User reviews

When Lt. Hanley receives Rob Lawson as replacement, the squad learns that Lawson is known as one man army. They are ordered to take a barn, and while crossing a mined woods, they are attacked by a sniper. However Lawson sees the hidden sniper and alone he kills him. When they arrive at the barn, there are two German heavy machine gun nests. Lawson again goes alone and destroy the nests. Sgt. Saunders discuss with Lawson the danger of his attitudes for the squad and him but Lawson does not pay much attention. During the night, Kirby, Caje, Billy, Littlejohn and Doc have a serious conversation with Lawson telling that his actions would eventually kill them However Lawson tells that nobody will die because of him and that his fate is to die in the war. Then he explains why he believe that he will not return home.

"High Named Today" is an episode of "Combat!" with the story of a notorious lonely soldier known by his bravery and reckless behavior. Performed by Dean Stockwell, the screenplay is intriguing but the conclusion disappoints since there is no explanation of Lawson. Has his death wish gone? Some explanations are missing to be a great episode. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Sem Perspectiva" ("Without Perspective")

"High Named Today" is a story about the motivations of Private Rob Lawson (played by Dean Stockwell) who appears to have a death wish. Lawson continually violates orders when in combat thereby making it more dangerous for the rest of the squad. Is it bravery under fire or section 8 ? The truth unfolds in good time.

Dialog is excellent between Saunders, Hanley, and the rest of the squad, a testament to solid screen writing by David Z. Goodman. Hanley seems to best understand Lawson feeling he'll shape up. Excellent conflict is created with respect to Lawson in that Nelson's in awe, Littlejohn's humorous, Saunders is frustrated, and Kirby 's ballistic. The Sarge finally comes through with solid wisdom for Kirby, who's carrying on like a kid who just had his candy taken away from him. In addition, Hanley barking orders at the barn is priceless!

The beginning artillery scenes reflected by archival footage are excellent. There's plenty of combat and I'm only critical of one scene, the barn. It's a shame Director Stanley did not fix this. Lawson entering the barn was well conceived and written, but Stanley cut the scene short. A few more seconds of filming should have been done inside the barn to appropriately tell the story.

As usual, you cannot keep Saunders down. After Lt. Hanley orders an attack on German recon vehicles, the Sarge picks Lawson to come along even though trouble may be imminent. The ending is very befitting & well executed.

Excellent story !

The platoon has set up camp in the rain, and are joined by a replacement (Dean Stockwell). He's something of a mystery but some soldiers have heard of him. But in a series of incidents, he performs heroic acts, but appears to be reckless and unafraid of enemy fire -soft-spoken and something of an enigma. Though reprimanded by both Jason and Morrow, there's no denying he's an effective fighter against the Germans.

Suspense mounts gradually as one wonders whether guest star Stockwell can survive while taking such risks -does he lead a charmed life? Finally Morrow takes him aside and lectures him on false bravery and the importance of teamwork. "There's no room for show offs here Lawson", says Vic, but the young soldier seems unwilling to listen.

Cleverly plotted by writer David Zelag Goodman, the upisode plays almost like one written for "The Twilight Zone", in the strangeness of Dean's exploits and the fear and resentment toward the "outsider" that develops among the tight group of the other men. They decide to confront him, and matter-of-factly he explains his fatalism, convinced he, like his ancestors, will be killed in the war, so why worry?

It makes for a thoughtful, almost absurdist approach to the dire situation our heroes find themselves in -leading to a tense mini-battle and an unexpected conclusion.