User reviews

I remember watching this show on the air in the 60's as a child. It was a highlight of the week. There are comments made that this show is not very authentic. Of course it is not authentic. It is just for entertainment. It has the same qualities as a Western where the hero shoots all the bad guys using the gun that shoots 100 rounds without reloading. I laughed so hard when I saw the episode when Troy throws a tiny vile of ether at a German truck about half a block and the truck blows up. Or the times that they will karate chop someone with one blow and that person is "out". That is cartoon style but who cares. It is still great entertainment.

I grew up watching Rat Patrol. Great series. I don't know how many plastic machine guns me and my buds went through pretending we were Rat Patrol. Had to have been a lot! I'm just cracking up over some of the serious comments. Yea it makes the Nazi's look bad just like Hogans Heros. And yes the story's are simple and sometimes outrageous. Gee Wiz! Get a grip! Can't wait to hear your reviews of the original Batman not being real police work and unfair to penguins.

This show is escapist entertainment because it is supposed to be escapist entertainment. And that just happens to be why I like this show so much. The plots were short and simple. They HAD to be since the show was only a half hour long (not a full hour like COMBAT or 12 O CLOCK HIGH). So in a nutshell, the Rat Patrol came, they raided and then they were off. In 30 minutes, there was not much more they could do in the time allotted. True, some of the episodes are kind of silly but other episodes are really good.

Unlike most war related features of the time (tv shows, movies, etc), the Germans were not depicted as villains, but as the opposing force. The Germans were lead by Captain Deitrich, who actually respected the Rat Patrol and on more than one occasion, teamed up with the Rat Patrol on a truce. One truce, for example, was declared to rescue an Arab girl who had fallen into a well.

The main selling point of this show was that it was in color! Another selling point was to promote one of the stars (Lawrence Casey) as a sort of teen-zeen idol. It was a tactic that would work until 1968, when the public would quickly lose interest in anything war related and THE RAT PATROL would drop suddenly in the ratings war and get the cancellation ax later that year.

I am a child of the seventies having grown up in and around the time and as a kid I can remember this being on in the afternoon and played on Saturday afternoon's. Two of my earliest best friends in this world were named Korey and Coy and we would watch this with great enthusiasm being only age 7 to 9 years old. My father at the time owned a jeep and after the show aired we would go outside and play the Rat Patrol. I always seemed to pick Tully to play because he always drove the jeep and we would spend an hour or two just making up our own adventures as we went along. My memories of this are quite strong when I still watch this series as it reflects a time when I had no worries in the world. I am not a violent person because of this series even for all the explosions and gun play it just makes feel good to watch it and because of that it truly is one of my favorite series of all time.

"THE RAT PATROL"-Produced by Rich/Mirisch Productions for UATV. Number of Episodes Produced: 59 episodes in color. Filmed on location in Spain and parts of Europe. Series ran on ABC-TV.

First Telecast Of The Series: September 12,1966. Last Telecast Of The Series: March 18, 1968. Repeated Episodes aired from March 25,1968 until September 16,1968.

Producer: Lee Rich-Executive in charge of production. Executive Producers: Lee Rich and Walter Mirisch,under Mirisch Productions for United Artists Television.

Stars: Christopher George,Gary Raymond,Jack Moffitt,and Eric Braeden.

Synopsis: Filmed on location in Spain where a great deal of war material was left over from filming of the movies "The Great Escape", and "The Battle Of The Bulge". This was an action-adventure series about a group of American and British soldiers fighting for or against the Germans and "The Rommel" in the North African desert during the days of World War II. This was a grand series that had supreme production values and was in full color to boot,which was the selling point of the series. In other words,this was one action-packed show showing the soldiers each week battling it out over the Germans in the sophisticated "jeeps" through the desert and the adventures they face along the way. This was a series that made stars out of not only actor Christopher George,but also made a career boost out of German-born actor Eric Braeden,who would make a name for himself later on in several television shows and also would boost him to the top of the latter in American daytime television(as Victor Newman on the soap-opera,"The Young And The Restless").

