The West Point Story (TV series)

The West Point Story
File:WestPointCompleteSeries.jpg Complete Series DVD cover
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(s)	Maurice Unger
Running time	30 mins.
Production company(s)	Ziv Television Programs
Distributor	MGM Television SFM Entertainment Peter Rodgers Organization
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 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, 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 the entire series in a four-disc DVD format.

Guest stars

Among those appearing on The West Point Story are Pat Conway, Clint Eastwood, Ron Foster, Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman (uncredited), Larry Pennell, Ron Hagerthy, Tyler MacDuff, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and Leonard Nimoy.

References

Brooks, Tim, and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows

External links

• The Long Gray Line - series referenced in book by author and journalist Rick Atkinson.
• The West Point Story at IMDb
• The West Point Story at TV.com
• West Point Story at CVTA with episode list