Yellow

One of Kirk Douglas's very few television roles was in this episode of Tales From The Crypt. He plays an American general in World War I who has the distasteful duty of dealing with his real life son Eric who plays a cowardly lieutenant who leaves Sergeant Lance Henriksen out in No Man's Land on a patrol. The dying Henriksen condemns him and Kirk has no choice but to order a court martial for his son.

At the beginning of the show it is emphasized that the company had been 49 straight days on the line in combat and World War I saw the futility and slaughter that was trench warfare. A stalemate of four years where gains were measured in yards. Eric who never wanted a military career and did it only to please his father now faces death.

One of Kirk Douglas's best films is Paths Of Glory also with a World War I setting and dealing with a whole division of French soldiers who've decided they just had enough. The parallels between that classic and this television episode are too obvious to ignore.

And in real life Eric Douglas predeceased his parents the most awful tragedy that any parent can face. Both Douglases, Henriksen, and Dan Ackroyd as a captain give fine performances in one of the best Tales Of The Crypt episodes ever done. No supernatural here, the hell created is war, a man made invention.

Unlike most of the episodes in the series, this is set in World War 1 in Europe. Lieutenant Martin Calthrob, who is a coward, sends a discharge to his General father (Kirk Douglas). His dad says that while he can't discharge his son, he could transfer him away from the front only if he completes a specific mission. Unfortunately, Martin doesn't succedd in advising the men under his command and he runs for his life while all the others die. After Captain Milligan (Dan Aykroyd) rescues Sergeant Ripper (Lance Henriksen) while he is dying, they go to the General and Ripper, with his last breath, labels Martin ''Yellow''. Martin is arrested, tried under a court-martial and sentenced to death by a firing squad. The night before the execution, the General goes to his son telling that he replaced the bullets with blanks, but he remembers the truth when it's too late...

This was one of Kirk Douglas' rare television appearences and it seems quite fitting that the plot is very similar to that of PATHS OF GLORY (one of his greatest movies) with his lesser known son Eric as the executioned victim. Also Dan Aykroyd in a serious role and Lance Henriksen give very memorable performances. A great conclusion for probably the best season in the show.

Not a very good episode, never thought of kirk Douglas as a great actor. And as far as the Douglas family being legends that's not true. Legendary families are the Barrymore's the Lupinos and the Powers. The dougl family can't even come close to these others. Neither father nor Michael have real depth. Just like Kirk's friend burt Lancaster, he wasn't that great either. To me no matter how you look at it, they're mainstream actors at best. Well guess my review won't be posted, cause damn if I can think of anything else to say. 600 words is really ridiculous. Instead of reviews, just have a one to ten star system. That's more easier and sensible. This is like writing a thesis or something. This will definitely be my last review.

Not really horror, this is actually a variation on one of star Kirk Douglas' best films – Stanley Kubrick's PATHS OF GLORY (1957). The episode is similarly set on the frontlines of WWI combat; Douglas, however, has George Macready's old role (with Dan Aykroyd acting, more or less, as the defense counsel of the soldier accused of cowardice). The latter, then, is surprisingly well played by Douglas' own real-life son Eric (the characters are likewise related in the story). Apart from offering a good role for Lance Henriksen as well, we get an unflinching display of carnage here (not to mention, some unexpected smattering of foul language). Generally compelling, thought-provoking and poignant, this emerges a nice try all round.

If you never saw this episode, go and see it.This is my first review, because this episode deserves one review.Everyone should see this episode.

It for sure was one of the best tales of crypt episode ever, (the ONLY other one that was so good also was the one of the criminal handcuffed with the cop)......It was not a "supernatural" kind of episode, but, hey, war is also something terrifying.

This episode could easily be a movie, a really good war movie,something like Full Metal Jacket or Deer Hunter, i am not kidding.......

By the way, it also has Kirk Douglas and Dan Aykroyd.This is an episode that should became a movie, it is such a good story, and also kind of heartbreaking.Maybe horror fans don't find this one so great, but if you like horror and war movies, go and watch it, seriously, stop whatever you are doing and go watch, don't be a yellow( slang for a coward soldier on war according to this episode), and watch it.