"F Troop" lasted all of two seasons and 65 episodes on ABC-TV in 1965-67. Write it off if you will, but some of its directors and writers included folks who went on to make the hit TV series "M*A*S*H" less than a decade later.

"F Troop" was the tale of the Army lads of Fort Courage in the years following the U. S. Civil War. Their mission, officially, was to protect the settlers from warring Indians; but their problem was that the soldiers are misfits in an outpost surrounded by peaceful Indians.

The first season (1965-66) was broadcast in black-and-white (with a memorable song that was sung in the first season) and the second season (1966-67) was broadcast "in color" (this time with an instrumental theme playing over a still cartoon drawing of the series cast members, for some bizarre reason).

It is the first season theme song done music video style (action in the opening sequence matches the lyrics as they are sung) that most fans remember. Those were the days of TV theme songs whose lyrics people still remember and sing to this day.

The "F Troop" theme song was written by William Lava (who also wrote the "Cheyenne" TV series theme and who also did music for various Merry Melodies productions featuring cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny) and by Irving Taylor (who wrote the huge Dean Martin hit "Everybody Loves Somebody"):

"The end of the civil war was near, when quite accidentally, a hero who sneezed, abruptly seized retreat and turned it into victory, his medal of honor pleased and thrilled his proud little family group, while pinning it on some blood was spilled and so it was planned he'd command, F Troop, where Indian fights are colorful sights and nobody gets a lickin', where paleface and redskin all turn chicken..."

One can also find a bit of irony in that the series' final episode in April of 1967 was called "Is This Fort Really Necessary?" and featured a plot line in which an efficiency expert arrives at the fort to decide on whether to keep it open or not --- the episode's airing was followed by the show's cancellation.

I was 8-years-old when this show went on the air in September of 1965. My father adored it. It was only natural that I'd enjoy the show, too. As Warner Brothers proclaimed of "F Troop" in its promos for the series, "The 'F' is for funny!"

"F Troop"

The show has aged fairly well in the last four decades, and it's still a surprisingly funny show even now to this cynical 49-year-old.

This 6-episode "F Troop" DVD collection, part of Warner Brothers "TV Favorites" volumes (which includes other DVD sets for "Cheyenne" and "Maverick"), features some of the shows best episodes, plus truly hilarious guest stars like Don Rickles, Paul Lynde and Harvey Korman. It reminds me most of the good-time feel of the early "Andy Griffith Show" years.

"F Troop" was meant to spoof the TV western genre. It's based on the very real Indian Wars-period of American history, which wasn't funny, but like "Hogan's Heroes", it still manages to make one laugh.

It's the absurdity of Captain Wilton Parmenter (played by Ken Berry, later of "Mayberry R.F.D."), an officer who doesn't understand who "the old man" is when his men refer to him that way, commanding a small garrison in any area of the American West. Parmenter's relatives appear in various episodes throughout the series' two-year run with first names from mythology like Thor, Achilles, Hercules and Jupiter, which leads one to wonder why Captain Parmenter's first name is Wilton?

Meanwhile, the Hekawi Indians have a deal with Sergeant Morgan O'Rourke (played with considerable zeal by western film veteran Forrest Tucker), aka the chief executive officer of O'Rourke Enterprises, and Corporal Randolph Agarn (played with equal zest by comic Larry Storch), to make goods to be sold for a profit to "tourists." Their mutual main fear is a "war" cropping up that might end their undercover business empire --- so when an overzealous Indian or Army officer show up who want a war, both sides work to avoid one.

Frank DeKova as Chief Wild Eagle (he changed the name from Yellow Chicken in his youth) is probably the funniest cast member here, who proclaims in one episode, "...me not want to go on warpath! War paint make skin break out." His "Indian" partners in crime are Crazy Cat, played by Don Diamond, and sometimes Roaring Chicken, played by Edward Everett Horton (born in 1886, Horton's career in film began in 1906 and included dozens of film and TV appearances).

The troopers of "F Troop" are all misfits, from a bugler named Dobbs (well-played by James Hampton) who knows only one tune, to an old man who swears he survived the Alamo, to a trooper who can't see with his glasses on, to an artillery team that has a habit of shooting down the fort's watch tower.

Toss in the only person who can shoot straight at the fort, a girl in buckskin who knows how to lasso her man named Wrangler Jane (played by the lovely, blonde-haired Melody Patterson, who was only 16 (she lied about her age to get the job, but you'd swear she was in early 20s based on her performance) when this show first aired), who is in love with the fort's captain, and you've got the basics of "F Troop".

This is family entertainment. Nothing overly violent or depressing here. All the series regulars work well together in this unusual situation comedy.

This DVD

"F Troop" is one of several titles on DVD from Warner Brothers with the group name of "Television Favorites". Other volumes in the series are 3-episode sets of the hour-long "Cheyenne" and "Maverick" series.

Since "F Troop" was a half-hour show (less without commercials), this DVD features 6 episodes (three in black-and-white and three in color) with a total running time of 153 minutes.

The episodes are shown with their original TV aspect ratio (another way of saying "full screen") and with Dolby sound. These are outstanding picture and sound reproductions as a result, which I find to be better than the original broadcast viewing quality I remember from my youth.

There are no bonus features and there is no show synopsis in the DVD box. There are a handful of photos from the series on the outside and on the interior of the DVD box, with the briefest of episode information printed on the box.

Recommendation

"F Troop" may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. The comedic timing still stands up well and the performances are top-notch. Fans of "M*A*S*H" and "The Andy Griffith Show" will probably enjoy this.

This DVD is a nice introduction to episodes from the show's two seasons. With a retail under $10, this 6-episode volume is available from most online retailers (including Amazon.Com) and at many other retailers (Best Buy has been selling it in their stores for $6.99 for several months now).

The more serious collector may wish to wait for the release of "F Troop - The Complete First Season" in June of 2006 which will have a list price of $40.

The 6 episodes in this "F Troop" collection:

The 3 black-and-white episodes

"Indian Fever" (from Season One):

Everyone thinks Corporal Agarn is insane when he is the only one who sees a warring Indian everywhere he goes.

Typical of the show's humor is this exchange between Chief Mean Buffalo of the on-the-warpath Apache tribe and Chief Wild Eagle of the peaceful Hekawi tribe:

Chief Mean Buffalo: "My tribe not afraid. We fight to last Apache."
Chief Wild Eagle: "Hekawi feel the same way. Be glad to fight to last Apache."

Guest stars Victor Jory (as Chief Mean Buffalo) and Lou Wills (as Beware of Dog).

Written by Arthur Julian (whose credits include the TV series "M*A*S*H" and "The Odd Couple"). Directed by Gene Reynolds (producer, creative consultant, and writer of 12 episodes of "M*A*S*H").

"The Girl From Philadelphia" (from Season One):

Wrangler Jane isn't happy when the captain's old girlfriend from back East comes to visit. The captain also shows his old girlfriend around the nearby town:

The captain: "Charlie's the town drunk. We got him from Dodge City."
The girlfriend: "You had to go out and get a town drunk?"
The captain: "Yeah. We were lucky, too. Dodge City had two, so they sold us Charlie."

Guests: Havey Parry, Linda Marshall and Laurie Sibbald.

Written by Arthur Julian ("M*A*S*H"). Directed by Charles Rondeau.

"The Return Of Bald Eagle" (from Season One):

Chief Wild Eagle's son, Bald Eagle, who explains that he failed scalping in Warrior School, show's up unexpected at the Hekawi camp, determined to prove he's tougher than schoolmate Geronimo ("he got all the good grades") via a one-man war with the men of "F Troop".

The only guest star is the legendary stand-up comic Don Rickles (who later starred in the military comedy "CPO Sharkey") as Bald Eagle, who likes to do a war dance and yell "kill, kill, kill" to anyone who will listen.

Written by Arthur Julian ("M*A*S*H"). Directed by Leslie Goodwins ("Gilligan's Island", "My Favorite Martian").

The 3 color episodes

"The Singing Mountie" (from Season Two):

A singing Royal Canadian Mountie visits the fort while on the trail of Corporal Agarn's French-Canadian cousin, Lucky Pierre (who could pass for Agarn's twin).

A request from the mountie that two Indians taste his unusual gourmet cooking brings the following exchange:

Chief Wild Eagle: "You taste first, Crazy Cat."
Crazy Cat replies: "No, after you. You're the chief."
Chief Wild Eagle: "If you want to be like chief, you taste first."
Crazy Cat: "If you taste first, maybe I be chief."

Guests stars: Paul Lynde (of "Bewitched" and "Hollywood Squares" fame) was a great choice to play the "Singing Mountie", Sgt. Ramsden. Don Kent also stars. Series regular Larry Storch also plays the role of Lucky Pierre.

Written by Arthur Julian ("M*A*S*H"). Directed by David Alexander (two episodes of the original "Star Trek" series, as well as episodes of "The Real McCoys", "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and "Get Smart", among his many credits).

"Bye, Bye, Balloon" (from Season Two):

A military balloonist from Prussia visits Fort Courage to find men to train for the U. S. Army's planned balloon service.

Wrangler Jane: "I got a letter for ya. It's marked 'special, rush, urgent."
Captain Parmenter: "I wonder if it's important."

The only guest star is comedian Harvey Korman ("The Carol Burnett Show", "Blazing Saddles"), hilarious as the goose-stepping Colonel Von Zeppel speaking with a heavy Prussian accent.

Written by the husband-and-wife writing team of Austin Kalish and Irma Kalish ("The Bob Newhart Show", "The Patty Duke Show" and "My Three Sons", among other TV series). Directed by Seymour Robbie ("Sledge Hammer!", "Remington Steele", "The Paper Chase").

"Our Brave In F Troop" (from Season Two):

When Chief Wild Eagle has a toothache, Sgt. O'Rourke has Wild Eagle dress like a soldier so he can see the fort's dentist (the chief wonders if "Laughing Gas" is an Indian name).

The general that Fort Courage is named after, General Sam Courage, visits the fort and is so impressed by Private Wild Eagle that he keeps promoting him up the ranks to the frustration of O'Rourke and Corporal Agarn. Will Wild Eagle ever go back to the harder Indian life?

When the old general spots Wrangler Jane walking by, he says: "If only I was six ranks younger."

The main guest star in this episode was Cliff Arquette as General Sam Courage. Arquette is better-known for playing the character of "Charley Weaver" on the old Jack Parr "Tonight show" and on "Hollywood Squares". He is also the grandfather of actors Patricia, Rosanna, Alexis and David Arquette. There's a photo of him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Charlie_weaver_on_hollywood_squares.jpg .

The episode's other guest star was Hal England as Lt. Goodbody.

Written by Austin and Irma Kalish, and directed by Seymour Robbie, the same creative team that worked on the "Bye, Bye, Balloon" episode.

On the web

The cover shot from this DVD: http://whvcmt.warnerbros.com/WHV_MARS/thumbnail.jsp?assetID=1024794

Warner Brothers page for this DVD: http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/product.jsp?OID=10951

The official website the girl of my young dreams, Melody "Wrangler Jane" Patterson: http://www.wranglerjane.com

The official website for actor Ken "Captain Parmenter" Berry: http://www.kenberry.com

A fan site for "F Troop": http://www.f-troop.net

The cast on the cover of TV Guide: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/755/3651211.jpg

Episode guide to "F Troop": http://epguides.com/FTroop

Internet Movie Database listing for the series: http://imdb.com/title/tt0058800

Another episode guide at TV.Com: http://www.tv.com/f-troop/show/2200/summary.html

So you want to know the real "Roaring Chicken," Edward Everett Horton? His bio is at: http://www.cyranos.ch/sphort-e.htm

Other Warner Brothers "TV Favorites" DVDs

"Maverick" starring James Garner, a 3-episode DVD: http://www.epinions.com/content_229500751492

"Cheyenne" starring Clint Walker, a 3-episode DVD: http://www.epinions.com/content_229014408836

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12