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

Creator:

Tom Gries
(more)

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:

Commando | North Africa | Cult TV | Army | North Africa Campaign

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Christopher George	...	Sgt. Sam Troy / ... (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Gary Raymond	...	Sgt. Jack Moffitt / ... (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Eric Braeden	...	Capt. Hans Dietrich / ... (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Lawrence P. Casey	...	Pvt. Mark Hitchcock / ... (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Justin Tarr	...	Pvt. Tully Pettigrew / ... (54 episodes, 1966-1968)

Series Directed by
John Peyser		(10 episodes, 1966-1967)
Lee H. Katzin		(7 episodes, 1966-1967)
Robert Sparr		(6 episodes, 1967)
Herschel Daugherty		(5 episodes, 1967)
Frank Baur		(4 episodes, 1967-1968)
Sutton Roley		(4 episodes, 1967)

Series Writing credits
Tom Gries		(58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Richard H. Landau		(5 episodes, 1966-1967)
Anthony Lawrence		(5 episodes, 1966-1967)
Mark Weingart		(4 episodes, 1967)
John Peyser		(3 episodes, 1966-1967)
Edward J. Lakso		(3 episodes, 1967-1968)
Harry Kronman		(2 episodes, 1966-1967)
Ronald Sossi		(2 episodes, 1966-1967)
Daniel Aubrey		(2 episodes, 1966)
Don Brinkley		(2 episodes, 1967)
Richard De Roy		(2 episodes, 1967)
Peter Allan Fields		(2 episodes, 1967)
Ellis Kadison		(2 episodes, 1967)
Sheldon Stark		(2 episodes, 1967)

Series Produced by
Jon Epstein	....	producer (26 episodes, 1967)
Mark Weingart	....	associate producer (26 episodes, 1967)
Richard H. Landau	....	associate producer (16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Lee Rich	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1967)
Stanley Shpetner	....	producer (6 episodes, 1966)

Series Original Music by
Dominic Frontiere		(43 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Cinematography by
Brick Marquard		(40 episodes, 1966-1967)
Manuel Berenguer		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Film Editing by
Richard K. Brockway		(24 episodes, 1966-1968)

Series Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(33 episodes, 1966-1968)

Series Art Direction by
Jack T. Collis		(17 episodes, 1967)
Gil Parrondo		(16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Eddie Imazu		(10 episodes, 1967-1968)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles S. Thompson		(24 episodes, 1967-1968)

Series Makeup Department
Harry Ross	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1966)

Series Production Management
Bernard Oseransky	....	assistant production supervisor (42 episodes, 1966-1967)
Leonard C. Kroll	....	post-production supervisor (41 episodes, 1966-1968)
Frank Baur	....	production supervisor (26 episodes, 1967)
Lee Rich	....	executive in charge of production (16 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Templeton	....	assistant director (12 episodes, 1967)
Kuki López Rodero	....	first assistant director (10 episodes, 1966-1967)
Grayson Rogers	....	assistant director (10 episodes, 1967-1968)
Jack N. Reddish	....	second unit director (5 episodes, 1966)
Pedro Vidal	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1966)
Ricardo Hansa	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1966)
Robert Gough	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Ángel Cañizares	....	set dresser (16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Art Cole	....	property master (16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Richard Neblett	....	property master (3 episodes, 1967)

Series Sound Department
John Haines	....	sound mixer (16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Tom Edwards	....	sound mixer (15 episodes, 1967)
Ben Smith	....	sound effects editor (12 episodes, 1966-1967)
Milton E. Berle	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1966)

Series Special Effects by
A. Paul Pollard	....	special effects (16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Glen Robinson	....	special effects (3 episodes, 1967)
Henry Millar Jr.	....	special effects (2 episodes, 1967)

Series Stunts
Budd Albright	....	stunts (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunt coordinator (12 episodes, 1966)
Jack N. Young	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1966-1967)
Von Deming	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1967)
Frank Babich	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gary Epper	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Hal Needham	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Doug O'Dell	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Dick Ziker	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Gough	....	director of photography: second unit (1 episode, 1966)
Nelson Tyler	....	aerial photographer (1 episode, 1966)
Doug Byers	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Lynn Stalmaster	....	casting supervisor (1 episode, 1966)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eric Seelig	....	wardrobe (16 episodes, 1966-1967)
Norman A. Burza	....	wardrobe (3 episodes, 1967)

Series Editorial Department
Anthony DiMarco	....	supervising editor (42 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor (15 episodes, 1966)
Earle Dearth	....	music editor / music supervisor (7 episodes, 1966-1968)

Series Transportation Department
Robert Neal	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Fred Lemoine	....	production executive: Mirisch-Rich (32 episodes, 1966-1967)
Dennis Judd	....	location auditor (31 episodes, 1966-1967)
Ronald Sossi	....	assistant: producer (31 episodes, 1966-1967)

Production Companies

• Mirisch-Rich Productions (as Mirisch-Rich Television Productions)
• Tom Gries Productions (in association with)
• United Artists Television (in association with)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1966-1968) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• United Artists Television

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (58 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Amargosa Valley, Nevada, USA

Company:

Mirisch-Rich Productions

Trivia:

The first World War II television series made and telecast entirely in color.

Quotes:

Sgt. Sam Troy:Let's shake it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: City Limits (#5.3)" (1992)

Doesn't take it for me

I first saw the Rat Patrol when I borrowed season 2 from my Uncle. To put it in plane words, I don't really like the show at all. Why don't I like it? Most of the plots are weak. They are resolved way to easily. Even though they are often assigned challenging missions 90% of the time they pull through quite easily. The acting is OK, Troy however bothers me. His character isn't consistent. He'll lay down hard on his men but when it comes to himself he often does what he tells his men not too. I think his sternness or tough guy attitude is somewhat fake. And I am just personally annoyed by him too some extent. Well then there's Moffitt, he is much better then Troy, in my opinion a much better actor. The only flaw I have with him is his bad jokes get annoying at times. Tully and Hitch are OK. Dietrich is in my opinion the best part of the show. His character amuses me. He is perfect for the, bad guy who is not so bad, character he plays. The one thing that really ruins the show is; Captain Dietrich, who seems to be an intelligent man, is defeated again and again by the Rat Patrol. The show would be much more amusing if The two enemies had more challenging battles, where both would have to use there heads instead of the Rat Patrol super-manning through all their challenges and slaughtering their stupid Nazi counterparts. As for authenticity well it is poor. The uniforms have the WWII Look and are OK for most people but as a Reenactor I can pick them apart. First off the tan uniforms they wear in each episode would not be worn in combat. They look like Summer Khaki Dress Fatigues. The proper uniform would be Olive Drab Wool pants and shirts. Troy wears some kind of tall jack boot. Tully and Hitch wear German Low Quarter boots, with British Gators, and Moffitt wear US rough outs. Well all the US guys should be wearing low boots and leggings and Moffitt should be wearing low boots and gators. The worst thing of all is the bazaar guns they carry in the First season. They seem to be some kind of MP40 or MP41 with a custom wooden stock, and with a weird looking barrel added on. I think the Rat Patrol would be much better if they had done these three things: Made them into 45 minute episodes so the Plot could develop more. Strengthen the tension between Troy and Dietrich. Get rid of most of the Jeep battles and have more Guerrilla, Sabator type fighting. Yes I know a big part of the Show was the Jeep battles but they are just a bit corny. The German bullets just seem to completely miss the Rat Patrol's jeeps completely every time. Also I don't think a 50 cal machine gun can blow up a Half Track. My little brothers like it but it just doesn't take it for me.