The Bankroll
- Episode aired Dec 13, 1966
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
91
YOUR RATING
Kirby starts questioning his own principles when he finds himself risking his neck for a deadbeat.Kirby starts questioning his own principles when he finds himself risking his neck for a deadbeat.Kirby starts questioning his own principles when he finds himself risking his neck for a deadbeat.
Vic Morrow
- Sgt. Saunders
- (credit only)
Michael Masters
- Poker Player
- (as Mike Masters)
Louie Elias
- Lou
- (as Louis Elias)
David Armstrong
- Poker Player
- (as Dave Armstrong)
Walt Davis
- German Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJames Stacy 'Farley' and Louie Elias 'Lou' are real life brothers.
- GoofsSoldiers smoking 'modern' filter cigarettes while playing poker.
Featured review
Kirby-centric gimmick episode
Kirby is the star of this offbeat segment, which includes plenty of battle footage but is all about the soldier's experiences on his off-time.
It opens with a teaser showing Kirby buying drinks for everyone at a cafe, throwing his money around, and then having a hangover during a battle next day. He later is anxious to play poker and borrows $30 from Buck Taylor, promising the young man he'll split his winnings 50/50. In the game he ends up the night with a huge $1,600 bankroll, but half of it turns out to be markers from James Stacy, who's lost all his cash in the hands, but promises to pay back the $800 from a $1,000 money order he's holding.
Crux of the story is that Stacy is not apologetic but instead irritatingly smug as he chats later on with Kirby, wondering about how war is unpredictable and anyone can die at any moment including himself. Kirby begins to wonder if the guy will prove to be a welcher, while as written it is immediately obvious that Stacy has no intention of paying back his I. O. U.'s.
Lack of subtlety marks this segment, as we wait patiently for the other shoe to drop and in the process the life or death danger and suspense of "Combat!" is sacrificed by writer Shirl Hendryx's indulgence to set up a schmaltzy ending. I found this tedious exercise an insulting attempt at audience manipulation, with Mike Farrell popping up for a few seconds as a doctor, in what amounts to an audition fo his famous "MASH" series role.
It opens with a teaser showing Kirby buying drinks for everyone at a cafe, throwing his money around, and then having a hangover during a battle next day. He later is anxious to play poker and borrows $30 from Buck Taylor, promising the young man he'll split his winnings 50/50. In the game he ends up the night with a huge $1,600 bankroll, but half of it turns out to be markers from James Stacy, who's lost all his cash in the hands, but promises to pay back the $800 from a $1,000 money order he's holding.
Crux of the story is that Stacy is not apologetic but instead irritatingly smug as he chats later on with Kirby, wondering about how war is unpredictable and anyone can die at any moment including himself. Kirby begins to wonder if the guy will prove to be a welcher, while as written it is immediately obvious that Stacy has no intention of paying back his I. O. U.'s.
Lack of subtlety marks this segment, as we wait patiently for the other shoe to drop and in the process the life or death danger and suspense of "Combat!" is sacrificed by writer Shirl Hendryx's indulgence to set up a schmaltzy ending. I found this tedious exercise an insulting attempt at audience manipulation, with Mike Farrell popping up for a few seconds as a doctor, in what amounts to an audition fo his famous "MASH" series role.
Details
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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