Combat! (TV Series) Losers Cry Deal (1965) User Reviews

Big Shot Chopped Off At Knees

[jmarchese · 10/10 · 9 August 2014]

"Losers Cry Deal" is a story about a big shot cut down to size. After a lengthy combat skirmish, White Rook and another squad from the same platoon take over a large château and make it their operations base.

Private Jackson (superbly played by Mike Kellin) feels he is next in command after his sergeant is killed while taking the château. Lieutenant Hanley allows Saunders to pick a temporary lead to take over Sergeant Slocumb's squad until a new sergeant can be called up. And it's not Jackson, who thinks he's heaven's gift to soldiering. When Saunders puts Caje in charge, Jackson relentlessly mocks their judgment. In mitigation, Jackson emphatically makes the point "in this war it's not what you know but who you know that counts."

When Jackson is picked for an extremely dangerous recon mission, he asks Private Thomas to go in his place. Caje accepts the change not realizing there's more to it than meets the eye.

Shirl Hendryx wrote a fine screen play; character development in a non-combat environment is excellent. Morrow, Kellin, and Jalbert turn in strong performances supplemented by the rest of the squads. The story flows very smoothly and reminds the viewing audience of times in their lives when they were backed into a corner and gained a sense of humility.

The ending is beautifully done with memorable exchanges between Caje, Jackson, and Saunders, a personification of the expression "emotional scars do not heel."

Poker face

[nickenchuggets · 7/10 · 18 December 2022]

In two previous reviews I did on Combat episodes, I wrote about how Vic Morrow wasn't just the main character of the show we all cheer for, but also a distinguished director. Up to this point, he directed two episodes for the show, The Pillbox and Glory Amongst Men, both of which are amazing. As a consequence, I was inclined to regard all the episodes he would direct as great, but sadly, this one proved me wrong. While this installment does have some things about it that I enjoy, it's definitely not Morrow at his finest when it comes to being behind the camera. The episode begins with the squad garrisoning a chateau and waiting for orders on what to do next. As they wait, a thoroughly obnoxious (but seasoned) soldier named Jackson (Mike Kellin) tries to get the others to play cards with him. Because he's such a loudmouth, Jackson has few friends, which seems to be just the way he likes it. Nobody seems to like Jackson's attitude, but a recruit named Thomas is submissive to him because he can't stand up for himself. Some time later, Thomas goes out on a patrol with Caje, even though Jackson was supposed to be the one to go with him. On the patrol, Caje is pinned down by a German machine gun position and almost killed. He yells for Thomas to run away, but Thomas instead lobs a grenade into the gun nest, saving Caje, but losing his life. Caje arrives back at the chateau and sees how Jackson is still being a lousy person. He continues to make snide remarks toward other members of the squad, including Little John, which isn't smart to do considering the latter is so much bigger than him. The men eventually get fed up with Jackson and just stare him down in silence, which makes him finally realize how nobody wants him around. He starts yelling about how Thomas was a coward with a bad track record and that he deserved to be killed, and Jackson apparently knows this because he was in Thomas' old squad. Even though he's adamant Thomas was a coward, Caje still tells Jackson he saved his life earlier. An enraged Jackson grabs Caje's shirt and calls him a liar, but Caje repeats himself. The squad leaves the chateau shortly after. As a closing remark, Saunders instructs Jackson to fall in behind the newcomers in the squad, and also to watch out for them because they're rookies. Even though the last two episodes Morrow did were incredible, I guess you can't win all the time. This one has a lot of problems. The most obvious issue is probably Jackson himself, being as annoying and confrontational as he is. I suppose that's kind of the point, but like so many other obnoxious characters in this show, the episode is centered around him. Furthermore, part of the setting is awkward. There's a few shots of Saunders in front of a swastika banner, and it's really strange for obvious reasons. Not to mention, the squad decides to leave it draped over the stairwell for the entire episode, which really doesn't make any sense. At least Saunders is his usual hardheaded self here, unlike many other installments where he lets himself get bullied by nobodies or enlisted men that are a lower rank than him. To be frank, Losers Cry Deal had a few moments that were exciting, but in general, it's not one of the show's finest. I just wish I could find the Reising submachine gun hidden in this episode, since it was a weapon comparable to the Thompson that Saunders carries, but was less reliable and could be made quicker. According to the set I own, Caje has one at one point, but I never saw it.

Award-worthy work by Kellin & Vic

[lor_ · 10 August 2023]

Mike Kellin is terrific as a man you love to hate, to quote Vic: always looking out for number one. He's an instantly detestable loud-mouth corporal who has some power over a private Tommy (played by Dee Pollock). Vic passes over him, appointing Caje to lead a squadron after its sergeant is killed, and Kellin keeps up his grievance routine, riding everybody with his anger at having not been put in charge. Segment title refers to Kellin always anxious to start a poker game with his fellow troops.

When Tommy begrudgingly subs for Kellin on a dangerous mission accompanying Caje, its uh-oh time.

Vic tightly directs this story of a war of wills, only this time not involving the enemy but with men on the same side. Besides Kellin, a young Tom Skerritt impresses briefly as a new replacement, with a big, welcoming smile.

Tommy heroically saves Caje's life at the expense of his own, stage dramatically in a heavy rainstorm. Morrow's steely stare for the big confrontation with Kellin sets the tone for a solidly dramatic scene.

As the men all turn against him, Kellin's outburst of self-pity is a wonderfully acted capper to a fine scene, artfully directed by Morrow with grand style.