This is the first episode of "Kraft Suspense Theatre"--an anthology series from the mid-1960s. However, this show ALSO turned out to be the pilot for a short-lived series called "Court Martial". This full- length film was cut in half and shown as part of the Kraft series. When you see them on YouTube, they are combined into one very long episode-- much like a movie.
This production has a very impressive cast: Bradford Dillman, Lee Marvin, Peter Graves, Lloyd Nolan, Murray Hamilton and quite a few other stars. The story concerns a sergeant (Marvin) who is up on charges of treason and desertion. You really don't know the details until part two when his case is re-tried after the initial verdict was overturned on a technicality. You learn the Sergeant was behind enemy lines and in a North Korean uniform. He says he was on an undercover mission and the Colonel can substantiate it. However, the Colonel is now dead and left no papers indicating the man was on any mission. The assumption is that he defected and the military folks seem to be in a hurry to execute him. It's up to his lawyer (Dillman) to do his best to extricate him--but the harder he fights, the more his commanding officers imply he'll be sorry!
This film is VERY slow in part one and it didn't hold my interest. Fortunately, the trial ending up being very exciting and made watching worth the effort. So, when you find your attention waning, just keep watching--it WILL improve!
This production has a very impressive cast: Bradford Dillman, Lee Marvin, Peter Graves, Lloyd Nolan, Murray Hamilton and quite a few other stars. The story concerns a sergeant (Marvin) who is up on charges of treason and desertion. You really don't know the details until part two when his case is re-tried after the initial verdict was overturned on a technicality. You learn the Sergeant was behind enemy lines and in a North Korean uniform. He says he was on an undercover mission and the Colonel can substantiate it. However, the Colonel is now dead and left no papers indicating the man was on any mission. The assumption is that he defected and the military folks seem to be in a hurry to execute him. It's up to his lawyer (Dillman) to do his best to extricate him--but the harder he fights, the more his commanding officers imply he'll be sorry!
This film is VERY slow in part one and it didn't hold my interest. Fortunately, the trial ending up being very exciting and made watching worth the effort. So, when you find your attention waning, just keep watching--it WILL improve!