Also to point out,when "THE RAT PATROL" premiered in 1966,this was the only ABC show that depicted WWII in color since the network's longest-running WWII series at the time "COMBAT",and not to mention "TWELVE O CLOCK-HIGH",were still in black and white,but would make the transition to color later on,respectfully in their final seasons. Both of the shows mentioned ran for one hour,while this series ran for an half-hour,with some episodes leading up to a cliffhanger until the next installment.

Also if you notice that every episode had the title "RAID" in it. This was basically a prime example of other shows of the 1960's that before THE RAT PATROL did the same thing with the same title. For example,on the spy drama "The Man From UNCLE"(NBC,1964-1968),every episode had the title "AFFAIR" in it,and the western fantasy/adventure-espionage drama,"The Wild Wild West"(CBS,1965-1969),had the title "NIGHT" in it.

Getting back to the series,THE RAT PATROL,this series had some of the best action sequences out there,especially with some of the episodes which were very good and some were passable. In all,compelling drama mixed with high adventure and breathtaking excitement. It held up brilliantly until the show's final episode on September 16,1968 when it went off the air with a whisper,and from there into syndicated repeats during the 1970's and continue onward into cable re-runs of the early to mid 2000's.

If you're like me and really enjoy watching rugged, masculine, man-to-man combat that features plenty of high-powered explosions, rapid gunfire showdowns, and "in-your-face" confrontations, then, believe me, The Rat Patrol is definitely your #1 ticket to some truly awesome TV entertainment.

Set in the vast North African desert, during WW2, The Rat Patrol is an elite Allied commando team of experts whose mission is to attack, harass, and wreak havoc on Field Marshal Rommel's vaunted Afrika Korps.

Join this fearless, four-man army of rough'n'tough dudes, headed by Sgt. Sam Troy (played by Christopher George), as they fearlessly wage war against Nazis, traitors, and wild-eyed fanatics.

Filmed in living color, The Rat Patrol, from 1966, is a fast-paced, action-packed collection of 32 explosive episodes that are pure dynamite from start to finish. This was no low-budget production here!

With its episodes all being only 30 minutes in length, The Rat Patrol's no-nonsense, clearly-defined stories were always direct and to the point.

The concept for this series came from a World War 2 saga titled THE DESERT RATS. It was expanded upon & fictionalized on ABC television.This color series was filmed in Spain for ABC in Color. Visually, the DVD set of season 1 that I have looked at is great.

There are several things to note which make the series not as good as it looks. ABC had an extremely limited budget shooting these & if you watch the first season a lot, you will find that many of the action shots are re-used in several episodes. No matter what plot is being followed, the same action sequence used in an earlier episode pops in.

The half hour format this series follows does not allow enough time for character development. COMBAT , the Vic Morrow series which was also on ABC, always had an hour to develop it's plots. There are some multiple parters to try & make up for this problem during the first season, but not enough. The main cast is quite good. Christopher George is a good actor & brings Sgt. Troy as close to being real as you can imagine. His three comrades in support are fine also. Hans Guidecast (now Eric Braden or Victor on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) does well as the German Captain in pursuit of our heroes. often though, the scripts are limp & sometimes the re-use of the action sequences does detract from the quality of the series overall.

If you pick up the DVD set, watch for Ed Asner (Lou Grant) & Gavin McCloud (Captian Steubing of the LOVE BOAT Murray on Mary Tyler Moore series) in guest roles. The three parter features Claudine Longet several years before her lover Spider Savage died in mystery circumstances. This series is watchable & the DVD pictures are so good you can see the characters sun tans. Overall though, not as good as you remember when you were a child as the plots look a little limp to a grown up.

Sometimes, the jeeps suddenly get new equipment when our heroes are nowhere near their own lines. Amazing how they can do that & always get what they need & never run out of ammo. The action theme and fine camera work make this watchable.

