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  • Combat! The Steeple (Season 3, Episode 21)
  • TV Episode | Action, Drama, War

Combat!

The Steeple (Season 3, Episode 21)
TV Episode | Action, Drama, War

Saunders, Caje, and Kirby are on a night mission moving through an abandoned French village when they notice an American paratrooper hanging from the church steeple in his entangled parachute - and the paratrooper is still alive. ...See moreSaunders, Caje, and Kirby are on a night mission moving through an abandoned French village when they notice an American paratrooper hanging from the church steeple in his entangled parachute - and the paratrooper is still alive. Immediately after they enter the church to rescue the paratrooper, two German trucks full of troops enter the village, stop just outside the church, and set up an armed perimeter with the apparent intention of establishing a command post. Saunders and his men ascend the steeple steps with the hope of rescuing the paratrooper under the cover of darkness and before the Germans take notice of him. The paratrooper's helmet falls to the ground attracting the Germans' attention, and they shine a spotlight on him. Saunders had already told the paratrooper to play dead. Even with the spotlight on him, he certainly looks dead as he dangles limply in his harness. Assuming he is dead, the Germans forget him for the rest of the night. Daylight comes and Saunders is still trying to figure a way to get the paratrooper inside the steeple and back to safety without being seen by the Germans below. Then a German soldier on the ground looks up and notices the "dead" paratrooper is wearing some very nice new boots, and he considers his own boots which are virtually worn out. Wanting some new boots, the German decides to go up the steeple to pull the paratrooper inside and take the boots for himself. Saunders kills the German with a bayonet as he arrives on the steeple bell level, dons the German's uniform, and then proceeds to pull the "dead" paratrooper inside. The other Germans on the ground cheer him on thinking Saunders is their comrade. They do manage to rescue the paratrooper who turns out to be an Army Captain who was on a commando mission that also played a key part of this episode, but the rescue was not completed until after Saunders and his men are involved in a firefight as they withdraw from the village. Written by David Wile See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writer
Don Tait (written by)
Producer
Composer
Cinematographer
Editor
Casting Director
Status
Edit Released
Updated Feb 9, 1965

Release date
Feb 9, 1965 (United States)

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Cast

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11 cast members
Name Known for
Vic Morrow
Sgt. Saunders Sgt. Saunders   See fewer
Rick Jason
Lt. Hanley (credit only) Lt. Hanley (credit only)   See fewer
Jack Hogan
Kirby Kirby   See fewer
Robert Cornthwaite
Captain Priller Captain Priller   See fewer
Jean Del Val
Father Bomar Father Bomar   See fewer
Horst Ebersberg
Sgt. Dekker Sgt. Dekker   See fewer
Pat Michenaud
Boy (as Patrick Michenaud) Boy (as Patrick Michenaud)   See fewer
David Sheiner
Captain Ridell Captain Ridell   See fewer
Walt Davis
German Soldier (uncredited) German Soldier (uncredited)   See fewer
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