"Combat!" starring Vic Morrow and Rick Jason, following a squad of soldiers from D-Day through their eternal slog through France, was often unremittingly grim. But like other shows of its era, it lightened up occasional with a flash of humor. "The Town that Went Away" -- starring an hilarious Jay Novello and the lovely Susan Silo -- was a comedic gem.
In a storyline similar to the later novel and movie "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" Mayor Lejeune (Novello) tries to keep World War II from entering his town to preserve the town's store of its wonderful cognac.
When Lt. Hanley (Jason) and his squad are ordered to evacuate the town, Lejeune and his townsfolk, including his daughter Annice (Silo), having seen what happens to other towns that get evacuated, try any way they can to keep the Americans out. The first indication that this episode is a comedy is a pre-credit sequence where the mayor and a friend are altering road signs.
The French know they can't keep the Americans out forever. Disguising the winery as a monastery and having the townsfolk dress as monks, they delay the Americans long enough to transfer the cognac to the caves outside of town beneath their monk robes.
Then they learn the Americans have come to blow up a pass to keep the Germans out. And the cave full of wine is in that pass. How do Lt. Hanley and Mayor Lejeune save the day -- and the wine? This episode is a delight from start to finish, mainly due to Novello and Silo. It's worth a peek even if you aren't a fan of war shows.
In a storyline similar to the later novel and movie "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" Mayor Lejeune (Novello) tries to keep World War II from entering his town to preserve the town's store of its wonderful cognac.
When Lt. Hanley (Jason) and his squad are ordered to evacuate the town, Lejeune and his townsfolk, including his daughter Annice (Silo), having seen what happens to other towns that get evacuated, try any way they can to keep the Americans out. The first indication that this episode is a comedy is a pre-credit sequence where the mayor and a friend are altering road signs.
The French know they can't keep the Americans out forever. Disguising the winery as a monastery and having the townsfolk dress as monks, they delay the Americans long enough to transfer the cognac to the caves outside of town beneath their monk robes.
Then they learn the Americans have come to blow up a pass to keep the Germans out. And the cave full of wine is in that pass. How do Lt. Hanley and Mayor Lejeune save the day -- and the wine? This episode is a delight from start to finish, mainly due to Novello and Silo. It's worth a peek even if you aren't a fan of war shows.