When I was a child, I picked up & read a series of 7 paper back books based upon the series characters. The books developed the plots & characters in much more depth than the show. This makes my view of the series a little more negative than it should be.

Contrary to the trivia point, his hat is an Australian slouch hat and the pin, from the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Fascinating he is wearing it. The Australian 9th Division was pivotal in the El Alemein battle. Without them, Churchill and Montgomery knew they would not of won, they acknowledged that post War. After Pearl Harbour all Australian units were ordered to return to Australia, to meet the Japanese threat. The 9th stayed because Churchill had Roosevelt promise US divisions would be sent to Australia. The 9th returned after El Alemein. It must of been the background that led George to wear it. The British regretted they didn't have an Australian Corps available for D Day.

There were some quality television shows in the 60's about WWII; Twelve O'clock High, Combat being two that come to mind. Both have aged very well and I recommend checking them out. Unfortunately Rat Patrol hasn't aged as well.

This was one of my favorite shows when it was on...I was ten years old. I've watched it again recently on one of the basic cable classic TV stations and I was pretty disappointed...I guess not everything is as good as we remember it. But for a ten year old boy it was awesome.

Rat Patrol suffers from some major defects for any adult viewer, the first being that the main premise of the show is pretty absurd; four guys in two jeeps with machine guns taking out tanks, half-tracks, entire German bases...and sustaining nothing more than the occasional flesh wound in the process.

The second is that the plots are basic and completely unrealistic. And yes, I know it's just a TV show but when the heroes continually come up with any equipment they happen to need when they happen to need it, without going anywhere to get it, that's kind of an insult to the viewer. In one episode they wanted to trick the Germans into thinking they were a large armored column and suddenly they had huge speakers and sound equipment attached to the jeeps to make tank sounds and large metal grates to drag behind and stir up dust. Where exactly did all of that come from? It certainly hadn't been tucked away on two two-man jeeps! And because it was only a 30 minute show the storylines are resolved way too quickly and just as unrealistically.

The acting is pretty good overall, even if the characters are a bit cartoonish. Although when i was re-watching it I couldn't help thinking about the fact that the star, Christopher George, was injured during filming and suffered an injury to his heart that ultimately caused his death some years later.

If you watched this as a kid by all means check it out, just be aware going in that it's not going to be what you remember. If you enjoy not so serious, almost cartoonish shows about war then you should also check it out.

When one thinks of the chaotic whirlwind that was the 1960s, the mind usually drifts toward the psychedelic kaleidoscope of Haight-Ashbury or the smoky dives of Greenwich Village. But in 1966, while the rest of the world was busy getting high and railing against The Man, a renegade quartet of war-hardened ruffians burst onto our television screens in The Rat Patrol.

This wasn't just another WWII drama. No, it was a blazing, gas-guzzling, Nazi-smashing fever dream that could only come from the minds of TV producers high on the fumes of gasoline and heroism. Each episode a manic burst of courage, camaraderie, and pure unadulterated action. Picture this: four men in jeeps, tearing through the North African desert like a band of berserk jackrabbits, with every dune concealing danger, death, and the occasional explosive twist.

The lead man, Sergeant Sam Troy, with his chiseled jaw and unflinching eyes, became a beacon of rugged American masculinity. This wasn't your clean-cut war hero - Troy was gritty, raw, and ready to bite the head off a snake if it meant getting his men through the next firefight. His compatriots - Moffitt, Tully, and Hitchcock - each brought their own flavor of madness to the mix. Together, they were less a squad and more a sandstorm of vengeance, hell-bent on dismantling the Nazi war machine one ambush at a time.

Cinematography? Don't get me started. The desert landscapes were captured in such stark, unflinching detail that you could almost feel the grit in your teeth. Every explosion rattled the screen, and the chase scenes - oh, those magnificent chases - were pure, adrenaline-soaked poetry.

