Bob Mitchell Movies
- 1977
A rapist, disguised in surgical garb, has been attacking on-duty student nurses at a hospital during the night shift. To flush out the assailant, the Angels go undercover at the hospital, bringing Bosley (David Doyle) along for backup. As Sabrina (Kate Jackson) poses as an investigative reporter, Jill (Farrah Fawcett-Majors) and Kelly (Jaclyn Smith) don nurse's uniforms and Bosley gets himself checked in as a patient. To no one's surprise, the rapist tries to strike again -- but will he succeed in making one of the Angels his next victim? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kate Jackson, (more)
- 1976
A stove explosion leaves Hawkeye (Alan Alda) badly burned and blinded. Faced with the prospect of permanent sightlessness, Hawkeye takes some comfort in the consul of a patient who likewise can no longer see (that patient is played by blind singer-composer Tom Sullivan). On a less somber note, Frank (Larry Linville) bets heavily on a baseball game--the outcome of which he already knows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The 4077th takes advantage of a temporary lull in shooting to participate in an Army-Navy football game. The festivities come to a sudden halt when an artillery shell lands upon the football field -- and doesn't explode. As everyone else in camp takes cover, Hawkeye and Trapper nervously attempt to disarm the shell, using an outdated manual as their guide. A classic denouement caps this hilariously harrowing M*A*S*H episode, which was co-scripted by series regular McLean Stevenson, and was first shown on February 25, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
With Saunders (Vic Morrow) otherwise occupied, the estimable Pvt. Kirby (Jack Hogan) assumes temporary command of the squad--and not surprisingly, he lets his newly-acquired authority go to his head. Things take a dramatic turn when Kirby and the men are stranded in enemy territory. . .and worse, the radio is dead, preventing him from contacting Saunders for advice. Faced with the responsibility of being a genuine leader for the first time in his life, Kirby worries that he isn't equal to the task. It falls to Doc (Conlan Carter) to help Kirby overcome his terror and shepherd the squad to safety. This is the final episode of Combat's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
James Franciscus guest stars as PFC Charles Harris, a demolitions expert assigned to Saunders' squad for a mission to blow up a German communications center. As the mission progresses, Saunders can't help but wonder why Harris, a former doctor, would give up the medical profession and dedicate himself to killing rather than curing. It turns out that Harris, like so many other Combat supporting characters, is running away from himself--and the race may be over sooner than he thinks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Jeremy Slate guest stars as a German spy, who is posing as a downed American flyer named Asher. In this guise, the phony Asher is supposed to infiltrate the French underground and relay their plans to the Nazis. But things don't quite go as planned when the spy is "rescued" by Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason), who is unaware of "Lt. Asher"'s true identity and purpose. Featured in the supporting cast is Felix Locher, the father of 1940s film favorite Jon Hall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Day upon day of round-the-clock patrols has everyone in King Company on edge. When the sleep-deprived squad is ordered to capture a German prisoner on a dismal, rainy night, the pent-up tension and hostility explodes in a most dangerous fashion. Loyal Combat fans will be startled by the scenes in which the squad's two most laid-back soldiers, Caje (Pierre Jalbert) and Littlejohn (Dick Peabody), all but threaten to murder each other! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Familiar character actor Jan Merlin plays Erich, the sole survivor of a German squadron that has been wiped out by Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his men. Vowing retribution, the wounded Erich goes into hiding, grabs his weapon, and begins picking off Saunders' squad one by one, saving the sergeant for last. Ultimately only Saunders and Littlejohn (Dick Peabody) remain standing--and it doesn't look like they're going to live through the ordeal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The fifth and final season of Combat opens with the series' first color episode. After the tank in which they are riding is destroyed by a 75mm German gun, Saunders (Vic Morrow) and the squad manage to capture the weapon. Their next task is to use the gun to knock out the German bunker that is keeping them pinned down. With no other source of transportation at hand, the men must drag the heavy weapon across a long and treacherous stretch of enemy territory! Watch for future M*A*S*H star Wayne Rogers in a featured role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Former Dobie Gillis star Dwayne Hickman guests as Private Corey, whose cowardice in battle causes the death of a fellow soldier. Fortunately for Corey, he is able to cover up his negligence when he reports to Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow). Unfortunately, a German prisoner named Vogler (Frank Marth) witnessed the whole sorry incident--and Vogler intends to blackmail Corey into letting him escape. