COMBAT! “Hills Are For Heroes” (1966)

 

                  I am working my way through the series as part of my “1^st and 10” project on war TV shows. I will be reviewing the first and tenth episodes of series plus the best episode based on its IMDB rating.  To do this post, I jumped ahead to episodes 25-26 in season 3, which are tied for the best episode.  “Hills Are For Heroes” is a two part episode directed by Vic Morrow.  Morrow, who famously played Sgt. Saunders in the series, directed seven episodes of the series.  “Hills” is considered his greatest directorial work.  The title, whether planned or not, hearkens to 1962’s similarly grim “Hell is for Heroes”.  The script was written by Gene L. Coon.  He was one of the creators of “Star Trek” (he invented Klingons) and he was responsible for changing “McHale’s Navy” from a one-hour drama to a half hour sitcom.

                Since Murrow was in the director’s chair, this is a Rick Jason episode.  (The series alternated between episodes that featured Saunders or Lt. Hanley.)  Unlike the normal squad-size scenarios, this episode involves a platoon led by Hanley.  They are marching cross-country when Germans in two pillboxes take them by surprise.  They are pinned down and then have to make a run for it.  Saunders is wounded and several are killed.  Saunders:  “We stepped in it that time, Lieutenant.”  The rest of the episode will make this abundantly clear.  The two pillboxes are on hills dominating a road.  They will be very tough nuts to crack.  But they must be cracked, according to the brass.  There is a WWI “donkeys leading lions” vibe to the situation.  Hanley is told that the hills must be captured to straighten the divisional line.  Artillery, the answer to every American tactical problem in WWII, is unavailable for plot purposes.  Hanley tries several different solutions to the problem, all resulting in running back with bullets chasing.  The platoon is getting whittled down and the men are getting increasingly mutinous, especially Kirby (Jack Hogan).  Fans of the series know that Kirby is the classic griper, but in this case he is right about the suicidal stupidity of the mission.  Hanley is caught in a tough spot.  He clearly agrees with Kirby, but he is the officer and he can not allow any insubordination.  Orders are orders.  Not that he doesn’t try to get the orders changed.  He has several tense conversations with his superior.  (These do not remind of Bob Newhart calling in “Hell is for Heroes”.)  These moments between the five attempts to take the hills are also used for development of some of the guest stars.  Einstein (Joseph Walsh) bets with Kirby about the odds of them surviving.  Kleinschmidt (Paul Carr) and Morgan (Anthony Call) are best friends who are dealing with mortality.  They represent the theme that it is best not to get too close to a buddy in war.  (Or the theme that guest stars on Combat! tend to be expendable.)  Stick around for the “Hamburger Hill”esque WTF ending.

                I am a big fan of “Combat!”, but as a critic I find most episodes are not great.  This dual episode is a crown jewel in the series.  It is the best episode I have seen so far.  It works as a stand-alone war movie.  Morrow’s direction is outstanding from the get-go.  It has one of the best openings in the series.  And it stays strong throughout.  Coon’s script is very good.  There are several memorable lines.  Hanley tells Cage that if things get hairy on a one-man recon mission, he should “give me elbows and heels all the way down”.  But the best line is “are you through?”  This is what Hanley tells Kirby after he lets him rant for a while.  Later, when Hanley is almost brought to tears lamenting about how the brass forgets they are dealing with flesh and blood, Saunders shakes him out of it with the same line.  Brilliant.  The acting is stellar.  Jason and Hogan are showcased, but the guest stars do poignant work.  One gets a showy cinematic death that goes beyond the usual iconic “Combat!” cinematography.

                Few war movies are as hard-hitting as this.  The themes are not ground-breaking, but seldom will you see anti-war better expressed.  The pressures of command, the requirement of following orders, the randomness of death (unless you are a series regular) are all touched on.  You will be incensed by the callousness of the superiors on the other end of the radio, but if you know American military doctrine, you know Hanley is just being forced to conform to the belief that you win by bulling your way forward.  (Granted, usually with superior firepower.)  Tactically, the episodes are realistic in their portrayal of fire and manuever.  There is plenty of covering fire.  The series was not noted for a lot of action, but “Hills” is full of it.  It is a perfect blend of drama and action.

                If you are a “Combat!” fan, you owe it to yourself to revisit “Hills Are For Heroes”.  It has everything that made the series so memorable, but in an exemplary showcase.  It is readily available (as are all the episodes) on YouTube, although you will have to watch the first episode in three parts, for some reason.  Don’t let that discourage you.

GRADE  =  A+  (for a Combat! episode)