Rating:
3 bayonets
Vinnick, a tough G.I. with no regard for danger, clashes with Burke, a soldierwho covers his own cowardice with big talk. Vinnick risks his life to saveKirby, earning him a Bronze Star recommendation from Hanley and hatred from Burke.Burke's anger erupts into blows and gunfire. Hanley arrests Vinnick when hereceives word that Vinnick is wanted for murder. He escapes and the squad isordered to bring him back, dead or alive.
Sal Mineo plays street kid Private Vinnick opposite Tom Skerritt as Burke. Thetwo put in crisp performances. The script by Richard Wendley explores thenature of killing: the difference between taking life on the battlefield and takinglife on the street. For one, Vinnick was to receive a medal, for the other,the electric chair. Jack Hogan is excellent playing a Kirby who sees himself in this troubledtough guy and is frightened by what he sees. If life had dealt him a differenthand, Kirby might have wound up like Vinnick. Hogan and Mineo's scenes work farbetter than Skerritt's, due more to a script that gives the Burke characterlittle depth. Dick Peabody has a striking scene as a Littlejohn troubled to behunting down someone wearing the same uniform as he.
Jack Hogan remembers working with director Georg Fenady and the pranks theywould play on set. "They used to bring the tour busses by on the back lot andpeople would get off the bus. Georg was so funny, but he'd treat us like absolutedogs. And he'd come storming over to the trailer yelling 'Come on you guys,come out of there! I told you!' And we'd come out throwing helmets, throwing beltsdown, saying we'll never work on this damn show again, and stalk off and thetour people would just look around in amazement." - Mineo and Skerritt fight in a dark room that is suddenly bright aftercommercial break. A lit candle appears in the background later in the scene.
Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders [does not appear] Guest Star
Sal Mineo as Vinnick Jack Hogan as Kirby
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Tom Skerritt as Burke | 
