A ragtag bunch of GIs fall in with each other in war-torn France, in 1944. They are led by a tough sergeant carrying blood to Allied lines. The problem is, one of them is a Nazi in disguise, and paranoia sets in. The main suspect is a solider with a lot of lip, and who just happens to speak fluent German. A sequence set at a French farmhouse, where the soldiers have stopped for a rest and a meal, is particularly gripping as the Nazi among the five gets brutal with the French family. Robert Goulet stars as the insolent, German-speaking soldier and Claude Akins is the tough sergeant. The episode is overloaded with stock footage, which is unfortunate, and a voice-over narration that isn't needed. Still, this is a solid episode, with twists at both the beginning and end. Lots of familiar faces fill out the supporting cast.
5 Reviews
You will mingle with them! You will become one of them!
sol-kay20 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** During the brutal "Battle of the Bulge" in late 1944 the German high command came up with this brilliant strategy to impersonate hundreds of GI's and create havoc behind the American lines. This episode of "Kraft Suspense Theatre" shows just how effective and almost completely successful this strategy on the Germans part really was.
It's the chewed up US infantry company's company clerk Pvt. Leroy Brubaker, Robert Goulet, who after him hitching a ride with Sgt. Henning, Claude Akins,who comes under suspicion of being a German agent. In that Pvt. Burbaker being German/American himself he understands and speaks the language, that's the German language,like a native. Brubaker doesn't help his own cause either with his wise guy attitude towards his fellow GI's that includes Pvt Culter & Buttel,Peter Helm & Linden Chiles, and the tough as nails an only surviving member of his unit Cpl. Shale, Don Dobbins, who've all hitched a ride with Sgt.Henning along with Pvt.Brubaker.
With Brubaker, who claimed his was injured, proved to be a phony when he tried to make a run for it when it was decided by all those with him that he's a German in GI's clothing it's decided by Sgt. Henning to tie him up and bring him back to headquarters for questioning. There's one thing in all this that in the end exposed just who the German agent really was. A word just a word that he the German innocently uttered withing realizing it!
***SPOILER*** It was the very code word that identified his covert mission behind enemy,that's American,lines! And it was the farmer's daughter- in the home when Sgt. Henning and his men were staying at-Marie Ange, Claudine Longet, who picked it up and realized just who the German agent really was! This information on Marie's part ended up costing her life. But in made the person who was suspected of being the German agent all-Amercan screw-up Pvt. LeRoy Brubaker a hero by him stopping a massacre of US troops in a M.A.S.H unit. That's by Brubaker preventing him, the GI Imposter, from carrying out his deadly mission!
It's the chewed up US infantry company's company clerk Pvt. Leroy Brubaker, Robert Goulet, who after him hitching a ride with Sgt. Henning, Claude Akins,who comes under suspicion of being a German agent. In that Pvt. Burbaker being German/American himself he understands and speaks the language, that's the German language,like a native. Brubaker doesn't help his own cause either with his wise guy attitude towards his fellow GI's that includes Pvt Culter & Buttel,Peter Helm & Linden Chiles, and the tough as nails an only surviving member of his unit Cpl. Shale, Don Dobbins, who've all hitched a ride with Sgt.Henning along with Pvt.Brubaker.
With Brubaker, who claimed his was injured, proved to be a phony when he tried to make a run for it when it was decided by all those with him that he's a German in GI's clothing it's decided by Sgt. Henning to tie him up and bring him back to headquarters for questioning. There's one thing in all this that in the end exposed just who the German agent really was. A word just a word that he the German innocently uttered withing realizing it!
***SPOILER*** It was the very code word that identified his covert mission behind enemy,that's American,lines! And it was the farmer's daughter- in the home when Sgt. Henning and his men were staying at-Marie Ange, Claudine Longet, who picked it up and realized just who the German agent really was! This information on Marie's part ended up costing her life. But in made the person who was suspected of being the German agent all-Amercan screw-up Pvt. LeRoy Brubaker a hero by him stopping a massacre of US troops in a M.A.S.H unit. That's by Brubaker preventing him, the GI Imposter, from carrying out his deadly mission!
A suspenseful WW II story
lor_18 December 2023
Playing at times like a lost episode of "Combat!" (the hit series on another network), this World War II story on "Kraft Suspense Theatre" is a well-executed sort of whodunit, as suspense is generated by the infiltration of German saboteurs masquerading as American troops in 1944 France.
I eventually guessed the key plot twist, while on the way there the show benefits from quality star power: Robert Goulet as an instantly suspicious-looking (he's so different) soldier, and Claudine Longet's beauty literally lighting up the screen as a French peasant girl. Goulet plus Longet = pure 1960s nostalgia for me.
I eventually guessed the key plot twist, while on the way there the show benefits from quality star power: Robert Goulet as an instantly suspicious-looking (he's so different) soldier, and Claudine Longet's beauty literally lighting up the screen as a French peasant girl. Goulet plus Longet = pure 1960s nostalgia for me.
