Rat Patrol and Combat on DVD. (1 Viewer)

[binder001]

"Twelve O'Clock High" was right up there on my favorites list with "Combat", "Rat Patrol", etc. WW2 used to be pretty big on US TV. There was also "The Gallant Men" that focused on an infantry unit in Italy.

I remember the first time I visited southern California in 1970 and went out to the airport (I think in Ontario) to visit a small air museum. They had the B17 that was made up to be "Picadilly Lilly" (the star of "Twelve O'Clock High") still in its fading TV paint job. I think it was a B17G with the chin turret removed to make it look like a B17F. Most of the flying and combat scenes were via USAF achival news reel material.

I have to admit, too that I was of an age that watching the TV shows (and late-night old war movies) inspired endless play times with various plastic vehicles and troops. I was always looking for more trucks to build convoys for my rat patrol to strafe.

If I wasn't playing with the toys I was trying to build a model. On Friday night I could stay up late. I would take saved allowance and buy a 98 cent Monogram or Hawk 1/48th fighter, or a 1/72nd bomber shortly after school. Some parts would be assembled before dinner, but the major building came after dinner ("Twelve O'Clock High" was on Fridays to inspire me) by the time the late movie or Johnny Carson was over, that plane was built and usually decalled too! Oh, the good old days!

Gary

 

[jazzeum]

This is a comment from imdb.com about "Twelve O'Clock High," which I loved as a kid

***

This was a not only a thinking man's series about WWII but also one that had a psychological approach to the fatigue and emotional stress that these men had to face in the line of duty. This was one of the best if not the greatest television shows of its day that depicted the outcome of the challenges of the 918th Bombardment Group of the United States Air Force during the horrors of battle in WWII.

When "Twelve O'Clock High", premiered on ABC in the fall of 1964, it was like a show unlike no other since it was based on the classic 1949 war film that starred Gregory Peck. The television show was a remarkable achievement that lasted three years on the air from 1964 until 1967, and produced 78 episodes,with the last 17 episodes in color in its final season. The black and white episodes lasted only two seasons from 1964 until 1966, while the color episodes ran from 1966 until 1967 (the 61 episodes were in black and white from 1964-1966;the 17 episodes were in color from 1966-1967, in its final season). "Twelve O'Clock High" was head and shoulders above its competition and it is ranked to "Combat!" as one of the most intense dramas to ever depict about the horrors and scars and emotional traumas in the line of duty, that was World War II. While utilizing stock war footage for bombardment and astounding dogfight scenes, the brilliant story lines really addressed the timeless issues of the warfare and the effects on some of the individuals who were in the line of battle both on the ground and in the air. Issues and subject matter like heroism and cowardice, and integrity along with compassion and commitment were the order of the day. And it was brought to life on a intimate scale.

It also made a huge star out of actor Robert Lansing as General Frank Savage. His character during the first two seasons of the show brought more depth and integrity to the character than any other actor I have ever seen and it shows in the earlier episodes of the series. With a beautiful soaring theme by composer Dominic Frontiere,the strong production values of legendary producer Quinn Martin ("The Untouchables", "The Fugitive","The FBI","The Invaders") along with long time QM associates Charles Larson, Phillip Saltzman, and fellow executives Howard Alston, Adrian Samish, and John Conwell as well as the supporting cast of the series including Frank Overton, John Larkin, and Andrew Duggan. The series garnered rave reviews, and was poised for a long network run on the small screen. However,the network executives over at ABC stepped in to make improvements which killed it. When the program was retooled for the second season, Robert Lansing's character of General Savage was killed off.....reportedly his plane was shot down somewhere over in Europe in hostile German country (in a gripping second season opener episode titled "The Loneliest Place In The World",which aired on September 13,1965).

However, Paul Burke (from the 1950's cop show Naked City) was brought in as his replacement and from there the results to the changes really killed it. Paul Burke to me was never the right choice for the role and simply out he was not a very good actor. The show took even a major dive when the episodes were in color. When the show was cancelled in the summer of 1967,after struggling for two seasons with the new cast, the network downplayed this show just to ignore the fact the this series had promise after it received rave reviews and a Golden Globe Nomination during the first season of the series.

 

[jac28]

That was half the fun growing up with Toy Soldiers, the imagination. I think everybody did that, name certain figures after Combat series guys. I Sgt. Saunders was the Marx Battle Groung Thompson Grenade throwing Gi. Kinch, Kirby, Little John, and Doc, then whatever poor guy went out on patrol with them. One thing you knew for sure, he was going to be the KIA. I don't want to forget Lt. Hanley, he was the Marx GI waiveing guy or officer.

Combat! was one of my favorites too... Kirby was my favorite and I also liked Cage (sp?)

BTW, Kinch was a character on Hogan's Heroes.

Jim

 

[steel wheels]

How soon we forget! I loved 12 o'clock High, and I hope they take it out of mothballs and release it on DVD.

 

[L Flowers]

Check out the American Life channel. They have 12 O'Clock High, Rat Patrol, Combat and a lot of other 60s-70s shows.

 

[steel wheels]

Yes indeed! Great channel.