THE INFANT OF PRAGUE

First let me say that I'm sorry if I offend anyone of the Catholic faith.  If you don't have any belief in a "higher Source" then you might as well click the X in the upper right hand corner now.  Unlike the reviews that were offered by the "secular" reviewers at the "other" site.  I've spent a good deal of time with my head in the Holy Bible.

This is one of the very few episodes where Combat and Religion cross the line.  I'll go so far as to say that Combat and "Faith" cross the line.  I got my bible studies in the Church of Christ.  Not the Mormons, not the Church of God in Christ like Jeremiah Wright, and not the many Church of Christ's with additions to their name like: The Buffalo Church of Christ or The Church of Christ of the Nazarene. Just Plain Old "The Church of Christ".  I no longer belong to that church but if one wants a complete Bible education, this church will be glad to provide it.

I grew up in the plain, simple 1st century Church of Christ.  It's what some call a Christian fundamentalist church.  On the left side of religion, they call them Bible worshippers.  That's not important, but my point is necessary to point out that I have no faith in statues or candles or robes or any of the pageantry that goes with ceremonial worship. (AKA Dogma)

That being said; I don't condemn it and who am I to say I'm right and everyone else is wrong.  Your faith is between you and your maker.  The Bible was put together by emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. who decided ultimately what books would be catalogued and which ones would not.

One however, who knows anything about the Christian Gospel (good news) can not watch "The Infant of Prague without seeing religious metaphors in almost every scene. 

 

 

 

 

The opening scene starts with the death of the Mother Superior.  In this scene, after it is confirmed that the head Nun is done; the next in command goes in search of the "Infant of Prague" statue.

 

 

Kirby notices the arrival of the nuns and the wounded mother Superior.  Caje is able to communicate in French with the sisters.  One could make the comparison that with the "Passing" of the old and the search for the "Infant of Prague" or "Baby Jesus statue" we are seeing the End of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. 

While the squad is communicating with CheckMateKing 2, The new Mother superior has gone in search of the Baby statue of Jesus. Hanley not only discovers that he is missing one nun, but that he is now pinned down by German infantry on 3 sides of the city.  They need to make their move now.  Before they can do that, Hanley and Caje must find the head nun.



 During the search for the head nun; Little John offers the remaining nuns his rations.  They politely refuse his offer, not telling the squad they had not had anything to eat for 3 days. * Interesting note, Jesus is dead for 3 days before his resurrection.  Once the head nun is tracked down by Hanley and Caje; the squad and guests head for the nearest exit in town.  On the trip to the barn, the nurses learn that they must walk in the gutter if they want to live, and Little John takes this opportunity to pray with the nuns just before he is forced to take a German's life.

The Squad ends up in a barn with hay.  Almost a "Manger" scene.  This is where we get to see a well known blooper.  I've broken the scene down into 5 stills.  One is where Little John bangs his forehead against the top of the door frame.  The 2nd, 3rd and 4th are where Little John trips over the handle of a hay cart.  On the 4th pick, if you click on it and look in the lower right hand corner, I've done a zoom on Doc # 2 who is laughing his head off at Dick Peabody.  ENJOY

DOH !

Have a nice Trip ~ See ya next Fall

 

 

 

 

During the night everybody falls asleep in a "Garden of Gethsemane" fashion.  The head nun uses this opportunity to go back into town in search of the lost Statue, the "Infant of Prague".  Yet while finding the statue, the new mother superior is found by the Germans but not just any Germans; A Panzer Unit.  Because she is unwilling to give up any information about the Americans the Panzer Unit commander is furious and slaps the statue out of Madam Superior's arms.  Just as Rome occupied Israel; Germany occupied France.  Germany would allow only worship to Cesar.  Hitler would only allow worship to "Der Führer".  While American children were pledging an allegiance to the Flag, Children of the 3rd Reich were pledging their lives to "Hitler, their Savior". 

 

After the Panzer Commander breaks the statue, Caje attacks him from behind with his bayonet

 

 

 

 



 

 

Hanley wastes no time getting word back to HG that the German Panzer unit is not where they were expected.

 

HQ needs an O.P. for the heavy Artillery attack.  Mother Superior leads Hanley and Caje to a location which looks suspiciously like the church steeple in most of the MGM back lot episodes.  It's interesting to note that Doc uses his surgical tape to repair the statue that was broken by the Panzer officer.  Doc preserving the Statue is indicative of  America liberating Europe and preserving Christianity.

 

 

As Kirby and Hanley establish an Observation Point (O.P.) The call is sent to HQ for confetti and "Chorus girls" (Artillery and Planes) Hanley and Kirby are sitting ducks for "Shorts" or "Friendly Fire that falls short of the target".  After several adjustments, the Panzer unit is stopped.

 

 

 

Doc gets word to Hanley that they are being engaged on the 4th and final side by armored German troops.  The future looks grim for the squad and the nuns.  Then "Angels" descend from the heavens.

 

 

Combat called them "Chorus Girls" but Angels seem to fit these P-51Ds

 

The Future is looking brighter.

 

*EDITED NOTE ! John Peyser was a master at using symbolic scenes. In this picture of this P-51D

The positioning of the plane depicts a "Crucifix". Typical John Peyser.

 

 





The German Panzer troops find themselves in retreat if not destroyed all because of a stubborn Mother Superior who went in search of the "Infant of Prague"

Mother Superior says: "I hope I didn't cause any problems"  We all get a laugh.

 

A great pic of LJ, Doc and Kirby

 

This episode was shown on the week of Easter.  The religious symbolism is everywhere. The episode is full of action and reverence.  I know there's much of this episode I couldn't appreciate from not being Catholic, but the primary Christian principles of Salvation and Sacrifice were represented in this charming and wonderful episode.

 

 

Ace