Casualties Of War
telegonus13 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A well above average Kraft episode, Operation Grief tells the tense story of a group of soldiers traveling around World War II France in a jeep, then on foot, and how one of them is suspected of being an infiltrator, a German masquerading as a GI, whose mission is to sabotage the Allied war effort. The events depicted in the episode are fictional, however there was a real Operation Grief, and the show offers the viewer a credible picture of how the Germans planned it (brilliantly), and made it work; and it also shows something of the confusion, paranoia and trauma of war, and how different kinds of men react to stress.
Although the soldiers are, on the surface, regular guys, the differences between them causes tension. This is aggravated by the fact that one of them is a German-American with a bad attitude, another speaks German, one behaves with such apathy and callousness toward a mute, shell-shocked young solider as to suggest the ruthlessness of a Nazi. The group arrive at a French farmhouse, and the attractive daughter of the farm couple takes a fancy to the German-American, who has by now has had his hands tried behind his back and has become the "designated Nazi".
At this point in the story things heat up, some nasty things happen, it becomes clear what's really going on, and it's a race to the finish to prevent an exceedingly well planned act of sabotage from happening. Some nice people get killed along the way. These deaths are brutal and unexpected. The first half of the episode consists mostly of dialog and tension between the men. There's more action in the second half, and the ending is satisfactory if somewhat predictable.
Jack Smight's direction is first rate. He's very good at focusing on bodies, faces, shows a flair for reaction shots. In the leading role as the chief suspect, Robert Goulet shines, shows star quality, an engaging sense of humor that recalls a young Cary Grant. Claude Akins is forceful and authoritative as the good 'ol boy sergeant, Don Dubbins surprisingly strong as the toughest of the bunch, Claudine Longet is easy on the eyes, and everyone else is competent. There's a fair amount of stock footage in the show, nicely integrated into the whole, and stentorian narration reminiscent of a World War II newsreel.
Although the soldiers are, on the surface, regular guys, the differences between them causes tension. This is aggravated by the fact that one of them is a German-American with a bad attitude, another speaks German, one behaves with such apathy and callousness toward a mute, shell-shocked young solider as to suggest the ruthlessness of a Nazi. The group arrive at a French farmhouse, and the attractive daughter of the farm couple takes a fancy to the German-American, who has by now has had his hands tried behind his back and has become the "designated Nazi".
At this point in the story things heat up, some nasty things happen, it becomes clear what's really going on, and it's a race to the finish to prevent an exceedingly well planned act of sabotage from happening. Some nice people get killed along the way. These deaths are brutal and unexpected. The first half of the episode consists mostly of dialog and tension between the men. There's more action in the second half, and the ending is satisfactory if somewhat predictable.
Jack Smight's direction is first rate. He's very good at focusing on bodies, faces, shows a flair for reaction shots. In the leading role as the chief suspect, Robert Goulet shines, shows star quality, an engaging sense of humor that recalls a young Cary Grant. Claude Akins is forceful and authoritative as the good 'ol boy sergeant, Don Dubbins surprisingly strong as the toughest of the bunch, Claudine Longet is easy on the eyes, and everyone else is competent. There's a fair amount of stock footage in the show, nicely integrated into the whole, and stentorian narration reminiscent of a World War II newsreel.
Based on true incidents
planktonrules14 October 2015
When the show begins, it explains that the Nazis employed spies who dressed like American soldiers to try to muck up the war effort-- changing road signs, infiltrating units and carrying out assassinations. This did actually occur and was called 'Operations Grief'. Its biggest impact was during the Battle of the Bulge in the middle of the winter of 1944-45, though the show seems to be set during Fall or Spring based on their clothing and the weather--which is a tiny mistake.
A soldier in a jeep (Claude Akins) is heading to the front with blood supplies for the unit. On the way, he picks up several stragglers. Later, they start to suspect each other of being enemy agents and the men think one of them (Robert Goulet) is a Nazi! But is Goulet REALLY the Nazi...or are any of them Nazis?! The guy who knows for sure is experiencing combat fatigue and doesn't seem capable of doing anything, as he's unable to talk and seriously disturbed.
I liked this episode for two main reasons. First, as a retired history teacher I love that the story is based on fact. Second, it was very tense and kept you guessing! Well written and interesting from start to finish. It was also nice to see pretty-boy Robert Goulet doing a very nice job in a tough sort of performance.
A soldier in a jeep (Claude Akins) is heading to the front with blood supplies for the unit. On the way, he picks up several stragglers. Later, they start to suspect each other of being enemy agents and the men think one of them (Robert Goulet) is a Nazi! But is Goulet REALLY the Nazi...or are any of them Nazis?! The guy who knows for sure is experiencing combat fatigue and doesn't seem capable of doing anything, as he's unable to talk and seriously disturbed.
I liked this episode for two main reasons. First, as a retired history teacher I love that the story is based on fact. Second, it was very tense and kept you guessing! Well written and interesting from start to finish. It was also nice to see pretty-boy Robert Goulet doing a very nice job in a tough sort of performance.
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