5.0 out of 5 stars It's Been a Long Time Coming, But Worth the Wait!

G.C. · September 1, 2004

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } If you were a kid growing up in the 1960s (as I was), and you didn't watch the TV series Combat! (1962-1967), you were living under a rock. I cannot imagine my neighborhood friends amassing our arsenal of toy guns, plastic helmets, and other uniquely devised accoutrements of war to play Army, without first arguing over who was going to play Sergeant Saunders, "Cage," or the BAR toting, wise-cracking Kirby. After years of sporadic syndication, the release of the entire first season of Combat! on DVD is long overdue.The first season is broken down into two, four-disc packages of 16 episodes each titled: Combat! Season I, Campaign I, and Combat! Season I, Campaign II respectively. The episodes are arranged in the order they aired in syndication, not as originally televised. There are 4 episodes per disc, plus Special Features including photo galleries, and interviews with past cast members. The sound quality is good, and the scenes not overly dark like some black and white transfers to DVD. Absent, however, is a booklet that would have been a nice touch. Instead, a mere list of episodes with scene selections is included. Consequently, I highly recommend the book "Combat!: A Viewer's Companion to the WWII TV Series (revised)" by Jo Davidsmeyer as an indispensable guide to the entire five-year run of the series.Campaign I opens with the pilot "A Day in June," which finds the squad of the 2nd platoon of (K)ing Company in England preparing for the D-Day invasion. Interestingly, Hanley (Rick Jason) is a First Sergeant, having not yet received his battlefield commission to lieutenant. Pierre Jalbert, a film editor, not an actor by trade, who will later mold the character of "Cage," is casted here as "Caddy." Other regular character-roles such as Lil' John (Dick Peabody) and "Doc" (Conland Carter- debuting in season-two) will be introduced in subsequent episodes, but not before Peabody and Carter are cast in different minor roles for an episode each. The comedian Shecky Green was also cast as a regular, but, due to other obligations, would not last the first season. A host of guest stars including: Dean Stockwell, Robert Culp, Frank Gorshin, and Tab Hunter get the first season off to a good start. Davidsmeyer's book not only lists the episodes as they are in syndication, but also notes what order they were aired. This allows one to watch them in their original order and marvel at the development of the characters of Saunders (Vic Morrow), Hanley and the rest of the squad. Morrow and Jason, both met tragic ends. Morrow was killed on the set of the 1982 film Twilight Zone: The Movie, and Jason sadly took his own life recently. Watching these first-season episodes today, some of the lessor attention to realism and detail become apparent. For example: the German soldiers are paper-doll cut-outs of each other. From kettle-helmet to jack boots (the latter was all but gone by 1944 anyway), they all wear the exact same uniform and arrange their battle kits the exact same way. At least once during a fire fight, the German will predictably leave cover, foolishly run out into the open, only to be shot by a member of the cast. Following episodes has the standard American M-5 Half-track switching roles between belligerents with the help of a noticeable vehicular make-up change. For other picky viewers, like myself, there is also more chronological attention paid to actual historic events and places during the Normandy Campaign in season one. This historic detail gets lost in subsequent seasons. But it is the fine acting, script-writing, directorial and production talents that made Combat! a classic TV series. The series portrays best the inner conflicts that affects men trying to survive the horrors of war. For the true Combat! fan, this two-part first season is a must have. For those who like the war film genre, or vintage television series with great acting and production, this DVD package will not disappoint. It was a long-time coming, but the wait was worth it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gritty realism for the most part

D. · November 4, 2004

I loved this series in 1962 when it debuted and still do. This is not fantasy. You need to watch more then 2 episodes, when over 150 were produced, to do a fair evaluation of the series.What made this series stand out that they were able top bring the character of the average fighting man to the small screen. This was pointed out to me by my dad who was in the European Theater as a front line soldier and others I have talked to that were also there verify the realism. The stories are well-written and do not glorify war.The cast was also superb with Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders, Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley and Pierre Jalbert, Dick Peabody and Jack Hogan being the squad mainstays over the years.The Gallent Men was also a good WWII series but only lasted one year. I think it was because it failed to have a strong chracter for viewers to identify with like Saunders and because of the little things, such as, my dad noticed on The Gallant Men that when they took their helmets off their hair was perfectly combed. When Saunders takes his off it looks tangled and messed.If you don't like this series, fine, but cutting it down as being typical super-American soldiers/yak yak yak/ is way off beam. This is a great TV series with outstanding writing, acting and production standards that just don't exist anymore in contemporary TV for me.The episode quality is excellent.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff

M.B. · September 24, 2004

I have just finished watching both sets of DVDs and enjoyed them both. I remember watching combat as a child but didnt really remember the episodes except for the scene in Survival where Vic Morrow comes out of the burning barn with his jacket sleeves smoldering. I know that this program did influence my brother and me. We used to call our mom the Sarge (she was the disciplinarian in the house).The episodes were good to excellent with Survival being the best one in my opinion. The revolving cast was interesting. I dont remember the steven rogers doc or Shecky Greene but remember the others really well, Caje, Littlejohn, Kirby, the second doc.There was definitely some grit in this series. At one of the episodes at the end of season one, Morrows jacket from the wrist to the elbows is completely shot from all the crawling around and you got the sense that they were always dirty unlike some other shows.There were mistakes in accuracy of the vehicles and some of the uniforms but overall the feel was that of a combat unit.It was also nice seeing actors at the beginning of their careers being guest stars.I enjoyed this and will buy the series as it comes out. I cant wait for season 4 with the 2 parter "Hills are for Heroes"

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, with caveat

R. · April 3, 2023

I enjoy this series immensely, ever since I was stationed in Germany for 7 1/2 years in the '80s. (Wasn't much interested in the '60s, since I was a young teenager with better things to do than watch TV). The caveat is this: although all the episodes of the first season seem to be included, they are not in chronological order. The picture and audio are both clear. A great issue, with superb packaging of the DVD set.

Superb entertainment

S. · September 4, 2020

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I’m quite familiar with the show and always considered it one of the best directed and acted productions on TV.

Easier Access

E.S. · January 21, 2023

I have been watching the different episodes via YouTube even though the access is rather random with many gaps were missing. Having the DVD makes looking that these episodes easier. Especially when you consider the TV series is sixty years old.