And the sound design, a symphony of gunfire, roaring engines, and the occasional witty quip, was the perfect backdrop for this visual assault. You didn't just watch The Rat Patrol; you were thrust into the chaos, with bullets whizzing past your ears and the hot desert wind stinging your face.

The Rat Patrol wasn't just a TV series; it was a cultural bullet, a reminder that in the face of tyranny, a handful of determined men could wreak absolute havoc. In a time when the world seemed to be losing its mind, this show was a glorious, unabashed celebration of courage and tenacity.

Here's to The Rat Patrol, a series that didn't just march to the beat of its own drum - it drove a jeep over it, guns blazing, middle fingers raised. An absolute must-watch for anyone who appreciates the beautiful, chaotic mess that is guerilla warfare on primetime TV.

**9/10 - A rollicking ride through the sands of time, with a shot of adrenaline and a chaser of gunpowder.**

The Rat Patrol was a half hour TV series set in the North African campaign of World War II where a mixed group of American and British soldiers had a kind of commando unit in two jeeps. The jeeps were fitted with machine guns and they dd all kinds of missions against the Germans.

Christopher George an American sergeant the group and the Germans were personalized by Eric Braeden. Braeden was a civilized man, a professional soldier and no Nazi. He was treated as one professional to another.

Notwithstanding the fact I doubt that Allies and Germans got on a name basiss with each other, I had to laugh at the idea that the Rat Patrol and their refitted jeeps gave serious battle with hose monster German tanks. The show wss ludicrous.

I'm surprised it lasted two seasons.

Rarely shown today in syndication, Rat Patrol was a pretty entertaining series, focusing on a small group of British and US soldiers in North Africa during the Second World War. Most episodes dealt with a raid of some kind the patrol would undertake, though often the small raids became larger battles against the Germans (particularly Captain Dietrich and his unit). While you could tell it was produced by Hollywood, the desert environment as well as the great uniforms, vehicles, weapons, and sets gave the series an air of authenticity. While the writing level may have been low in a number of episodes, the action definitely makes up for it, and the actors do well with their limited dramatic scenes. Well worth seeing for anyone interested in World War Two.

Watched the reruns as a kid and have both seasons on DVD they must have cleaned out every surplus depot to supply the Germans with wheels for the rat patrol to destroy from the half tracks, to the tanks,and 6x6's I think the old single axle trucks were made by Dodge lol gotta love Hollywood

It is back on the streaming video platforms and I just purchased the DVD set too. I forgot how enjoyable this show was and now I can watch it all anytime I feel like it. It too bad that it not 4K and wide 16:9 format. But my 4K does a good job of upscaling it on my new 96" UHD TV and with the sound bar with 900 watt subwoofer, it rocks when the action gets going. It is fantasy but sill enjoyable escapism. I think these shows of 1960s are much better then what is on TV today's joyless programming of indoctrination.

Though its not quite as enjoyable now as it was as a kid, it is still a very enjoyable show to watch. If you're looking for realism this isn't it. If you're looking for a fun way to pass 30 minutes then its a great show! I cant imagine a WW2 sergeant yelling "Shake it!" to his men but it adds to the charm of the show. I imagine the budget wasn't very big since they reuse A LOT of scenes. I think the scene of 2 German half-tracks turning around is used about every 3 episodes.

Their is a lot of old style Western cowboy charm with the guys never having to reload any guns and never running out of ammo. Whenever a jeep breaks down they always have the right part to fix it. I'm glad its being shown again. It brings back memories.

I watched The Rat Patrol a bit during the late seventies and early eighties when it was run on AFN Television Germany. It was definitely not an award winning show plot wise but it was entertaining nevertheless. What got me rolling around laughing however was Sgt. Moffit moving behind enemy lines because he was speaking fluent German. Being German myself I know that after no more than three words he would have been arrested every single time because of his broad English accent. I also remember the reuse of (expensive) action scenes but that was done in other shows as well. Watching it on DVD now this will probably look annoying but back then watching one show a week on TV it wasn't as bad.

