Trivia

Originally two episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) - "The Case Against Paul Ryker" (Oct, 10 & 17, 1963)

Filmed in 1963, when Lee Marvin was still a character actor.

This 1968 feature from Universal is merely a compilation of a five-year old, two-part "Kraft Suspense Theatre" ('The Case Against Paul Ryker, Parts 1 and 2') that served as the October 10, 1963 premiere of the NBC anthology series. (The second hour aired the following week on the 17th). Bradford Dillman, (Captain David Young) and Peter Graves, (Major Whitaker) did however reprise their roles two seasons hence in the military courtroom drama, "Court Martial," that lasted a single season, 1965 - 66.

The post production department at Universal adjusted the 35 mm negative used to make broadcast prints in the traditional 1.33 : 1 aspect ratio for 'The Case Against Paul Ryker' on television's "Kraft Suspense Theatre" to the wider screen, 1.85 : 1 ratio used for "Sergeant Ryker"'s presentation on considerably larger movie screens, thereby eliminating portions of the top and bottom of each frame (seen on the more square-shaped TV screen) to compensate for the enlarged, wide screen presentation. . . . Universal's marketing department clearly took advantage of Lee Marvin's stellar rise to stardom as an action hero in 1967's WW II, guns-blazing "The Dirty Dozen" by showcasing just him in image and name on the poster with side-by-side, military-fighting-man images - one as Korean, one as American; they are both brandishing weapons and seen with flames of an immense explosion imprinted between them. Perhaps the multiple, familiar stars of 'The Case Against Ryker' appreciated and benefited from the enlarged enormity of the movie screen showing them as if they were five years younger in this 'new' 1968 feature film.