The latest installment of Balladeer’s Blog’s recurring segment Forgotten Television.
CITIZEN SOLDIER (1956-1957) – Also known as The Big Attack, this half-hour series depicted dramatic reenactments of real wartime incidents from World War Two, STARRING THE ACTUAL SERVICEMEN WHO TOOK PART IN THEM!
That gimmick made Citizen Soldier stand out from the many other programs devoted to dramatizations of wartime events, but it was very obvious at times that an episode’s star was just a Citizen Actor and not a professional. If you put aside unrealistic thespian expectations, you’ll likely find this series riveting.
Charles Marquis Warren directed and Ron W. Alcorn produced this syndicated program that lasted for one season of 39 episodes.
Among my favorite episodes:
THE LITTLE PRIVATE – This episode starred Joe Richardson reenacting his World War Two experience of coming right out of Boot Camp with his unit and winding up at the front lines for the Battle of the Bulge. His recent training with the most up to date bazookas came in handy to save his entire unit. Continue reading
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