Greene as the Goldbrick of Army Goldbricks. His comic timing and sharp yet realistic delivery makes for convincingly true to life, natural laughs to the viewer.

AS A COUNTERBALANCE to Mr. Shecky Greene's conniving hustler Buck Private, the production company signed on as guest star one Keenan Wynn. Demonstrating his versatility and range as an actor, Mr. Wynn, son of Comedian Ed Wynn ("the Perfect Fool"), made us all laugh at his characterization of what would have to be the most strictly by-the-book and ego-maniacal Colonel in the U.S. Army. He even outdid George C. Scott's portrayal of the famous General in PATTON, which lied about 8 full years in the future when this episode premiered on ABC on December 25, 1962.

NOTE: UP FRONT with Willie and Joe was undoubtedly the most popular and best remembered Comic Strip from the pages of The Stars & Stripes; which was the special Armed Forces Newspaper during World War II. Mr. Bill Mauldin spared nothing in his depictions of the grubby, muddy and totally fatigued infantrymen, the guys we called G.I.

General Gerrge Patton didn't take to Mauldin's cartoon characterizations and ordered Bill to cease and desist such drawing and verbal wit. In a rare case of reversal, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in the European Theater of Operations overrode and countermanded Patton's directive; "Ike" being of the mind that the sort of humor that UP FRONT dealt with was very important to the morale of the troops. (For what it's worth, we concur!)

Give Shecky a shot

[lor_ · 30 July 2023]

Comedian Shecky Greene as Braddock provided welcome comic relief in the first season of "Combat!", and Robert Altman gives him a shot at stardom in this episode, based on his impersonating an American officer when they're both captured by the Germans. I always liked his work, but he's no Lou Costello (who he vaguely resembles on screen in mannerisms), Danny Kaye or Bob Hope able to carry a movie built on this sort of premise, let alone a tv series. (Note that the captured Shecky protests "I'm a buck private!", not coincidentally referring to the title of Abbott & Costello's biggest hit.) It's amusing, especially his brief teaming with Keenan Wynn who makes the comically domineering Bud Abbott seem friendly by comparison.

Clearly such a light-hearted episode must have been a fun diversion for the show's fans, but in modern parlance it plays today as almost a "jump the shark" episode relative to the series as a whole. Altman must have enjoyed directing it, but the silliness and exaggeration presage a "Hogan's Heroes" sit-com approach to World War II stories rather than dead-serious, often powerful "Combat!" drama that made the show a classic.

It was fun to see Tom Skerritt in a supporting role looking oh-so young, later to be given one of his few starring roles in Altman's "M*A*S*H".

A light comic episode considering the events of war

[cpolster · 10/10 · 10 July 2022]

I remember watching Combat as a young teen, it was a regular watched program at the house. Watching this episode again, I have to wonder where did they come up with this script? There are a few funny parts with lines said by Braddock after his capture. I imagine there have been situations that have happened that are a bit odd and somewhat funny during war time. But, it was not something I experienced as a Marine Nam vet. I hope it does not give someone a false expression about any war.