Combat! (TV Series) Far from the Brave (1962) User Reviews

Loss, Remorse and Meaning of Friendship

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 15 June 2017]

When Saunder's squad stumbles upon a German heavy machine gun, Pvt. Grady Long and his Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) saves the team. However Grady dies and is replaced by Pvt. Delaney, who was a former Army assistant cook. Saunders gives the BAR to him, despite the protest of Kirby that expected to be the next BAR man. When the soldiers are forced to retreat, Lt. Hanley, Sgt. Saunders and their squad is left behind to inform the German movement. They are under siege of the German army and Hanley is ordered to flee since the artillery will bombard the place. While escaping, they are ambushed by a German jeep with a heavy machine gun and depend on Delaney's BAR to succeed. Will he be brave enough to save his squad?

"Far from the Brave" is an episode full of action and emotions of "Combat!". Saunders deals with the loss of a friend; indifference for the replacement; but in the end, remorse, understand the meaning of a life of a stranger and friendship. The chicken scene relieves the tension of this sad show. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Longe de Ser um Bravo" ("Far from Being a Brave")

Surrounded!

[zsenorsock · 7/10 · 4 December 2006]

This first season black and white episode is pretty typical of the series, which is pretty good. Saunders and the squad are holed up in a French village when they discover they are completely surrounded by the Germans. The one thing keeping them alive at the moment is the Germans don't know they are there.

I watched this series as a kid and started watching the last season or two. I was both pleased and surprised to see how early the regulars locked in to their characters--Caje, Kirby, Littlejohn, Saunders and Handley and held those characters until the end of the series. I'd never seen Shecky Greene in an episode and he commits himself well. The turnover in the squad makes a lot of sense and adds to the realism of the series--its not just the Germans who get killed every week.

Director Burt Kennedy, who's known for westerns and particularly comedy westerns, does a good job helming this early episode. Kennedy would cast Dick Peabody as one of the Danby boys in 'Support Your Local Sheriff" with James Garner.

Orders are orders

[nickenchuggets · 9/10 · 4 April 2022]

Throughout the Combat series, sacrifice is a theme that is the focus of many an episode. It's no surprise that the second world war had an innumerable amount of these acts, as servicemen were willing to give their lives for the liberty of all. One episode that highlights this subject very well is Far From the Brave. The episode begins with Saunders' squad receiving a new member. Private Dulaney (Joe Mantell), a former army chef, is assigned to be the BAR user in the squad. The BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) is an essential weapon to have in a squad because it is able to suppress enemy positions with a large amount of gunfire. The former BAR user, Grady, was killed recently, and the rest of the squad is starting to question Saunders' motives. They start to wonder why Saunders gave someone with no combat experience the job of using a machine gun, and this leads to some hostility between Dulaney and some of the men later on. Kirby in particular acts very obnoxiously towards him and says he's unqualified for the job and thus doesn't deserve it, but Saunders yells at him to stop. Eventually, the squad becomes engaged in a gunfight with the germans, and all the soldiers are unable to make any progress because a vehicle with a machine gun is blocking a bridge. Saunders calls for the BAR man (Dulaney) to start firing, but he's nowhere to be found. Saunders discovers Dulaney with his face in some rubble, too scared to do his job. Saunders tells him if he doesn't act, not only will he be killed, but he'll have to live with himself knowing he caused the whole squad to die too. Dulaney decides to move out and obey Saunders' order, getting just close enough to lob a grenade into the vehicle. The target is destroyed, but Dulaney is killed in the process. Far From the Brave is a solid installment in the always entertaining Combat lineup, as it demonstrates how patriotic some people may be. Dulaney explains to someone in the squad how he was above draft age when he joined the army, but chose to enlist anyway. Any person who decides to sign up when they don't have to deserves praise. As usual, Vic Morrow gives a good performance, and basically serves as Dulaney's only safe haven in this episode, so to speak. Most of the others don't like Dulaney and how he "stole" a job he isn't qualified to do, but ultimately, Saunders is still in charge here. If the men don't like his decision, too bad. I also liked the tense atmosphere of the episode, since at one point, the squad is using a ruined house for cover as it rains outside, and unsuspecting german patrols pass by. Saunders always liked to be in the heart of the action. Still, Dulaney and his sacrifice are obviously the focal points of this episode.

The next Sniper can be expendable!!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 22 November 2019]

The sniper of the Sanders's squad is killed in combat, He denies to deliver a BAR rifle to one of own squad, another sniper arrives, Private Delaney, a sort a humble and friendly soldier more specialized on cooking, in fact he doesn't has a proper skill to use such powerful gun, however Sgt. Saunders simply blink his eyes over it, meantime they stay covered at village's ruins, thus they can know each other and interact themselves, the action comes and the Pvt. Delaney fights as he cans and died quickly, although with dignity, after a strong battle the squad overcame the German Barrier at bridge, Sgt. Saunders now understand what he did, he stays ashamed and deeply regretful, therefore just arrives another sniper!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

An ordinary man

[lor_ · 31 July 2023]

Opens in a cemetery in the rain, setting a downbeat mood as one of Vic's men has been killed. His replacement, played by Joe Mantell, is a cook's helper, but Vic decides to give the newbie a powerful Browning automatic rifle (BAR).

Mantell gives a wholesome, refreshingly "ordinary guy" performance, with nothing to prove. But drama is provided by the Germans, who arrive with 10 tanks and a whole complement of men, surrounding the heroes' patrol. They're in a tight spot, and given the set-up it's inevitable that Mantell will prove to be an unlikely hero. But will he survive, given that he's not a regular on the show?