User Reviews

While in a recon mission in a winery, Saunders, Caje, Littlejohn and Pvt. Garrett are trapped by a German squad inside the place. They are short of ammunition and wait for the right moment o flee. Out of the blue, they see the wounded Lt. Hanley held captive of the Germans and Sgt. Saunders decides to rescue Hanley. They plot a scheme with the owner of the winery and Caje poses of his crippled nephew to deceive the Germans. But the coward Garrett is wounded by the Germans and jeopardizes Saunders' plan. Will they succeed in rescuing Lt. Hanley?

"A Rare Vintage" is an episode of "Combat!" with excellent moments: the German officer Caje is one of the best scenes. Saunders jumping off the balcony is also great. The German soldiers pulling the truck is funny. But the conclusion is rushed and does not explain what would happen to the old Frenchman after helping Saunders and his squad. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Safra Rara" ("Rare Vintage")

"A Rare Vintage" portrays a great amount of suspense. Saunders and the squad get trapped in a French villa after the Germans inadvertently follow them in. The walls are too high and there's no where to run except for tall bushes. While deciding how to escape their predicament, the Germans come driving up with a badly wounded Lieutenant Hanley, and the Sarge is committed to rescue him.

Bob & Esther Mitchell wrote a fine screenplay and everything fits; the plot and story are very believable. I especially like the timing of the ending sequence with Captain Brauer, the stalled truck, and Private Garrett redeeming himself - very well done. Caje and Saunders do an excellent job of making everything happen. The wine maker Jean Sebelleau (excellently played by veteran actor Marcel Hillaire) is an integral part of it all and deserves acclaim equal to Morrow & Jalbert. He comes across as very fearful at all times.

Director Sutton Roley did a good job overall except the balcony leap scene which was not an inch more than 8 feet. The under shot tells the tale. Vic Morrow's stunt double did an excellent job in that he slips in the process to give the shot more effect. One must be in great physical condition to execute that sequence. Otherwise, suspense levels remain high throughout.

Chalk up another clinic on persistence & determination given by the Sarge. It's quite amusing to watch Saunders never take no for an answer when dealing with the wine maker. He just keeps plugging away until Jean Sebelleau gives in and gets with the game plan !

Vic's squad is assigned to set up a command post at a French winery, but the Germans hold it and, believe it or not, a mean German commander has a wounded Lieutenant Hanley as his prisoner. So the mission is to rescue Rick, as he's under contract with the show!

A less than compelling script by the Mitchells spells an off-week for "Combat!". An uppity private played by Corey Allen keeps giving Vic a hard time as the supposed dramatic edge but who cares? Vic (and his trusty stuntman) gets to act heroic as suspense music plays.

A war-weary old Frenchman reluctantly helps them, and Vic concocts a scheme to sneak Rick out from German captivity in a wine barrel, (with Caje making with the heroics), hence the title of this episode.

It's very unconvincing throughout, with a slapdash ending, a factory-reject segment that is embarrassingly low in quality.