The West Point Story (TV series)
The West Point Story | |
---|---|
Written by | Gene Roddenberry (9 episodes, 1956-1957) Don Brinkley (3 episodes, 1956-1957) |
Directed by | Ted Post James Sheldon Leon Benson Henry S. Kesler |
Starring | Donald May (Host) |
Theme music composer | Philip Egner Alfred Parham |
Opening theme | "West Point March" |
Country of origin | USA |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 40 |
Production | |
Producer | Maurice Unger |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company | Ziv Television Programs |
Distributor | Ziv-United Artists MGM Television (current) |
Release | |
Original network | CBS (1956 - 1957) ABC (1957 - 1958) |
Picture format | Black-and-white |
Original release | October 5, 1956 July 5, 1957 | –
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 1956–57 season and by ABC during the 1957–58 season.
History[]
The West Point Story, produced with the full cooperation of the United States Department of Defense 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 program 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 '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: Harbor Command, Navy Log, The Silent Service, and Men of Annapolis.
On February 26, 2013, Timeless Media Group released all 39 available episodes of the series in a four-disc DVD format.[1]
Guest stars[]
Among those celebrities who made at least one appearance in The West Point Story are: Carolyn Craig, Richard Jaeckel, Dick Sargent, Pat Conway, Chuck Connors, Clint Eastwood, Ron Foster, Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman (miscredited), Hayden Rorke, Ron Hagerthy, Tyler MacDuff, Steve McQueen, Martin Milner, Larry Pennell, Karen Sharpe, Robert Vaughn and Leonard Nimoy as Tom Kennedy.
Writers[]
Gene Roddenberry wrote all or part of ten to twelve of the 39 episodes. Sources differ as to which episodes he should be credited with.
DVD[]
Timeless Media Group (under license from MGM) released West Point - The Complete TV Series on DVD February 26, 2012.
References[]
- ^ Lambert, David (November 23, 2012). "West Point - Cover Art for 'The Complete TV Series' on DVD". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
External links[]
- The Long Gray Line - series referenced in book by author and journalist Rick Atkinson.
- The West Point Story at IMDb
- West Point Story at CVTA with episode list
- 1950s American anthology television series
- 1956 American television series debuts
- 1957 American television series endings
- American Broadcasting Company original programming
- Black-and-white American television shows
- CBS original programming
- English-language television shows
- Television series by MGM Television
- Television shows set in New York (state)
- United States drama television series stubs