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In a variation of the "Colditz" legend, Hanley (Rick Jason) is among the Allied soldiers held captive in an ancient castle which has been converted into a German POW camp. Inevitably, the prisoners devise a plan to have one of their number escape and get word to their comrades. Chosen for the assignment is Hanley, who is given a phony Albanian uniform in order to pass through the German lines unnoticed--but will he be able to keep up the charade for the remainder of the episode? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Once again, Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his men are forced wet-nurse some green replacments. This time, the rookies are four teenagers, who are immediately plunged into action when the squad goes on a dangerous assignment. Who among the four will survive--and more importantly, will their lack of experience prove fatal to Saunders and the others? Among the new recruits are Kevin Coughlin, who used to be known as "Moochie" when he was under contract to Walt Disney, and Buck Taylor, soon to join the cast of Gunsmoke as erstwhile deputy Newly O'Brien. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
James Whitmore guest stars as Hertzbrun, a German officer on a mission to blow up an American-held bridge. Wounded in a skirmish, Hertzbrun takes refuge in a local church. When Saunders (Vic Morrow and his men enter the area, they are effusively greeted by a French priest--actually a disguised Hertzbrun, determined to finish the job he started right under the noses of the enemy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
"Billy the Kid" is the derisive nickname given to William Benton (Andrew Barton) the son of a famous American general. Though he has absolutely no combat experience, Benton is promoted to artillery lieutenant and assigned to lead Saunders' squad on a mission to destroy a vital section of the German railway. Determined to prove himself worthy of the assignment, "Billy the Kid" adopts a pose of reckless bravado that may well cost Saunders (Vic Morrow) his life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Saunders (Vic Morrow) is more dispirited than usual over the latest crop of replacements. One of the newcomers has been wounded in battle and walks with a limp; another is wallowing in homesickness; a third is a former politician who has never seen combat; and all three of them are rapidly approaching the age of 40. Now Saunders must lead these "oldsters" on a risky recon patrol to grab a German prisoner. Appearing as the over-the-hill combatants are three of Hollywood's best character actors: Simon Oakland, Tom Drake and William Phipps. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
No sooner has King Company taken refuge in a French winery than Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason) is captured by the Germans. In hopes of rescuing his commanding officer, Caje (Pierre Jalbert) solicits the aid of French civilian Jean Sebelleau (Marcel Hillaire). But the Frenchman balks at the assignment: It is far more important to save his precious vintage wine than the life of an American. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Ed Nelson is cast as Pvt. Jesse Burgess, one of two survivors of a dangerous reconnaissance mission. Returning from this assignment, Burgess is order to guide Saunders' men back to the German outpost that he has located. But Burgess' sergeant questions the circumstances surrounding the Private's "survival", and does not trust the man. Neither does Saunders (Vic Morrow), who spends the rest of the episode keeping close watch over Burgess, who may very well be a deserter...or a traitor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Beau Bridges guest stars as Pvt. Orville Putnam, King Company's newest replacement. Anxious to be accepted by his fellow soldiers, Putnam hides the fact that he is interested in botany--and also neglects to tell anyone that he is only 15 years old (it seems he fibbed to his draft board). Despite his lack of life experience and his innate clumsiness, Putnam proves to be an asset to the platoon when he uses his knowledge of all things botanical to save their lives! (Incidentally, Beau Bridges was actually 24 years old at the time of this episode). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
