THE GALLANT MEN: Tommy 1963
"The Gallant Men" was an American television series that debuted on ABC in the fall of 1962. It followed a company of US soldiers from the Sept 1943 invasion at Salerno, and their battles up the boot of Italy. The series ran for a total of 26 episodes during 1962-63. Leading the cast is Robert McQueeney, who also narrates the story. McQueeney is a newspaper reporter who follows the company on their exploits. (Sort of an Ernie Pyle clone) The rest of the regulars are played by, William Reynolds, Robert Ridgely, Francis X Slattery, Eddie Fontaine, Roland La Starza, Roger Davis and Robert Gothie. There are the standard types sprinkled throughout, the joker, the card sharp, the loner etc. This is the 26th and last episode of the series.
This last episode of the series starts with a German artillery barrage on a British truck convoy. Several of the men are badly hurt and hauled off to the rear for treatment. The tale now switches to the American Infantry company the series has been following. They have all been sent back to Naples for a spot of R and R. (They seem to get a lot of this in the series) Visiting Naples to entertain the troops for the U.S.O. is Hollywood actress, Dorothy Provine. And as it so happens, Provine and company commander, William Reynolds, know each other. The two had been an item years before she became famous. The two click again as if nothing has happened.
The next day, Provine and her piano man, George O'Hanlon, hit a British hospital to put on a song and dance show. It is a hit with the wounded. That is except for one man, David Frankham. Frankham is one of the wounded men from the opening scene. It seems that Frankham has been unable to move his arms or legs since.
Provine takes a personal interest in the lad and keeps returning to see if she can help. The medical type in charge, Jack Greening, tells Reynolds that Frankham's problems are all in his mind. There is no medical reason he cannot move. Reynolds steps up and starts a fight with Provine, this causes Frankham to respond and finally move.
This is not what one would call, a great last episode. It was interesting to see George O'Hanlon in a bit. O'Hanlon, who also wrote the episode, would become known to a whole generation of kids as the voice of George Jetson.
"The Gallant Men" was an American television series that debuted on ABC in the fall of 1962. It followed a company of US soldiers from the Sept 1943 invasion at Salerno, and their battles up the boot of Italy. The series ran for a total of 26 episodes during 1962-63. Leading the cast is Robert McQueeney, who also narrates the story. McQueeney is a newspaper reporter who follows the company on their exploits. (Sort of an Ernie Pyle clone) The rest of the regulars are played by, William Reynolds, Robert Ridgely, Francis X Slattery, Eddie Fontaine, Roland La Starza, Roger Davis and Robert Gothie. There are the standard types sprinkled throughout, the joker, the card sharp, the loner etc. This is the 26th and last episode of the series.
This last episode of the series starts with a German artillery barrage on a British truck convoy. Several of the men are badly hurt and hauled off to the rear for treatment. The tale now switches to the American Infantry company the series has been following. They have all been sent back to Naples for a spot of R and R. (They seem to get a lot of this in the series) Visiting Naples to entertain the troops for the U.S.O. is Hollywood actress, Dorothy Provine. And as it so happens, Provine and company commander, William Reynolds, know each other. The two had been an item years before she became famous. The two click again as if nothing has happened.
The next day, Provine and her piano man, George O'Hanlon, hit a British hospital to put on a song and dance show. It is a hit with the wounded. That is except for one man, David Frankham. Frankham is one of the wounded men from the opening scene. It seems that Frankham has been unable to move his arms or legs since.
Provine takes a personal interest in the lad and keeps returning to see if she can help. The medical type in charge, Jack Greening, tells Reynolds that Frankham's problems are all in his mind. There is no medical reason he cannot move. Reynolds steps up and starts a fight with Provine, this causes Frankham to respond and finally move.
This is not what one would call, a great last episode. It was interesting to see George O'Hanlon in a bit. O'Hanlon, who also wrote the episode, would become known to a whole generation of kids as the voice of George Jetson.