The Bridge at Chalons (17 Sep. 1963)

The squad faces elimination by Heer troops and even worse, an ultra-caustic demo expert who refuses to let Saunders guide their sortie behind German lines to destroy a bridge. The 2 ... See full summary »

Director:

Ted Post

Writers:

Bob Mitchell, Esther Mitchell

Stars:

Vic Morrow, Rick Jason, Lee Marvin

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Vic Morrow	...	Sgt. Saunders
Rick Jason	...	Lt. Hanley
Lee Marvin	...	Sgt. Turk
Jack Hogan	...	Kirby
Pierre Jalbert	...	Caje
Tom Lowell	...	Billy Nelson
Dick Peabody	...	Littlejohn
Conlan Carter	...	Doc
Lee Krieger	...	Capt. McQuillan (as Lee Kreiger)
Rance Howard	...	Wilkerson
Rudy Hansen	...	German Leader (as Rudy Hanson)
Peter Hellman	...	German
Kurt Landen	...	Other German (as Kurt Landon)
Donald Ein	...	German Corporal
Matthias Uitz	...	1st German Cyclist (as Mathias Uitz)

Storyline

The squad faces elimination by Heer troops and even worse, an ultra-caustic demo expert who refuses to let Saunders guide their sortie behind German lines to destroy a bridge. The 2 battling Sergeants trade icy glares, and contrary orders, while the infantry try everything to avoid combat with Nazis because the dog-faces must put eliminating the bridge above all else. The explosives noncom's unending contempt bruises even the calloused egos of Saunders' combat vets. Which explodes first - the bridge or the mission ?

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 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

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Sgt Saunders gets into the river to lay charges under a bridge. After he emerges from the water, he tends to Sgt Turk but is now completely dry.

User Reviews

Lee Marvin Played the Man You Loved to Hate!

Before stardom in films like "The Dirty Dozen and Cat Ballou." Lee Marvin played a tough guy or heavy, but he is a Sgt in the episode. As he and Vic Morrow's Saunders don't like one another. But the two men are forced to rely upon one another. Despite Turk's annoying and at times, jerky behavior.

Saunders lets him know who is boss. And that Marvin's Turk is very condescending towards his men. But despite their dislike of one another, Saunders men gets picked off one by one. Until it is down to the two men left.

Turk in a sense, we see a brief side of him being a little softy about being too long on the line and being a soldier. As he says to Saunders, hate is the way to go. But Saunders sees otherwise.

Despite a grudging respect for one another, and as Marvin's Turk is injured leaving Saunders to blow up the bridge himself nearly. Turk goes back to his jerky ways but not before Saunders tells him, "Hurt my men, I will go after you." And as he leaves, Turk tells a medic he will put Saunders up for a Silver Star.

Turk's attitude would work in the military. But in real life, it could get him fired from many jobs. And make him more and more enemies. Not just in the military. In a sense, despite him being a jerk, you have to feel bad for him. And his attitude.