" Combat TV Series " (1 Viewer)

[maddadicus]

Just finished watching one of the old Combat episodes and it brought me back to my childhood and the whys I had toy sodiers .I can vividly remember the soldiers in my Marx playsets being named Saunders, Cage, Kirby, etc. and each of my skirmishes being an extension of the weeks episode just past. It is amazing how far ahead of its time the series was and how much it still holds up for action and plot content today. If you young collectors have never seen this show, check it out and for you oldsters like me, let us never forget it...Michael

 

[boot51]

You got that right, Michael, Combat is one of the best shows ever. Vic Morrow was fantastic in that show and Kirby was way ahead of his time wearing his watch cap backwards ( love that BAR). My wife got me the complete first season for Christmas and the 2nd season for my birthday, they just keep getting better and better, some of the two part episodes could have been great feature movies. They sell the DVD's on Amazon, well worth a look.

Fred

 

[gk5717]

Guys, I agree at the time, I believe early 60's, I thought Combat was a great show. I also thought the movie "To Hell and Back" was about as good a war movie there was.
OK, now jump to the late 90's, early 00,s.
Along comes "Platoon", Saving Private Ryan", "Band of Brothers". I,m sorry, I just watched To Hell & Back the other day and these are the most unrealistic shows, no where near anything authentic, just plain corny.
What those above movies and series did for me was spoil me. I can no longer watch things like Combat, old 50,s & 60,s war movies and appreciate them.
Besides everytime I watched Combat it would annoy me that Little Johns head was to big for his helmet.
Can,t wait for "Flags of Our Fathers"
Gary

 

[Combat]

Just finished watching one of the old Combat episodes and it brought me back to my childhood and the whys I had toy sodiers .I can vividly remember the soldiers in my Marx playsets being named Saunders, Cage, Kirby, etc. and each of my skirmishes being an extension of the weeks episode just past. It is amazing how far ahead of its time the series was and how much it still holds up for action and plot content today. If you young collectors have never seen this show, check it out and for you oldsters like me, let us never forget it...Michael

One of my favorites as you might gather. I think the entire series is out on DVD. It lasted longer than the war. Some excellent stories.

 

[maddadicus]

Guys, I agree at the time, I believe early 60's, I thought Combat was a great show. I also thought the movie "To Hell and Back" was about as good a war movie there was.
OK, now jump to the late 90's, early 00,s.
Along comes "Platoon", Saving Private Ryan", "Band of Brothers". I,m sorry, I just watched To Hell & Back the other day and these are the most unrealistic shows, no where near anything authentic, just plain corny.
What those above movies and series did for me was spoil me. I can no longer watch things like Combat, old 50,s & 60,s war movies and appreciate them.
Besides everytime I watched Combat it would annoy me that Little Johns head was to big for his helmet.
Can,t wait for "Flags of Our Fathers"
Gary

I agree with you on the quality of todays war features, but for me ,the magic of the black and white movie, Bogart's Sahara, as well as the Combat series represents nostalgia and I am not sure if I will feel the same way 20 years from now, for the new movies that you mention. Has anyone ever seen a forgotton Canadian made Viet Nam war film called Firebase Gloria. I stumbled onto by accident channel surfing years ago. Great war action...Michael

 

[erniesstudio]

Apart from Combat there was also a series made around the same period called THE GALLANT MEN..The action took place in italy,I dont recall any names,but as a lad it was my favourite...

 

[noli-poli]

Just finished watching one of the old Combat episodes and it brought me back to my childhood and the whys I had toy sodiers .I can vividly remember the soldiers in my Marx playsets being named Saunders, Cage, Kirby, etc. and each of my skirmishes being an extension of the weeks episode just past. It is amazing how far ahead of its time the series was and how much it still holds up for action and plot content today. If you young collectors have never seen this show, check it out and for you oldsters like me, let us never forget it...Michael

Are there Combat series CDs available out there?
N-P

 

[OzDigger]

Apart from Combat there was also a series made around the same period called THE GALLANT MEN..The action took place in italy,I dont recall any names,but as a lad it was my favourite...

I remember us getting Combat downunder, but I can't remember The Gallant Men. Anyway, the Combat series caused many bunkers and trenches to be dug in our yards as kids where we used to play 'war' most of the weekend. I guess I was lucky to be raised in a rural town where we had big back yards.

Another favourite of that era was 'The Samurai'. So as kids we had the option of shooting at each other with wooden guns we made, or a karate kick (not below the belt), and sometimes we got careless with the Ninja throwing stars that we made by cutting up old tins. These days they reckon it's electronic games that make kids violent, I think it's been with us a while

 

[Combat]

Are there Combat series CDs available out there?
N-P

I know the first four seasons at least are out on DVD. Well worth it. Lots of famous guest stars.

 

[boot51]

Ernie, Combat and The Gallant Men both came out in the fall of 1962, Gallant Men only lasted one season. I don't know why as it seemed more realistic than Combat, but Combat was much improved by the end of first year and really got good in the second season.
N.P., Check out Amazon, they have DVD sets of the full seasons, great guest stars like James Coburn, Leonard Nimoy, Lee Marvin, Richard Bashart, James Caan, Frank Gorshin, and Ted Knight is in every other episode as a "Kraut". Little John must have needed a Liberty ship just to take his Purple Hearts home as he was wounded almost every week.

Fred

 

[erniesstudio]

Thanks Fred, I also thought The Gallant Men was more realistic,must have been the Italian Flavour,as a lad I always wondered how a squad every week would trounce the germans while they only got wounded...ern

 

[gk5717]

I have the Charecter figures the Marx plastic company put out for the Gallant Men series. They are 54mm and can be found on ebay pretty regulary.
Gary

 

[Mr Man]

Here ya go:

http://www.jodavidsmeyer.com/combat/main.html

That should keep you busy for a while.

 

[maddadicus]

Thanks Fred, I also thought The Gallant Men was more realistic,must have been the Italian Flavour,as a lad I always wondered how a squad every week would trounce the germans while they only got wounded...ern

Come to think of it, I do not ever remember loosing a G.I. when playing army men. It was ok by me at that time...Michael

 

[boot51]

On Combat you always knew that the new guy in the squad, unless he was a big name guest star, was going to be the one who stepped on a mine, was target practice for a sniper, had an 88 shell land right beside him or found that hidden MG-34, oops. Checkmate King II this White Rook, over.

Fred

 

[DMNamiot]

I agree with you on the quality of todays war features, but for me ,the magic of the black and white movie, Bogart's Sahara, as well as the Combat series represents nostalgia and I am not sure if I will feel the same way 20 years from now, for the new movies that you mention. Has anyone ever seen a forgotton Canadian made Viet Nam war film called Firebase Gloria. I stumbled onto by accident channel surfing years ago. Great war action...Michael

Wow is this funny, But a few years ago my wife and I were up at Big Bear California for a relaxing weekend at a Bed and Breakfast and during small talk with another couple I told the guy he looked familure and he asked if I had seen Firebase Gloria and I instantly knew who he was. It was hysterical he said he was finally glad to meet one of the people in the states that actually saw the flick. Very funny guy. Of course my wife thinks I am a product of a mis-spent youth. As for Combat I saw the series complete sets out at the PX so I may be getting it soon. Love those shows! The old war flicks are really interesting especially the ones made during the war with all the anti jap or kraut overtones. Its interesting to note that a lot of these films have some exceptional performances that are largely ignored since they are war flicks.

Dave