Roll Out! was based on the fantasy that World War II was a barrel of fun – something the makers of Hogan’s Heroesworked on very successfully for many years.
Set in France, the series was about the (mostly black) truck drivers of the 5050th Trucking Company, known as the “Red Ball Express” – a unit that specialised in getting supplies to the soldiers at the front line.
Stu Gilliam was Corporal ‘Sweet’ Williams, a smooth-talking draftee from Harlem. Hilly Hicks was his offsider, Pfc Jed Brooks, and Mel Stewart was tough First Sergeant B.J. Bryant.
Val Bisoglio was the C.O, Captain Calvelli, and Ed Begley Jr. was the rather hopeless Second Lieutenant Chapman.
When the men weren’t delivering supplies, they found their fun at a nightclub near their base which was run by Madame Dalacort as played by Penny Santon.
Corporal ‘Sweet’ Williams Stu Gilliam
PFC Jed Brooks
Hilly Hicks
Sgt B.J. Bryant
Mel Stewart
Captain Rocco Calvelli
Val Bisoglio
Lt Robert W Chapman
Ed Begley Jr
Wheels
Garrett Morris
Jersey
Darrow Igus
Phone Booth
Rod Gist
High Strung
Theodore Wilson
Madame Delacort
Penny Santon
Episodes
Pilot | Sunday, Sweet Sunday | Dark Victory | Strange Bedfellows | Dear Rocco | Sweet Millions | Members of the Wedding | The Paper Caper | No Wages – All Fear | Christmas the ’44 | Honor Truck | Didn’t He Ramble?
Set in France, the series was about the (mostly black) truck drivers of the 5050th Trucking Company, known as the “Red Ball Express” – a unit that specialised in getting supplies to the soldiers at the front line.
