User Reviews

Sgt. Saunders, Caje and Kirby are assigned to mark a safe route through a snowy mountain in France free from avalanche for the allied troops. They meet the hermit Francois Perrault, who is the only man that knows the mountain very well and they pay for his services in supplies and Caje's rifle when the work is finished. However, they stumble upon a German squad on the top of the mountain and they are made prisoners. What will happen to them?

"Mountain Man" is a full of action episode of "Combat!". The sequence with the ski pursuit is exciting but the plot is totally flawed in the end. The pursuit is so long that seems that they are at the top of the Himalaia. It would not be possible to take that time and distance, considering they had walked till there. The armed German on skis are not capable to shoot four walkers on the snow wearing boots only. Great to learn that the Canadian Pierre Jaubert was indeed national ski champion and captain of Canada's 1948 Olympic ski team. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Homem da Montanha" ("The Mountain Man")

"Mountain Man" is a change of pace in Combat. Though not historically correct (Normandy is flat terrain,) "Mountain Man" gave us a taste of winter and snow. White Rook must find a path through the mountains for hundreds of American troops. They are told the only guide for the job is Francois Perrault (well played by Theodore Bikel,) a loner who survives by trapping and living off the land in the mountains. At first Perrault is hostile toward the squad. But after offered payment and a reassurance there are no Germans in the area, he changes his mind and serves as their guide.

The script is very mediocre and the story drags on - too much walking through the snow. The German hideout seems surreal, as though it was carved into the snow. The Germans would have been more thorough in frisking prisoners and the knife would've been discovered. The Germans were unusually weak in their interrogation of Saunders. Interaction between Perrault and Saunders is excellent, but not enough to carry the episode. We are however treated to world class skiing by Bob Beattie and Pierre Jalbert, former Olympic skiers. For a man 39 years of age, Pierre Jalbert moves like a 20 year old; it's fun to watch.

During the Germans' pursuit they line up with their rifles at reasonably close range; they could have gotten much closer. In any event, how could they all possibly miss? The Germans look very amusing when they need to move sideways through the tighter spots. Why not take off the skis and re-fasten them? When Kirby throws his knee out, why aren't the Germans shooting? There are way too many directorial flaws.

Persistence & determination are once again evident when Saunders has it out with the cynical Francois. Physically, Saunders is no match for Francois, but our ever persistent Sarge finally gets through to him mentally and it's very touching to see. Overall, Caje saves the episode with his great skiing. When I first saw Caje on skis, I broke up laughing because he was that great.

There are some really great skiing scenes in this episode with both Pierre Jalbert and Bob Beattie who were both Olympic skiers. All the out door shots were filmed at Squaw Valley. Some interesting fact about this episode: It was suppose to have taken place in Normandy France but there are no mountains in Normandy and there is no snow in Normandy. This doesn't really matter though, it scenery in the mountains were great and some of the skiing was really exceptional. Screaming down double diamond bowls using the old skis with the bear trap bindings was impressive. Overall this was one of the better episodes of Combat even though it was not at all historically accurate.

A nice variation on the series' look here, with sharp black & white photography of winter snowscapes, replete with the enemy in white camouflage costumes instead of uniforms to blend in with the background.

Theodore Bikel is the title guest star as a Frenchman left over from World War I guiding our heroes on a suspenseful trek. They're captured by mean Germans who torture them in novel fashion: locked up in a cage underground to cool off for more interrogation when thawed out. They escape leading to a ludicrous chase climax with the nattily clad German pursuing in formation on skis, plus fake shots of Caje on skis.

It becomes mindless action without the thoughtful dramatics one expects on "Combat!" (until a corny and utterly phony ending where Vic lectures Bikel causing Theo to turn over a new leaf).