The Pierce Construction Company has gone wildly over budget on a questionable land-development project, and head man Joe Marshall (Bert Freed) wants to know why. Before long, Marshall has been murdered, and Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is hired to defend the chief suspect, engineer Adam Conrad (Allen Case). The key to the mystery is a sinister secret buried deep within the crumbling old house that stands in the way of the project. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The opening episode of Combat's second season finds Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) of King Company going head-to-head with Sgt. Marvin Turk (Lee Marvin), a sarcastic, hardbitten demolition expert with an intense hatred for Infantrymen. No sooner has Turk thoroughly alienated Saudners' platoon with his by-the-book autocracy than both sergeants are sent on a dangerous mission to destroy an enemy bridge. Throughout the assignment, the embittered Turk continues to rag Saunders, whom he holds responsible for the death of his previous partner. But though nasty and unrepetentant from start to finish, Turk knows his business--and by episode's end he has more than earned the respect of both Saunders and the audience. Conlan Carter makes his first regular appearance as "Doc". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
When Todd Baylor (Robert Harland) inherits an equal partnership in his family's successful chain of clothing stores, his brother Martin (Peter Walker) is outraged. It seems that Martin wants the whole business to himself, and he is determined to force Todd out of the picture. In the end, however, it is Martin who is "forced out" courtesy of a sharp knife. It falls to Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to prove that Todd is not guilty of fratricide. Featured in the cast are two prominent "celebrity spouses": Patrice Wymore, the former Mrs. Errol Flynn; and Nancy Kovack, future wife of conductor Zubin Mehta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The misson: to retrieve the pilot and the movie film from a US reconnaissance plane. The Americans assign Saunders and his squad to carry out this mission, while at the same time the Germans dispatch a patrol led by Sgt. Beckman (played by a decidedly pre-Godfather James Caan) for the same purpose. As Saunders and his enemy counterpart Beckman simultaneously converge upon the plane's wreckage, the audience is permitted to digest the story's development and outcome from two distinctly different and unique viewpoints. Originally telecast November 26, 1963, this episode has since taken on historical significance as the first "entertainment" program shown in ABC's Prime Time schedule after the network's four-day coverage of the JFK assassination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
First telecast April 4, 1963, this grim 60-minute Twilight Zone installment would seem to be more suited to Alfred Hitchcock Presents or Thriller. Martin Balsam stars as Martin Senescu, curator of a "chamber of horrors" wax museum. Upon learning that the museum is to be demolished, Martin takes his favorite wax statues -- those of Jack the Ripper, Henri "Bluebeard" Landru, and ax murderer Albert W. Hicks -- to his home, much to the dismay of his wife Emma (Maggie Mahoney). Not long afterward, two brutal murders take place -- and the evidence leads Martin to conclude that the culprits were his beloved wax figures. Though credited to Charles Beaumont, "The New Exhibit" was actually scripted by longtime Beaumont collaborator Jerry Sohl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Balsam, Will Kuluva, (more)
- 1962
Young and wealthy Jennifer Wakely (Joan Freeman) is heartbroken when boyfriend Brad Shelby (Bob McQuain) dumps her to marry the older and wealthier Madelon Haines (Jennifer Howard). As if this wasn't bad enough, Jennifer is told that she has lost all her money and possessions, save for a worn-out race horse named Tiger Lil. Subsequently, Brad purchases the horse for far more than it is worth, but Jennifer angrily rejects this apparent act of charity--and as a result, she finds herself the chief suspect when Brad is murdered. In order to clear the girl's name, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) may have to get some new evidence straight from the horse's mouth...so to speak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Bill Williams, real-life husband of Perry Mason costar Barbara Hale (Della Street), appears as Mike Preston, an embittered oilman determined to get even with the man who crippled him and stole $100,000. When Harlow Phipps (Noah Keen) is murdered, Preston is framed for the crime by his elusive enemy, whereupon Preston's lovelorn housekeeper Lydia hires Perry to defend her boss in court. The solution to the case is tied in with an earlier incident wherein Preston angrily confronted a pair of hunters who shot and wounded a cougar near his property. (Ironically, this episode originally aired the same week that TV Guide featured a cover story about Barbara Hale). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
