Doughboy (29 Oct. 1963)

While on patrol in the woods, Sgt. Saunders is taken prisoner by a slightly insane American soldier in a WWI uniform. He believes he is still fighting the First World War, and that Saunders is a German soldier.

Director:

Tom Gries

Writers:

Bernard C. Schoenfeld (teleplay), Gene Levitt (story)

Stars:

Vic Morrow, Rick Jason, Eddie Albert

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Vic Morrow	...	Sgt. Saunders
Rick Jason	...	Lt. Hanley (credit only)
Eddie Albert	...	Phil
Jack Hogan	...	Kirby
Paul Busch	...	German Sergeant
Eric Braeden	...	German Vehicle Commander (as Hans Gudegast)
Michael McDonald	...	Ed
William Harlow	...	Nick (as Bill Harlow)
Alida Valli	...	Marie

Storyline

While on patrol in the woods, Sgt. Saunders is taken prisoner by a slightly insane American soldier in a WWI uniform. He believes he is still fighting the First World War, and that Saunders is a German soldier.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selmur Productions, ABC Television Network

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Combat Meets the Twilight Zone in Green Acres

Saunders, Kirby and a squad of new men are sent out to locate the location of a big German gun. After looking unsuccessfully, the patrol is fired on by a lone rifleman. When Saunders tries to flank the rifleman he finds himself captured by a US Soldier--a leftover dough boy from World War One! Eddie Albert plays Phil, a shell-shocked vet who remained in France after the war to marry a local French woman (Alida Valli--only rarely seen in US productions like "The Third Man" and "The Cassandra Crossing"). The German invasion made him think its 1918 again and he's been separated from his unit. What's worse is he thinks Saunders is a "heinie" fighting for the Kaiser.

Though it sounds pretty ludicrous, Morrow and Albert are able to pull this off and turn it into a really enjoyable episode. Albert gets a lot of credit for being able to switch from the gung-ho dough boy of 1918 to a confused middle aged man.

There's also a lot of inadvertent comedy in this that only comes out in hindsight. Phil talks about how much he likes "farm living" foreshadowing Albert's "Green Acres" days, and he mentions how he'd like to buy one of those model T tractors Henry Ford started making (and which he drove on "Green Acres"). Not only is he living on a farmhouse, but he's also married to a foreign wife! Good thing Saunders didn't stay for the hotcakes, I guess.

In going back to the allied lines ( a trip that almost ends with them being killed by friendly fire!), Saunders and Phil pass a very familiar landmark--the road Andy and Opie walk up to at the beginning of the "Andy Griffith Show". It is instantly recognizable. Less recognizable is "Rat Patrol" star Eric Braedon as the German vehicle commander.

Other than Kirby, none of the other regulars appear in this episode. It again makes me wonder how Rick Jason managed to get top billing on this series.