FOLLOW THE SUN – Sergeant Kolchak Fades Away – 1962
This is episode 20 from the 1961-62 series, FOLLOW THE SUN. The series, which ran for 30 episodes, follows a trio of free-lance magazine writers. The three are played by Barry Coe, Gary Lockwood and Brett Halsey. The gimmick here is that they are based in Honolulu. Also with recurring roles are Gigi Perreau as their secretary, and Jay Lanin as their contact with the local Police. Of course the three newsmen are always getting involved with the usual assortment of nasty types.
Reporter Brett Halsey is asked by the Marine Corp to do a piece on a 40 year man, William Bendix, who is being retired. Halsey agrees and hits the Marine base to meet Bendix and get some background. All he finds out is that Bendix is one nasty s.o.b. and everyone on base hates his guts.
Halsey writes up the article as best he can and sends it in. He is somewhat surprised when it becomes the cover story for the magazine. Bendix now contacts Halsey to ghost write a book on his life as a Marine. Bendix still is not forthcoming with any details of his service. He tells Halsey to make up something that will sell.
Now a Japanese soldier from WW2 shows up on Bendix's front porch. The man, James Yagi had seen the magazine article. He has hunted down Bendix to kill him. Bendix it seems had killed the man's commanding officer on Saipan during the battle for the island.
There is a bit of a throw down between Bendix and Yagi which is stopped by Nobu McCarthy. McCarthy is an orphan who was raised by Bendix after the war. It turns out that Bendix has been sending all his money to fund a home in Japan for orphans. Yagi now decides that honour has been served and heads back to Japan.
Also in the cast with a 30 second bit is George (Mister Sulu) Takei. I must admit this one is a strange episode that starts with a definite comic feel, then turns nasty, and ends on a happy note. Considering the cast, and who the director was, Jacques Tourneur, I was expecting more of a noir or crime type show. Still, it is always interesting to see Bendix on screen.
This is episode 20 from the 1961-62 series, FOLLOW THE SUN. The series, which ran for 30 episodes, follows a trio of free-lance magazine writers. The three are played by Barry Coe, Gary Lockwood and Brett Halsey. The gimmick here is that they are based in Honolulu. Also with recurring roles are Gigi Perreau as their secretary, and Jay Lanin as their contact with the local Police. Of course the three newsmen are always getting involved with the usual assortment of nasty types.
Reporter Brett Halsey is asked by the Marine Corp to do a piece on a 40 year man, William Bendix, who is being retired. Halsey agrees and hits the Marine base to meet Bendix and get some background. All he finds out is that Bendix is one nasty s.o.b. and everyone on base hates his guts.
Halsey writes up the article as best he can and sends it in. He is somewhat surprised when it becomes the cover story for the magazine. Bendix now contacts Halsey to ghost write a book on his life as a Marine. Bendix still is not forthcoming with any details of his service. He tells Halsey to make up something that will sell.
Now a Japanese soldier from WW2 shows up on Bendix's front porch. The man, James Yagi had seen the magazine article. He has hunted down Bendix to kill him. Bendix it seems had killed the man's commanding officer on Saipan during the battle for the island.
There is a bit of a throw down between Bendix and Yagi which is stopped by Nobu McCarthy. McCarthy is an orphan who was raised by Bendix after the war. It turns out that Bendix has been sending all his money to fund a home in Japan for orphans. Yagi now decides that honour has been served and heads back to Japan.
Also in the cast with a 30 second bit is George (Mister Sulu) Takei. I must admit this one is a strange episode that starts with a definite comic feel, then turns nasty, and ends on a happy note. Considering the cast, and who the director was, Jacques Tourneur, I was expecting more of a noir or crime type show. Still, it is always interesting to see Bendix on screen.