12 O’Clock High - Prisoner of War

 

“12 O’Clock High” ran on ABC from 1964 - 1967.  It was based on the 1949 movie and created by the same Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay, Jr.  The series ran for 78 episodes.  It carried over several characters from the movie, but not the same actors -  Brigadier General Savage (Robert Lansing), Maj. Stovall (Frank Overton), Maj. Cobb (Lew Gallo), Doc Kaiser (Barney Phillips), and Gen. Pritchard (Paul Newlan).  Gately of the movie’s “Leper Colony” became Col. Gallagher (Paul Burke).  The first two seasons were in black and white which helped with blending the actual footage of B-17s.  Some of the footage came from the documentary “Memphis Belle”.  The third season was in color which was problematical for footage.  The problem only existed for 17 episodes because low ratings caused cancellation because of low ratings.  The drop in ratings could be traced back to the ridiculous decision to drop Lansing in favor of Burke as commanding officer.  The reason given by the network was the push for a younger audience.  Ironically, Lansing was two years younger (although he did look older).  It was also assumed younger viewers would relate better to a colonel than to a general.  The decision was unpopular and the ratings nose-dived.  The show was nominated for a best drama series Emmy and for best cinematography in 1965.

 A while back I did a review of a two part “Combat!” episode, treating it like a movie.  I am doing that again for a two-parter of “12 O’Clock High”.  The episodes were the 30^th and 31^st of the first season.  They were called “Prisoner of War”.  Savage goes up with a trio of screw-ups who he had recently reamed for misbehaving off base.  They get shot down and within a minute they are in Stalag Luft 12. Did no one tell the screenwriters this is a two-parter?   Savage is the senior prisoner, and thus in charge.  The commandant Col. Richter (Alf Kjellin) is looking forward to the cat-and-mouse game with the famous Gen. Savage.  The prisoners are almost done with a tunnel.  Savage warns that Richter is too good, but he allows the escape attempt.  It fails so it’s Richter 1  Savage 0.  Savage and Richter go on field trips together.  Savage comes up with a plan to kidnap Richter and escape in his car.  Do I need to mention that this is not based on a true story?

It was natural that 12 O’Clock High would get around to doing a prison camp episode.  Kudos to the screenwriters for being original, in some of the plot developments.  However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some cliches.  Savage is the hard-ass new senior commander who has to earn the respect of the veteran inmates.  That was borrowed from Von Ryan’s Express.   One of the three troublemakers that are captured with him (we don’t know what happened to the other six crew members) is a Sefton from “Stalag 17”. He’s played by James Farentino. 

The central premise of Richter treating Savage well to develop resentment towards him and thus undermine camp morale is interesting, if unbelievable.  Kjellin does a good job as the commandant.  He is the good German you saw in the Cold War.  To balance him, there is an evil Nazi Captain (John Van Dreelin – baby boomers have seen him playing German officers in many movies and TV shows. Ironic because he was Dutch and escaped from a concentration camp disguised as a German officer).  Of course, they have to have a showdown.  And there’s also the obligatory showdown between Savage and Richter.  One theme of the episode is honor is dead in this war.  “Nobody ever wins a war.  Some of us just lose more than others”.  That’s pretty deep for a mediocre prison camp sojourn for a TV series.  This was not a story that warranted the only two-parter of the series.

GRADE  =  C