Combat! (TV Series) Encounter (1967) User Reviews

Knowing Each Other

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 18 May 2020]

Sgt. Saunders and his squad returns to the base with the Engineer Captain Cole, who is trying to find a location to build a bridge to cross a nearby river and has just protected the rookie Pvt. Kean in a combat with the Germans. Meanwhile, the War Correspondent Jack Cole is received by Lt. Hanley that accepts him to go on patrol with him. However, when Captain Cole returns and sees his estranged son, he does not accept him to go on his patrol. But when Lt. Hanley commands the next patrol, Jack goes with his squad despite the protest of Captain Cole. They stumble upon a German squad and are ambushed in a farmhouse. While waiting for the German attack, father and son are reunited and have the chance to know each other.

"Encounter" is one of the best episodes of "Combat!", with a dramatic and full of action plot. James Daly has magnificent performance in the role of a father estranged to his son that is responsible for the training of several young soldiers. The loss of Kean and his dialog with his son are great parts of this show. The combat scenes are also top-notch. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Encontro" ("Encounter")

Father & Son Reunion

[jmarchese · 9/10 · 22 December 2014]

"Encounter" is a story of reconciliation between father & son amidst front line combat action.

Frank Moss wrote an excellent screenplay portraying estranged father & son in a combat setting. James Daly & James MacArthur play fine roles as Captain Cole and War Correspondent Jack Cole respectively. Character development is excellent between the entire cast including Private Kean (excellently played by Richard Eyer.) Jack Cole is out to write the stories of army personnel engaging Germans on the front line when he runs into his overprotective father, an army engineer scouting a bridge project. Their relationship is very realistic considering they haven't seen each other in a number of years. The viewing audience is treated to great dialog between father & son amidst life threatening circumstances. Private Kean portrays some fine acting at the farmhouse.

Combat action is outstanding in 2 major sequences with Bernard McEveety directing what he directs best - action scenes. And we can never give the German actors and stuntmen enough credit for making it all seem real. Look for favorite German Paul Busch at the farmhouse.

"Encounter" was very entertaining and the ending sequence touches a nerve for any son who never got along with his dad.

Sentimental but works very well

[grantss · 9/10 · 2 July 2022]

An excellent episode of Combat. A sentimental episode, involving a father and son being reunited on the battlefield while a large degree of animosity still exists between them.

Combat's sentimental episodes can be a bit predictable and superficial but this one works very well. The emotional side doesn't get in the way of the action and, for once, doesn't lead to a predictable ending.

Very well done.

He's his father's son

[lor_ · 16 November 2023]

Symptomatic of the weak quality of the final set of "Combat!" episodes prior to its cancellation, "Encounter" is a rather dull, predictable segment that strays from what made the show so memorable. The cast of regulars is present and accounted for but are more bystanders to the drama than active participants.

It stars a father/son combo, who are reunited in combat but have serious issues between them. James Daly is a colonel, and he doesn't want his son, a war reporter played by James MacArthur, to be in danger at the front. Rick doesn't sit still for favoritism and takes the kid on a violent mission, so things come to a head.

Typically, Several battle scenes are thrown in for token action, but the James versus James generation gap is strictly dullsville, plus a maudlin subplot about the death of a teen soldier (not MacArthur).