Combat! (TV Series) Birthday Cake (1964) User Reviews

The Birthday Cake

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 18 November 2017]

On the Eve of his birthday, Littlejohn receives a box with a cake from his mother with the request to open the box only on his birthday. He is assigned to go with Saunders, Caje, Kirby and Pvt. Steve Cantrell to wiretap the German telephone lines in the enemy territory. Cantrell complains since he is on his last day before returning home, but he is the only one who speaks German and necessary for the mission. Littlejohn protects his cake and stays with Cantrell while Saunders, Caje and Kirby investigate the spot. Out of the blue, Littlejohn finds that he forgot his cake under a bridge and returns to bring his cake. Meanwhile Saunders gets the necessary information and tells his squad that they can return to their lines. However Littlejohn is seen by a German patrol and they have to fight and Cantrell is wounded. What will they do?

"Birthday Cake" is a full of action episode of "Combat!" with funny scenes. The giant Littlejohn taking care of his cake like a child is really amusing and Sgt Saunders laughing in the end is a rare moment in this series. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Bolo de Aniversário" ("The Birthday Cake")

The Impulsive Littlejohn

[jmarchese · 7/10 · 22 August 2014]

"Birthday Cake" is a story of American recon and what happens when a soldier's head is not in the ballgame.

White Rook is sent on a dangerous recon mission into German territory to find out what they are up to. Private Steve Cantrell (played by Phillip Pine) made the mistake of learning German in school and was picked for the mission the idea being to tap telephone lines and intercept valuable information. After receiving a tip from a French farmer, Saunders, Cage, & Kirby do some valuable recon while Littlejohn covers Cantrell's wire tapping exploits. Littlejohn suddenly realizes he forgot his birthday cake at the bridge and must run back to recover it. Without even looking, he bolts for the orchard and is spotted by the Germans who are immediately in hot pursuit. A firefight ensues and sets the plot for the balance of the episode.

I'm critical of the Germans impossibly poor shooting capabilities considering their numbers. Also, they are too intelligent a people to stand up like turkeys in front of a shoot. Both combat scenes are noticeably unrealistic.

Littlejohn carries out his role in excellent fashion except would he really try to swim with combat boots on? All in all it was a mediocre episode with a happy ending.

A fun episode

[ccm1949 · 8/10 · 29 March 2022]

Not really review of the episode, just a correction. One reviewer referred to Sgt. Carter. I think he meant Sgt. Saunders. Sgt. Carter was on Gomer Pyle.

To Eat Or Not To Eat

[sambase-38773 · 8/10 · 8 August 2021]

Your mom baked you a birthday cake and sent it all the way to Europe. She put directions in the box to not eat it until your birthday, which is tomorrow. But the rest of the squad wants to eat it now. Who are you going to be more loyal to, your squad or your Mom? Littlejohn chooses his Mom over his squad and that's what causes all the trouble.

This is where Sgt. Carter should have stepped in and ordered Littlejohn to eat his cake before going out on patrol. He could see that the cake was causing a big problem and to allow Littlejohn to lug his cake along on the patrol was oddly foolish for an old pro like Sgt. Carter. Everyone blames Littlejohn for causing all the ensuing problems while on patrol, but it all could have been easily avoided had Sgt. Carter settled the matter before leaving. Carter never blames himself, only Littlejohn. And that's a mistake that's never explored by the script writer.

This is quite an enjoyable episode even though there is plenty to criticize in terms of realism if you want to. But it's a TV show and the number one priority is to be entertaining and that is what this episode is - entertaining. It's a fun watch.

Champagne is made in France only

[lor_ · 19 August 2023]

Vic leads his squad deep into German-held territory to attempt to intercept the enemy's communications, and takes a recalcitrant soldier (played by Phillip Pine) who speaks German with him for obvious reasons.

Segment's title stems from a birthday cake received by Little John from his mother back home, with instructions "not to open until birthday". Besides the basic urge to stay alive, that's the carrot for his buddies to succeed in this mission, to enjoy a simple, nostalgic pleasure in the midst of the brutal war.

Action is standard -hide from the Germans in the area while still getting close enough to "tap their phone" as it were. Simplistic script has the cowardly Pine hanging over their heads as a distinct liability. He expects to be going home soon on rotation, and his belligerent attitude toward Vic is a familiar plot ploy, given how strong the audience identification with Vic has been established in this series.

Story gimmick is absurd (on purpose) as in a dangerous situation Little John realizes he has left his cake behind and deserts his position to retrieve the precious item. The mission is accomplished without Pine's expertise, but now the focus of the squad is to find Little John and keep him from being shot by a troop of pesky Germans in the area.

On their way back to the lines, VIc receives another mission, temporarily needing to leave badly wounded Pine behind with the promise of coming back to retrieve the self-pitying, Naturally Little John feels bad about what's happened and preditably performs an act of heroism.

Yes, the pointlessness and absurdity of war is displayed, but without the satirical or powerful point-of-view of so many feature films on the subject. Instead, it's just another day in the French countryside (in this case shot on the environs of the famous Korbel winery in Sonoma County, California) for our lovable set of TV characters including one semi-bad apple. The silly, light-hearted ending contradicts what's gone before -a real groaner.