The Old Men

Second time seeing this (now) deeply moving episode in over FIFTY YEARS. This time I watched, wistfully, as as an old, disabled combat infantryman. Music by Rosenman's is pervasive relentless and moving as always. Kirby spouts the wise-guy rejoinders (watch for his writers'blooper!) . Saunders' pithy, two-syllable one-liners are in perfect character. Guest star Simon Oakland, a TV face well-known, plays one of The Old Men: a cynical, crusty combat veteran of North Africa hampered by PTSD and a bum knee ... Two other old guys and a young "veteran" round out the stellar cast: Tom Drake as Todd, a politician needing a service record; William "Bill" Phipps is PVT Barnhill, the poor, scared guy just wanting to get home to wife and kids. Arnold Merritt does a fine job in a tough role of the "new-yet-old Vet" whose words and deeds finally carry the meaning of the whole, tense show. We really get to know these grunts before the wild, firefight finale. Even Kirby is shown firing his BAR in that signature style of his. Caje gets scout duty (AND wounded!) again... My only complaint is the failure, on-camera, of the cast to collect dogtags and fix the bayonets on the rifles, stab it in the ground, and place the helmets on them.

Vic is assigned to go out and capture a German prisoner, for interrogation, but he's sent out with three replacements for his squad who are relatively old, not promising candidates but he's stuck with them.

Kirby as usual is smart-alecky from the outset, clashing with the replacements, while Vic takes a wait-and-see attitude regarding their performance.

This story makes for an unusual (and logical) contrast to the more common situation of the squad having to deal with young, raw recruits, while exploring the underlying same issue of "cohesion", as the tried and true members of Vic's outfit need to mesh with clearly less reliable additions to their numbers.

Simon Oakland is fine as the replacement with a gimpy leg, but his reckless, gung ho attitude in an effort to prove himself gets the whole team into trouble. As a result, the heroes are soon outnumbered by Germans, fighting for their lives. The climax of them going up against a machine gun emplacement is exciting.

An all-time favorite character actor of mine, William Phipps, underplays skillfully as a case of a soldier who is quite homesick, frightened and not cut out for battle.

Saunders is assigned to capture a German soldier with his squad to get information for the intelligence but he needs to receive three replacements first. When they arrive, the trio is above forty years old. One wants to show that is still a good soldier; another one is a politician expecting to become a senator; and the last one is a family man that misses his family. There is friction between Kirby and Private Clauson but Saunders resolve their issue. When they capture a German corporal, they return to their head quarter but they are followed by a German troop. Now the replacements are necessary to help Saunders. How will they act?

"The Old Men" is an average episode of "Combat!". The story is only reasonable and has nothing different from other episodes. The performances are great and the conclusion is well resolved. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "The Old Men"

"The Old Men" is a story about 3 aging replacements and their effect on White Rook. Private Clauson (excellently played by Simon Oakland) is the dominant one who constantly has to show he can out do the younger troops. His interaction with Kirby is excellent and it's a funny gut reaction realizing the usual rough house Kirby will not mess with Clauson. The other replacements are more mundane to watch. Their development is lacking even though they have dialog.

Sergeant Saunders plays the "gentleman respect your elder" role with all 3 but finally has to jump on Clauson for overdoing it. In addition he has to bring the politician Private Todd (played by Tom Drake) back to reality late in the episode. It's interesting to note Private Barnhill (played by William Phipps) is still around at age 92 ! Also, Paul Busch plays a significant role as the German corporal.

The viewing audience gets a good combat scene toward the end; but once again Director Fenady allowed the Germans to look too pitiful and useless in their marksmanship. A very average episode.