Combat! (TV Series) The Convict (1965) User Reviews

Truth and Redemption

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 12 April 2018]

The escapee from the maximum security prison Boulanger sees a German soldier escorting the Maquis Dupre through the field. Dupre fights and is killed by the German, but Boulanger kills the soldier and takes Dupre´s clothes and documents. He overhears Hanley, Saunders, Kirby and Caje that are seeking out Dupre that will guide them to the French resistance leader Lambrelle to show five German locations that need to be destroyed in the next 48 h. Boulanger poses as if he were Dupre and lures the squad, telling that Lambrelle is in a place near Switzerland. Hanley is accidentally wounded and Saunders, Kirby and Caje head with Boulanger to the spot. However Saunders discovers that Boulanger is not Dupre and ties his hands. But out of the blue, a young man attacks Saunders and releases Boulanger. Who is the young man?

"The Convict" is another great episode of "Combat!" with a believable story. The screenplay is very well-written and entwines action scenes with a family drama; the result is an engaging story of truth and redemption. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Condenado" ("The Convict")

Deception Brings Out Truth & Reconciliation

[jmarchese · 9/10 · 23 August 2014]

"The Convict" is a story of stolen identity used to bring out truth and reconciliation.

Hanley, Saunders, Caje, and Kirby are looking for Andre Dupre, a French Resistance fighter who will take them to his boss Lambrelle to pinpoint locations for air drop of supplies to be used by the Resistance to blow up five American objectives. Dupre is killed by a German and seeing opportunity, Boulanger (excellently played by Gilbert Roland) decides to steal his identity. Upon rendezvousing with the squad, Boulanger leads them toward his escape in Switzerland as opposed to Lambrelle. Boulanger makes a huge mistake en route and Saunders picks up on his true intention. He takes Boulanger prisoner suspecting he's an escaped convict. When they run into Boulanger's son Pierre, the tide changes as Pierre agrees to take them to Lambrelle believing his father to be innocent.

Screen writers Kay Lenard & Jess Carneol did an excellent job in that the story is very plausible. It's almost as if they worked backwards from truth & reconciliation to the beginning identity theft. It takes real creativity to conceive a story like "The Convict." The old man on the train tells of the escaped convicts while Pierre intercedes to change direction and get the squad to their objective. And Bernard McEveety takes care of his specialty in the superb ending sequence which effectively binds the episode together.

By the way, maybe our troops should practice knife throwing. In times of war it can be extremely useful.

Star power is not enough

[lor_ · 20 August 2023]

Gilbert Roland guest stars in the title role of a convict who fools the squad into accompanying him toward freedom in Switzerland, posing as a famed leader of the Resistance that Rick and Vic are supposed to protect.

Roland is convincing but eventually Vic deduces he's a phony and returns to his original mission, with the convict now his prisoner. But the tables are soon turned and some suspense returns. Contrived theme of Roland's idealistic son becoming disillusioned with his dad is less than riveting.

Not much of an episode, but a chance to see the Hollywood veteran Roland with his charisma intact.