Richard Tretter Movies

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

Lana Turner takes the lead in the seventh film version of Alexandre Bisson's glossy soap opera. Holly Parker (Turner) is married to respected diplomat Clay Anderson (John Forsythe), but his busy schedule prevents them from seeing each other very often. Distracted and lonely, Holly allows her head to be turned by carefree playboy Phil Benton (Ricardo Montalban), who dies in a freak accident during an assignation. In a panic, Holly contacts her mother-in-law, Estelle Anderson (Constance Bennett) and asks what she should do. Estelle, a joyless woman who has never cared for her daughter-in-law, tells Holly that unless she wants to destroy her husband's life and career, she should flee the country and never return. Tearfully, Holly follows Estelle's advice, leaving behind her young son. Many years later, Holly has fallen on hard times; addicted to drugs, she scrapes out a meager living as a prostitute in a cheap hotel in Mexico. Devious criminal Dan Sullivan (Burgess Meredith) tries to involve Holly in a blackmail scheme; at the last minute, she finds out that Clay is the target, and she kills Sullivan. She cannot afford to hire a lawyer to defend her, so she is assigned a dedicated young public defender, whom she soon recognizes as her son, Clay Anderson, Jr. (Keir Dullea). Not wanting Clay, Jr. to know her true identity, Holly is tried as "Madame X," but she has trouble keeping her composure given the trial and her mixed joy and shame at seeing her son. Madame X was Constance Bennett's first film in 12 years and the last she would ever make; she died of a cerebral hemorrhage shortly after completing her work on the picture, nine months before it was released. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

There's no room for argument in the matter: the most disliked member of King Company is an obnoxious newcomer named Mason (Eddie Ryder). But the Germans don't know this, and when they take Mason prisoner, they're certain that Saunders (Vic Morrow) will try to rescue him. Even if Saunders cared anything about Mason (which he doesn't), he has been given orders indicating that the man is expendable. But as it turns out, there is one member of the platoon who is willing to put his life on the line to save the redoubtable Mason. This is the final episode of Combat's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The vast Canadian wilderness provides the backdrop for this adventure that centers on two Canadian bush pilots whose business and friendship is threatened after they fall in love with the same woman. One is so distracted that he embarks upon a flight without performing the vitally important safety check. He crashes so far in the wilderness that he doesn't think he will ever be found, let alone survive. He is there for many weeks before he is inspired to tag geese with his name and whereabouts. The clever ploy works and he is eventually saved. He also wins the girl in the end. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide