Warner Brothers brings back to the classic days of television with the release of the Western comedy F Troop in a new 6 disc set containing all 34 first season episodes.
Captain Parmenter (Ken Berry) goofs his way into commanding Fort Courage. This is fine for Sergeant O’Rourke (Forrest Tucker) and his partner Corporal Agarn (Larry Storch) since O’Rourke is running several schemes and scams. Since Parmenter is clueless, they can run their business without interference. O’Rourke has the local Indian tribe (the Hekawis – name so because when the tribe arrived they asked Where the heck are we?) led by Chief Wild Eagle (Frank DeKova) manufacturing souvenirs and trinkets. O’Rourke he also secretly owns the only saloon within 109 miles and sells watered down whiskey made by the tribe.
Parmenter has eyes for the local Wrangler Jane Thrift (Melody Patterson) and she has eyes for him. There are many other crazy characters such as Medicine Man Roaring Chicken (Edward Everett Horton) and Trooper Dobbs (James Hampton) - the bugler that can’t play the bugle. The men of F Troop are clueless and the only thing they can accomplish is to shoot down their guard tower with the cannon.
Episode 1: The Scourge of the West: Captain Parmenter has the most daring job in the war, to make sure that General Grant’s laundry is shipshape. On the way to make sure that no starch is put on the Generals underpants, he sneezes which is misinterpreted as “Charge!” He wins the battle and becomes the scourge of Appotomax. His reward is to be made commanding officer of Fort Courage (which is anything but courageous). Henry Brandon shows up as a rival Indian chief.
Episode 2: Don’t Look Now, One of our Cannons is Missing: O’Rourke and Agarn steal the fort’s cannon so the Indians can use it in their ceremony.
Episode 3: The Phantom Major: A British Major (Bernard Fox) comes to Fort Courage to teach the troops his concealment techniques.
Episode 4: Corporal Agarn’s Farewell to the Troops: Agarn mistakes the veterinarian’s report on O’Rourke’s sick horse as his own prognosis. He thinks he going to die in several days, but to make matters worse he sends a letter confessing to his scams to higher authorities and now they have to get it back. Vic Tayback has a small part.
Episode 5: The Return of Bald Eagle: The chief’s son Bald Eagle (Don Rickles) returns to the tribe. He wants to make war with the white man not be their business partner.
Episode 6: Dirge for the Scourge: A tough gunfighter (Jack Elam) wants to take on and gun down Parmenter.
Episode 7: The Girl from Philadelphia: A girl from Captain Parmenter’s past shows up to accept his proposal of marriage – from several years ago. This puts Wrangler Jane in a mood for a fight.
Agarn and O'Rourke
Episode 8: Old Ironpants: Captain Parmenter goes to an officer’s training school ran by General Custer and comes back to Fort Courage to run it by the book.
Episode 9: No Heap Big Injun: Corporal Agarn’s tour of duty is up in ten days. O’Rourke cons him into taking ten day leave with the Indians. However, Agarn wants to join up again, but with the Indian tribe not the Army.
Episode 10: She’s Only a Build in a Girdled Cage: The bugler’s mother is coming for a visit, but the Fort gets confused and thinks that his visitor is his sexy singer fiancé.
Episode 11: A Gift from the Chief: Captain Parmenter saves Chief Wild Eagle’s life and he rewards him with another life – a Indian baby. Soon the Fort is on diaper duty.
Episode 12: Honest Injun: O’Rourke comes up with another scam, a fake gold rush. However, another scam artist (John Dehner) beats him to the punch and is selling fake mine claims.
Episode 13: O’Rourke vs. O’Reilly: A rival bar opens across the street from O’Rourke Enterprises’ saloon. The rival is a beautiful woman (Lee Meriwether).
Episode 14: The 86 Proof Spring: O’Rourke hides the Indian’s illegal whiskey still at the fort. J. Pat O’Malley guest stars as the Medicine Man.
Episode 15: Here Comes the Tribe: A brave from another tribe kidnaps Wild Eagle’s daughter to be his bride.
Episode 16: Iron Horse Go Home: The Hekawis tribe sell their land to the railroad so they move into the Fort.
Episode 17: Our Hero, What’s his Name?: Corporal Agarn tells his girlfriend that he killed Geronimo to impress her. Geronimo shows up and reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated.
Episode 18: Wrongo Starr and the Lady in Black: A black widow comes to the Fort and Corporal Agarn may be the latest “late” husband. Henry Gibson guests as Wrongo Starr.
Episode 19: El Diablo: Corporal Agarn goes in search of his look-alike cousin, who is an infamous bandito. Larry Storch plays multiple members of the Agarn family.
Episode 20: Go for Broke: Captain Parmenter has to win back the pension fund that O’Rourke gambled away in a card game. George Gobel guest stars.
Parmenter gets pinned
Episode 21: The New I.G.: A new major arrives with a new weapon, the Chestwinster ’76.
Episode 22: Spy, Counterspy, Counter Counterspy: Spies invade Fort Courage because they think a new secret weapon is held there.
Episode 23: The Courtship of Wrangler Jane: O’Rourke hatches a scheme to build a sauna in the NCO club.
Episode 24: Play, Gypsy, Play: Corporal Agarn rescues three gorgeous Hungarian gypsies. Zsa Zsa Gabor is one of the gypsies.
Episode 25: Reunion for O’Rourke: A surprise party is given for O’Rourke to celebrate his 25 years in the military.
Episode 26: Captain Parmenter, One Man Army: A paperwork mix up leaves Fort Courage with only one soldier – Captain Parmenter.
Episode 27: Don’t Ever Speak to Me Again: The men are about to be cited for their high moral until things fall apart.
Episode 28: Too Many Cooks Spoil the Troop: Corporal Agarn substitutes for the Fort’s cook, and hilarity ensues. Jamie Farr and James Gregory guest star.
Episode 29: Indian Fever: Corporal Again keeps seeing an Indian peeping in the window.
Episode 30: Johnny Eagle Eye: A young Indian brave is sure to win a sharp-shooting contest and where there’s money to be won there’s Sergeant O’Rourke.
Episode 31: A Fort’s Best Friend is Not a Mother: Captain Parmenter’s mother arrives to whip Fort Courage into shape. Jeanette Nolan guest stars as Mrs. Parmenter.
Episode 32: Lieutenant O’Rourke, Front and Center: O’Rourke is promoted to officer. Will this interfere with his schemes?
Episode 33: The Day the Indians Won: The Council of Indian Nations insist that the Hekawi tribe go on the warpath.
Episode 34: Will the Real Captain Try to Stand Up: The town drunk borrows Parmenter’s rank to impress his daughter.
Wrangler Jane
F Troop is presented in fullscreen as it was originally aired on television. All 34 black and white episodes are spread out over 6 single sided discs. Sadly, there are no extras (Larry Storch and Ken Berry are still alive and an interview would’ve been nice.) Warner Brothers tested the waters some time before with a single disc release of selected episodes called TV favorites.
I guess that release was successful because this first season is coming out. I found F Troop a funny show and greatly enjoyed it. Fans of the series will be glad that WB has decided to release season one.
F Troop: The Complete First Season is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD’s database for more information.
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