Introduction

The West Point Story, also known simply as West Point, is a dramatic anthology television series shown in the United States by CBS during the 1956-1957 season and by ABC during the 1957-1958 season.

• 

• 

• 

Outline

The West Point Story, produced with the full cooperation of the United States Department of Defence and the United States Military Academy, was said to be based on actual files documenting many of the real-life dramatic occurrences at West Point over the years. Names and dates were altered in order to protect the privacy of the real people portrayed, however. The programme was hosted by a fictional cadet, Charles C. Thompson (portrayed by actor Donald May).

During its second season on ABC, The West Point Story was in competition with NBC’s The Californians, set in San Francisco during the gold rush of the 1850s, and with The $64,000 Question quiz series on CBS. The West Point Story was replaced on the summer schedule in 1958 by Jack Wyatt’s Confession, which continued to air during the first half of the 1958–1959 season in the 10 p.m. Tuesday evening time slot.

At the time that The West Point Story was broadcast, four other military dramas aired either through syndication or on the major networks: Harbour Command, Navy Log, The Silent Service, and Men of Annapolis.

Cast

Among those celebrities who made at least one appearance in The West Point Story are: Martin Milner, Carolyn Craig, Richard Jaeckel, Dick Sargent, Pat Conway, Chuck Connors, Clint Eastwood, Ron Foster, Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman (miscredited), Hayden Rorke, Larry Pennell, Ron Hagerthy, Tyler MacDuff, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Karen Sharpe, and Leonard Nimoy.

Trivia

• West Point, produced with the full cooperation of the United States Department of Defence and the United States Military Academy, was based on actual files documenting many of the real-life dramatic occurrences at West Point over the years.
• Running from 1956 to 1957 the show featured big name guest stars such as Chuck Connors, Clint Eastwood, and Barbara Eden.
• It also showcased a young writer named Gene Roddenberry who wrote episodes of West Point before going on to create the classic original Star Trek television programme.
• On 26 February 2013, Timeless Media Group (under license from MGM) released all 39 available episodes of the series in a four-disc DVD format, known as West Point – The Complete TV Series.
• Ziv produced a companion anthology series called “Men of Annapolis” in 1957, filmed largely on location at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The West Point Story Series

• Episode 00: The Yearling and the Plebe (Pilot Episode).

• Episode 01: The Mystery of Cadet Layton.
• Episode 02: The Operator and the Martinet.
• Episode 03: Officer’s Wife.
• Episode 04: The Honour Code.
• Episode 05: Thicker Than Water.
• Episode 06: The Right to Choose.
• Episode 07: His Brother’s Fist.
• Episode 08: The Decision.
• Episode 09: His Highness and the Halfback.
• Episode 10: Man of Action.

• Episode 11: Heat of Anger.
• Episode 12: Christmas Present.
• Episode 13: A Double Reverse.
• Episode 14: The Hard Task.
• Episode 15: The Army-Navy Game.
• Episode 16: Start Running.
• Episode 17: The Wrong Fight.
• Episode 18: Operation Survival.
• Episode 19: Jet Flight.
• Episode 20: Combat Proof.

• Episode 21: The Command.
• Episode 22: White Fury.
• Episode 23: Ambush.
• Episode 24: The Only Witness.
• Episode 25: Dangerous Area.
• Episode 26: The Manhunt.
• Episode 27: McKinley’s Challenge.
• Episode 28: Cold Peril.
• Episode 29: The Contact.
• Episode 30: Backfire.

• Episode 31: Flareup.
• Episode 32: M-24.
• Episode 33: The Harder Right.
• Episode 34: The Drowning of the Gun.
• Episode 35: Courageous Decision.
• Episode 36: Fight Back.
• Episode 37: The Dragoon Patrol.
• Episode 38: The Deep End.
• Episode 39: Pressure.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • James Sheldon … (13 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Leon Benson … (11 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Eddie Davis … (4 episodes, 1957).
  • Norman Foster … (3 episodes, 1957).
  • Don Weis … (2 episodes, 1956).
  • Ted Post … (2 episodes, 1957).
  • John English … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Henry S. Kesler … (1 episode, 1957).
• Producer(s):
  • Leon Benson … producer / associate producer (29 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Henry S. Kesler … producer (5 episodes, 1957).
  • Maurice Unger … executive producer / producer (2 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Ivan Tors … producer (1 episode, 1956).
• Writer(s):
  • Jerome Lawrence … (30 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Robert E. Lee … (30 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Don Brinkley … (11 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Gene Roddenberry … (episode) (11 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • John Kneubuhl … (4 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Donn Mullally … (2 episodes, 1956).
  • David P. Harmon … (2 episodes, 1957).
  • E. Jack Neuman … (2 episodes, 1957).
  • Sam Rolfe … (2 episodes, 1957).
  • Alvin Boretz … (1 episode, 1956).
  • Larry Lund … (1 episode, 1956).
  • William Bruckner … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Bob Eisenbach … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Edward Hope … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Jack Jacobs … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Stuart Jerome … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Albert E. Lewin … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Ellis Marcus … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Stirling Silliphant … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Burt Styler … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Malvin Wald … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Tom Warlock … (1 episode, 1957).
• Music: Philip Egner and Alfred Parham (theme music).
• Cinematography:
  • Monroe P. Askins … (20 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Robert Hoffman … (17 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Curt Fetters … (7 episodes, 1957).
• Editor(s):
  • Charles Craft … (3 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Robert Seiter … (3 episodes, 1956-1957).
  • Duncan Mansfield … (1 episode, 1957).
  • Thomas Scott … (1 episode, 1957).
• Production: ZIV Television Programmes.
• Distributor(s): CBS (1956-1957), ABC (1957-1958), and MGM (current).
• Release Date: 10 January 1956 to 28 June 1957.
• Running Time: 30 minutes (per episode).
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

YouTube Link