The West Point Story (TV series)

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.

The West Point Story
Complete Series DVD cover
Written byGene Roddenberry (9 episodes, 1956-1957)
Don Brinkley (3 episodes, 1956-1957)
Directed byTed Post
James Sheldon
Leon Benson
Henry S. Kesler
StarringDonald May (Host)
Theme music composerPhilip Egner
Alfred Parham
Opening theme"West Point March"
Country of originUSA
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes40
Production
ProducerMaurice Unger
Running time30 minutes
Production companyZiv Television Programs
DistributorZiv-United Artists
MGM Television (current)
Release
Original networkCBS (1956 - 1957)
ABC (1957 - 1958)
Picture formatBlack-and-white
Original releaseOctober 5, 1956 (1956-10-05) –
July 5, 1957 (1957-07-05)

History
Carolyn Craig and Martin Milner in premiere episode (1956)

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 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: 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: 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.

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
  1. 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.


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