"No Time For Pity" teaches us ordinary people are sometimes the real heroes. King is going to decimate Bernay, a small French village the Germans are using as an observation post to kill Americans. The Germans are holding five children as hostages along with Librarian Annette (excellently played by Denise Alexander) and one of the children's elderly grandfather. Lieutenant Hanley must rescue the seven hostages before the American decimation begins. And time is running out.
Stephen Ritch wrote a superb screenplay while Bernard McEveety did a fine job in his Combat directing debut. Dialog is excellent and well thought out every step of the way.
Lieutenant Hanley has some fine moments in his intense attempt to convince Annette to help him. Andrea Darvi, who later stared in two other Combat episodes, makes an uncredited appearance while Paul Busch makes his Combat debut. Busch plays the good hearted Mueller, who exemplifies the ordinary German soldier; he probably hates being there. The unnamed Lieutenant (excellently portrayed by Gunnar Hellstrom) exudes meanness and cruelty; he comes across as very believable.
Artillery scenes are outstanding and the ending sequence with Hanley & Saunders is very touching ! Beautiful episode !