User Reviews

While resting in a French liberated village, Kirby attacks a civilian claiming that he is Sgt. Avery, a deserter that panicked during the Battle of Saint-Lô. A lieutenant observes the assault and brings Kirby and Saunders to report the incident. Kirby keeps his position while Saunders explains that Avery was a good soldier that died in Saint-Lô. When Saunders returns to his shelter, he meets Avery that tells a strange story about the battle. He claims that there is soldier that had witnessed his efforts during the battle that can support him in the Court Martial and Saunders decides to accompany him in the search of the soldier that is in the front. Will they find the witness?

"A Gift of Hope" is an inconclusive episode of "Combat!". The promising storyline has a great beginning and intriguing development, but the conclusion is disappointing. The tough Sgt. Avery indeed was yellow in battle and the writer stops the screenplay in a comfortable position. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Uma Dádiva de Esperança" ("A Gift of Hope")

"A Gift of Hope" is a story about human frailty. Sergeant Avery (excellently played by Rip Torn) is a tough by the book driver of men on the battlefield. But do people like Avery always maintain their individuality? Is it possible for them to crack?

Private Kirby thinks he sees Sergeant Avery dressed as a French civilian and confronts him as a deserter. In the tussle the suspect gets away. The Sarge rejects this idea as preposterous indicating Avery was killed in action. When Lieutenant Gates (played by Anthony Eisley) from another platoon witnesses the confrontation, he interviews Saunders and Kirby in a fact finding mission so he can give a full report of the incident to Lieutenant Hanley. This interview actually tells part of the story in flashback mode as Kirby's and Saunders' versions are relived in film on the battlefield.

Screen writing and directing are excellent and the viewer must make their own judgment of Sergeant Avery - sort of like the Luigi Pirandello story "It Is So If You Think So." Rip Torn plays his role to the hilt right down to the natural frown. From an objective standpoint with all of the evidence considered, it's not so clear cut one way or the other. What is clear is that humans are very frail regardless of size or strength. And because of this it's clearly evident humans were not meant to be fighting each other in wars. Really tragic.

"A Gift Of Hope" sends a powerful message about human nature. Excellent episode.

What happens to a trained soldier, "programmed" to withstand the daily horrors of war, if he is wounded, taken OUT of combat into hiding, and nursed back to health by a warm, caring, loving woman and her family? How would this experience affect a strictly disciplined military man who, after all, is still a human being?

These are the issues explored in Anthony Wilson's beautifully crafted, literate and imaginative script, told partially in flashback, in which the tough fighting machine Sgt. Avery (RIp Torn) journeys with Saunders in search of evidence that will clear him of the charge of desertion. Unfortunately, the crucial evidence is gone, and thus Avery makes the fateful decision to actually become a deserter. Only the need to assist a suddenly wounded Saunders stands in his way......

Director Bernard McEveety then achieves what is, for me, the SINGLE MOST MEMORABLE SHOT of the entire series--- as Saunders and Avery ascend a sun-drenched hill--a brief but mystical vision that may signify a spiritual calm and sense of salvation that awaits both characters.

THE ENDING: Another comment posted here states that the ending of the episode is weak. On the contrary, I feel the ending is the highlight and certainly ranks as one of COMBAT'S most inspired and intriguing conclusions. But you REALLY have to pay attention.....

Avery, having delivered Saunders into the safety of an American camp, becomes a deserter. Or does he? And what of the strictly disciplined fighting machine known as Sgt. Saunders-- how will HIS upcoming withdrawal from the daily horrors of war affect HIM.....?

Superbly engrossing material, directed and performed as only the expert COMBAT team could. LR

With Rip Torn guest starring as a platoon sergeant in trouble, he story begins with Vic and Kirby in conflict with each other, as in flashback they have differing stories regarding Torn's possible cowardice. With Anthny Eisley (recent star of the popular series "Hawaiian Eye") as a lieutenant trying to sort out the matter, the incidents about torn unfold in flashbacks -then Vic goes to great lengths to find proof to exonerate Torn.

It's a fine character study and provides just a bit of the effective "Rashomon" format that provides alternate versions of "what actually happened" for the viewer and in this case Eisley to contemplate. But the endless twists and turns of the story do not come to a definite conclusion, made intense viewing thanks to Rip's acting, but not tying up any loose ends.