TV's "The Rat Patrol" (1966-1968) is one of those wartime-action programs that (IMO) had both its fair share of good moments, as well as its not-so-good moments, too.

Set during the height of WW2 (in the North African desert region) - The action in "Rat Patrol" focuses in on the activities of 4 allied soldiers (1 British, 3 American) who repeatedly come into direct conflict with the Nazis of the Afrika Korps who are hellbent on overtaking this territory at all costs.

Even though "The Rat Patrol" is obviously dominated by historical inconsistencies (and its story-lines are often noticeably repetitive) - This American "macho-man" TV show does contain plenty of violent confrontations (which are punctuated by high-powered machine gun attacks) that are sure to hold the viewer's attention long enough to keep one entertained for the full 30-minute running time of each subsequent episode.

To disagree with a previous post, The Rat Patrol was filmed in color. As a mater of fact, the tag before the show aired showed a background of the two jeeps roaring through the desert with The Rat Patrol -- In Color superimposed on the shot. Being that it was filmed in 1966-1968, color was one of the selling points of the series -- hence all those wonderful shots of military half tracks and trucks blowing up in huge fireballs. (Combat was aired in black and white. ) As for the show itself, it wasn't so bad. Sure, some of the scripts were kind of escapist. However, there were several episodes that were well done. One involved Sergeant Jack Moffitt (Gary Raymond) coming to grips with the death of his brother; other episode teamed the Rat Patrol up with the Germans a couple of times. Once they had to save a little girl who fell into a well, and another time Americans and Germans had to fend off an Arab tribe attacking them in some kind of old ruins in the middle of the desert.

Anyway, point being the show was escapist, but is still on the air today. WGN in Chicago airs the show sometimes and other outlets air it, too.

another Hollywood hijacking effort.

such warfare was carried out by the British - LRDG -long range desert group- forerunner of the modern British elite SAS - strategic air services- - no Americans involved. period.

I hear the next illusion will be capture of a German enigma coding machine from a submarine - that help shorten WW2, all-British again, in reality.

ever since 'objective Burma', Hollywood has riled he British.

otherwise, a low.budget, old German vehicles and US jeeps running around the Arizona desert, affair, with unlikely plots....eg German medics saving US combatants.

I think Bogey did a tank special(sahara...something) in set in north Africa. in it, he outdid audie murphy's REAL exploits.(I am nothing if not fair :).

making a line to post this rant. :)

make up to 0 lines to post this.

I hate it when people take a show like Rat Patrol, and try to show how smart they are when it comes to being a critic. It wasn't intended to win awards, or be a dramatic masterpiece. One of these reviews used the term escapism, like that single fact makes this show a disgrace. Well, that happens to be why I love this show, and many others from the the 50's, 60's, and 70's. This was before the loosely used term "reality TV", was even close to being thought of. I like to turn on the TV and be entertained by a simple show, that knows it's there to entertain me and take me away for awhile.As a kid I used to stay up until mid-night in the late 70's to watch Rat Patrol. I grew up in the D/FW(Texas) area, and this used to come on after the local Saturday Night Wrestling. And I had a little 13in. black&white TV. I loved it. And now I have both sets of DVD's and I'm over joyed that it's in color! So long live the Rat Patrol!!!

One of the episodes I like in the Rat Patrol was where a patch of penicillin was poisonous. Sgt. Mofft tries to warn the Germans and the British about the batch after the Germans show up and threaten to shoot up the British convoy unless they were given some penicillin. Well, both sides did not listen to Mofft and Mofft jumps on a jeep with a machine gun and shoots up the penicillin. Next thing you know the German soldiers are shooting up the convoy and stealing the rest of the penicillin. The amazing thing is that the German officer who is chasing the Rat Patrol is standing next to a half-track acting cool, calm, and collected while bullets are flying all over the place.