Combat! (TV Series) The Hell Machine (1965) User Reviews

Morrow & Gorshin At Their Best !

[jmarchese · 10/10 · 31 August 2014]

"The Hell Machine" is a story of persistence & determination against all odds when stuck in German company.

Saunders, Captain Beggs (played by Than Wyenn,) and Private Gavin (superbly played by Frank Gorshin) have an accident while en route to their lines with valuable information. Beggs is seriously injured and cannot walk. Good fortune comes their way when a German tank pulls up to their crashed jeep with 2 dead Germans at the controls who had bought it in the immediately preceding battle.

Can self proclaimed claustrophobe Gavin drive the tank? Does fear captivate him as a German jeep approaches? Or - is Gavin simply afraid of Saunders' wrath? Great, great chemistry & dialog between Vic Morrow & Frank Gorshin make this a suspense laden yet extremely entertaining episode to watch. Chalk up some great imaginative screen writing by Ed Lakso and the viewing audience is in for a real treat. It amazes me how Mr. Lakso did it considering his limited exposure to war genre.

"The Hell Machine" is Frank Gorshin at his best; his facial expressions and reactions are priceless. With Sarge as the driving force, Private Gavin just goes like a famous battery powered bunny we all know.

I absolutely love the lesson of persistence & determination given once again by our enterprising Saunders; he never gives up in dealing with the Germans or Private Gavin. Persistence & determination are synonymous with Sergeant Chip Saunders and I think a lot of it rubbed off on a couple of Combat viewing generations over the years.

If a "Best of Saunders 2" DVD comes out, "The Hell Machine" should be on it. Sit back and enjoy!

The German Tank

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 21 April 2018]

While heading to their base in a jeep with maps and important information, Pvt. Gavin, Sgt. Saunders and Captain Beggs hit a mine on the road. Saunders and Gavin use a German tank to transport their captain but they stumble upon German troops and need to lure them. Will they succeed to return to their base?

"The Hell Machine" is a highly entertaining episode of "Combat!", with Saunders showing his military skills to the claustrophobic Pvt. Gavin. The Germans are easily lured by the American Captain. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Máquina Infernal" ("The Hell Machine")

This could have almost made a movie.

[dukeb0y · 9/10 · 31 October 2021]

Not looking at the story which was pretty good. First they used two genuine American tanks.(painted as German).

Lots of tank driving, and really some nice shots of the tanks. Also quite a few German extras probably 15, could even be 20. And some overhead filming from a helicopter.

The producer certainly produced on this one. Very enjoyable episode.

Vic, Frank and a mighty tank

[lor_ · 25 August 2023]

Frank Gorshin guest stars as a jeep driver, thrown in with Vic when they hit a land mine while driving. Vic is cut off from his squad. Almost immediately a German tank approaches and the duo are faced with an immediate crisis, as the Captain they were traveling with is severely injured and trapped under the jeep.

The captain hands Vic important maps and orders and sends them off in the nick of time. As luck would have it, the jeep arrives with the Germans inside dead.

It's a tense situation, as a large group of enemy soldiers are approaching. Though Gorshin is a wimp who claims he can't drive a German tank, but eventually gets the hang of it with VIc screaming at him all the while.

Posing as Germans, the trio in the tank manage to tag along with a German column. Wily Vic manages to outsmart a jeep full of Germans, and then wipe them out at the first opportunity. Saddled with a claustrophobic weakling, Vic has to keep up the pressure to keep him performing as they try desperately to reach their lines.

Finally their tank is stuck and an enemy one approaches -looks like he jig is up. But the Germans give them a tow and get Vic's tank out of its rut but when they're identified, a scary dance of tanks at clsoe range ensues, making for an exciting climax.

A quite offbeat episode, built around the tank makes for a gripping miniature action tale, well-photographed and edited for maximum impact.

Entertaining, original episode

[grantss · 9/10 · 14 June 2022]

A bit of departure from the normal as Saunders gives up foot slogging for armour, getting a German tank back to Allied lines. It's quite the adventure with some great action and tension along the way.