"The Rat Patrol" (1966)TV series 1966-1968

Creator:

Tom Gries

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

12 September 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Adventure | War

Plot:

Set in North Africa during World War II, this series chronicles the adventures of a 4-man team of commandos within the Long Range Desert Group...

Plot Keywords:

Africa | Army | Commando | North Africa Campaign | North Africa

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Christopher George	...	Sgt. Sam Troy (52 episodes, 1966-1968)
Gary Raymond	...	Sgt. Jack Moffitt (52 episodes, 1966-1968)
Lawrence P. Casey	...	Pvt. Mark Hitchcock (52 episodes, 1966-1968)
Justin Tarr	...	Pvt. Tully Pettigrew (49 episodes, 1966-1968)
Eric Braeden	...	Capt. Hans Dietrich / ... (39 episodes, 1966-1968)

Runtime:

30 min (58 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

Amargosa Valley, Nevada, USA

Company:

Mirisch-Rich Productions

Trivia:

Inspired by the series--and particularly inspired by the Rats' Jeeps, which were equipped with .50 caliber machine guns--was a U.S. Army officer stationed in Vietnam during the show's run; accordingly, he installed a .50 cal MG in his own Jeep. Several of his men took turns firing the weapon. The recoil from each shot picked up the Jeep and moved it, making the gun swing wildly; bullets went everywhere except at the target. So much for jumping hills and blowing up tanks from the back of a Jeep!

Quotes:

Pvt. Mark Hitchcock: Who was there, Sarge? You or me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Zigra (#4.16)" (1991)

This series was in "living color"

To disagree with a previous post, The Rat Patrol was filmed in color. As a mater of fact, the tag before the show aired showed a background of the two jeeps roaring through the desert with The Rat Patrol -- In Color superimposed on the shot. Being that it was filmed in 1966-1968, color was one of the selling points of the series -- hence all those wonderful shots of military half tracks and trucks blowing up in huge fireballs. (Combat was aired in black and white. ) As for the show itself, it wasn't so bad. Sure, some of the scripts were kind of escapist. However, there were several episodes that were well done. One involved Sergeant Jack Moffitt (Gary Raymond) coming to grips with the death of his brother; other episode teamed the Rat Patrol up with the Germans a couple of times. Once they had to save a little girl who fell into a well, and another time Americans and Germans had to fend off an Arab tribe attacking them in some kind of old ruins in the middle of the desert.

Anyway, point being the show was escapist, but is still on the air today. WGN in Chicago airs the show sometimes and other outlets air it, too.