Combat! (TV Series) Crossfire (1965) User Reviews

A Lack of Logic in Battle

[jmarchese · 8/10 · 3 October 2014]

"Crossfire" is a story about a compulsive soldier Private Stevens (excellently played by Don Gordon) who is programmed to operate in only one mode. Sometimes this mode is appropriate; it brings Stevens medals and promotions. But at other times the mode can prove very costly.

Sergeant Saunders first meets Stevens at Omaha Beach on D-Day. At that time he notices Stevens' one mode operation flaw the extent and effect of which are very subtle. Later Saunders runs into Stevens in the presence of a German Captain POW (played by Paul Busch) where the single mode takes over Stevens' behavior with more obvious results. Ultimately, the ball has to cross over into the other court and what happens tells the story.

Ed Lakso wrote this screenplay which makes for an average story. Heavy artillery and special effect scenes are excellent; again, a testament to the superb work of A. D. Flowers in conjunction with Director Alan Crosland Jr. We are told the story in retrospect after Saunders ultimate conflict with Stevens. Don Gordon puts on a fine performance as poor Private Stevens who means well but is condemned into this subconscious one mode operation.

The cannon fire during the beach scene makes me regret not ever having fired one of these huge guns. The opening sequence is designed to keep the viewer in suspense as to what the issue really is. Definitely worth watching!

How do you figure it? I don't.

[biorngm · 7/10 · 29 August 2023]

Crossfire Season 4 Episode 8 featuring Don Gordon as Private Stevens Review named How do you figure it? I don't.

The concluding conversation between Lt. And Sgt. Says something about trying to understand the behavior of the private in action. He was a one-man killing machine thinking he had to do it all no matter what the odds. Private Stevens. Ingrained to shoot first and ask questions later goes around to have the would-be-court-marshalled Stevens killed by the German enemy fire.

Saunders tells Hanley I was taking him to be court marshalled now I owe my life to him. That's the hard part when Hanely asks for an explanation of Stevens behavior and Saunders responds I don't. Hanley closes with let's go.

Stevens subconsciously had to kill fighting his kind of fight rarely coming out of the character want to win at all costs by removing the enemy.

This above average episode wins because of Don Gordon acting ability pulling off the disturbed Private Stevens character.

Saunders and Hanley sum up the death to Stevens by trying to understand what exactly occurred since Stevens joined the squad and with their Jeep driver, he and Sunders encounter the Germans with the driver dead from fire and Stevens running right into the battle past Saunders. A study in human behavior that cannot be explained other than Stevens did not give a damn.

Somewhere in Stevens psyche there was the need to charge into the enemy fire from D-Day onward with probably the inevitable to meet the private with fatal results.

Contrived and unsatisfying

[lor_ · 8 September 2023]

Don Gordon guest stars as a private who Vic accuses of disobeying a direct order, with the result that two of the men in his squad are dead. Gordoa appeals to Rick that he has been unjustly accused, and there's a background matter affecting the case -Vic knows the soldier dating back to D Day and doesn't trust him.

We see in flashback how their relationship developed, set aga the backdrop of heavy fighting and stock footage. Another flashback, all related to Rick by Vic to explain why he's pressing charges against the man, shows another run-in the two had in a small French village. IT seems that Gordon has become fixated on killing Germans at all costs, seriously affecting his judgment.

The structuring of the episode as a series of flashbacks is contrived, and the private's single-minded character doesn't generate much interest, as we wait for Vic to finally emerge triumphant in the duo's minor war of wills. Ending is way too corny to be satisfying.