Combat! (TV Series) Nightmare on the Red Ball Run (1967) User Reviews

Vintage Claude Akins on Combat

[jmarchese · 9/10 · 9 December 2014]

"Nightmare On The Red Ball Run" is a story about obsession. Sergeant Rose aka "Rosie" (excellently played by Claude Akins) needs to get his supply trucks to the front; and they take priority over everything else human needs included. When vehicular accidents began happening, Rosey is ordered to take on two extra relief drivers. And Kirby & Littlejohn come calling.

The beginning sequence is our favorite 30 second archival footage colorized for the first time; awesome!

Dan Weisburd wrote an excellent screenplay which brings about sarcastic conflict between Rosie, Kirby, & Littlejohn. It's fun watching Kirby meet his match in Rosie; any less formidable opponent would have met with fisticuffs from the wiry BAR man. The story flows amidst 3 major obstacles which must be dealt with.

Director Michael Caffey did a fine job picking up excellent close-ups of Rosie & Kirby having it out. Combat scene timing was flawless and the viewing audience is treated to German half track realism. A.D. Flowers put together a spectacular ending to compliment the beginning sequence.

"Nightmare On The Red Ball Run" will definitely entertain you.

Kirby

[lninfo411 · 9/10 · 30 July 2013]

Kirby gets kudos for seeing what he can do on his own without the Sarge around. It was great seeing him using his BAR and being an effective ground soldier. Although Kirby would never hear the words from the Sarge's lips, he would understand the smirk on the Sarge's face. Sarge would be proud!

The German snipers looked a bit too American in their cameo. Not sure if that was historically correct .. We also learn that Kirby drove a beer truck one time in his life.

Since Kirby is my favorite character, I always look for Kirbyisms. Rosie say: have you ever fought a half track? Kirby: No. No this is the first time.

Sergeant Rosie

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 27 December 2019]

A driver sleeps while driving a truck causing an accident. The Allied Major finds that Sergeant Rosie, who is the responsible for the trucks, is pushing his men to the edge to deliver his supplies. Kirby and Littlejohn offer to drive the trucks and soon Littlejohn discovers that the dangerous cargo is explosive and grenades. While driving, Kirby has friction with Rosie while Littlejohn learns the reason for his tyrannical behavior having a conversation with Corporal Sloan in the other truck.

"Nightmare on the Red Ball Run" is another good episode of "Combat!" with Kirby and Littlejohn. The action scenes are great and the friction between Kirby and Rosie has great dialogues and explanation for Rosie´s character. The dramatic conclusion is the best part of this episode. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Pesadelo na Estrada" ("Nightmare on the Road")

Great, original episode

[grantss · 9/10 · 26 June 2022]

I usually lose interest when Claude Akins appears on Combat (and on Rawhide). Not that he's a bad actor but because he always plays the same character: a bullying, seemingly unstoppable villain. This similarly lets you know in advance the arc his character is going to take, making things quite predictable.

This time, however, while still not being the most likeable of characters, his character takes a different path and it makes for engaging viewing.

The plot is also quite original, especially in its setting, making it even more interesting.

Minus Vic and Rick

[lor_ · 1 November 2023]

A disappointing episode tries to make do without the series stars, not a good move. Instead we have Claude Akins as a guest starring sergeant who is one of the most dislikeable characters to be on the show in a long time.

He plays a condescending truck driver who's hauling tons of explosives to be used by the troops on the front line, with his buddy in a nothing role played by B movie heavy William Campbell.

Vic appears for a few seconds at the beginning of the show and Rick is on vacation. So we watch Kirby and Littlejohn take over the major assignments, working as relief drivers for Akins and Campbell.

There's plenty of action scenes and Kirby especially acquits himself in the fights against the Germans. One sequence of Akins driving ever so carefully across a damaged bridge seems lifted intact from Clouzot's 1950s suspense classic "The Wages of Fear".

It's all contrived for a sentimental ending but suffers from a very weak script, as well as the absence of those essential keys to the series: Vic and Rick.