Douglas Maifeld's Call to Glory Page

13 August 1984 - 12 February 1985 , ABC Television

An ambitious idea, Call to Glory was envisioned as a journey through the turbulent 1960s, as seen through the eyes of a conservative Air Force family. To help achieve realism, vintage TV news clips and actual sixties music were incorporated into the story lines. Featured were Craig T. Nelson as Colonel Raynor Sarnac, Air Force pilot; Cindy Pickett as his wife, Vanessa; Elisabeth Shue as their teenaged daughter, Jackie; Gabriel Damon as their young son, R.H., who was so traumatized by fear of his father's flying that he could speak only to his sister; David Hollander as Raynor's nephew, Wesley, who lived with the Sarnacs; Keenan Wynn as Raynor's father, Carl Sarnac; J. D. Cannon as General Hampton; and David Lain Baker as Tom Bonelli, a young Air Force pilot who was interested in Jackie. Call to Glory was originally intended to be a limited-run series, but in May 1984 ABC decided not only to make it a regular series, but also to premiere it in August, immediately after the conclusion of the 1984 Summer Olympics. The network extensively promoted the upcoming series throughout its Olympics coverage, and the two-hour premiere on 13 August (which focused on the 1962 Cuban missile crisis) drew an impressive 24.8 rating and 44 share. Audiences soon began turning away, however, and the network suggested to co-executive producers Steve Tisch and Jon Avnet that more of the scripts should center around the Sarnac family rather than on historical events. The shift in focus begat further production problems, especially with star Craig T. Nelson, and the series sputtered off the air early in 1985. Scenes from unaired episodes were subsequently pieced together for a two-hour program, "Call to Glory: JFK,'' set in November 1963 and aired 30 June 1985 as a TV-movie.

Courtesy of Nick at Nite's TV LAND

The show's original 19 episodes ran on ABC from August 13, 1984 until February 12, 1985. On June 30, 1985, episode 20 was aired on ABC while episodes 21 & 22 were shown in sydication.

Episodes

1) Pilot The year was 1962. John F. Kennedy was President. Nikita Krushchev ruled Russia, and the world held its breath as the Cuban missile crisis pushed the two superpowers to the brink of war. Behind the scenes, Air Force pilots flew dangerous spy missions over Cuba to monitor the volatile situation. Many men answered the Call To Glory and many of them never made it back. This is the story of those brave pilots and their families.

2) The Move The entire Sarnac family is thrown into turmoil when Raynor receives a lucrative job offer in the private sector.

3) Blackbird Raynor faces one of his toughest missions as he tries to prevent a bitter ex-pilot from exposing the details of a top secret mission.

4) Paper Tiger A dangerous top-secret mission takes Raynor over Red China to see if the Chinese have developed an Atomic Bomb.

5) A Nation Divided The violence spawned by the Civil Rights Movement hits home when Wesley and a black friend are beaten by teenage racists.

6) Go/No Go On a mission into the heart of Saigon, Raynor bears personal witness to the horrifying brutality of the government.

7) Call It Courage Raynor's involvement in a bitter political controversy could cost him a valued friendship...and ruin his military career.

8) A Wind From the East Forced to bail out of a crippled plane, Raynor and a Japanese Air Force officer struggle to survive in a dangerous wilderness.

9) A Moment In the Sun Raynor is torn between duty and friendship when an Air Force buddy suddenly develops a crippling fear of flying.

10) Cover Story While testing a new flight system, Raynor is hounded by an investigative reporter probing for revelations about defense spending.

11) Realities Raynor and Vanessa are so involved in their friends' marital problems, they don't notice Carl is facing a crisis of his own.

12) The Wake Tension mounts in the Sarnac household as Raynor prepares for a mission that has already claimed the life of one of his best test pilots.

13) Medals All of Brass Raynor is forced to face the harsh truth that an old friend is really a spy for the KGB.

14) A Wind of Change A flight over Vietnam turns into a journey of terror when Raynor is shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese.

15) Give Unto Caesar Stiff penalties await a pilot who disobeys orders and brings a Russian defector back to America.

16) Moonchild The news that a child is on the way puts a wedge in the Sarnac's marriage as they both try to cope with feelings of doubt and guilt.

17) Images The Sarnac family faces an uncertain future when Venessa decides she needs a break from her husband and children.

18) Fathers and Sons Raynor finds himself on an emotional roller coaster when he discovers the truth about Carl's illness...and about Jackie's relationship with a new boyfriend.

19) Just In Time While on special assignment in Vietnam, Raynor launches a dangerous rescue mission to save a Vietnamese boy he wants to adopt.

20) Call To Glory: JFK Raynor and his family face difficult personal challenges in the days leading to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

21) Fathers and Daughters Jackie longs to follow in her father's footsteps and become an Air Force pilot.

22) The End, The Beginning Raynor's release from captivity and his homecoming celebration are postponed.

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1)	Pilot	The year was 1962. John F. Kennedy was President. Nikita Krushchev ruled Russia, and the world held its breath as the Cuban missile crisis pushed the two superpowers to the brink of war. Behind the scenes, Air Force pilots flew dangerous spy missions over Cuba to monitor the volatile situation. Many men answered the Call To Glory and many of them never made it back. This is the story of those brave pilots and their families.
2)	The Move	The entire Sarnac family is thrown into turmoil when Raynor receives a lucrative job offer in the private sector.
3)	Blackbird	Raynor faces one of his toughest missions as he tries to prevent a bitter ex-pilot from exposing the details of a top secret mission.
4)	Paper Tiger	A dangerous top-secret mission takes Raynor over Red China to see if the Chinese have developed an Atomic Bomb.
5)	A Nation Divided	The violence spawned by the Civil Rights Movement hits home when Wesley and a black friend are beaten by teenage racists.
6)	Go/No Go	On a mission into the heart of Saigon, Raynor bears personal witness to the horrifying brutality of the government.
7)	Call It Courage	Raynor's involvement in a bitter political controversy could cost him a valued friendship...and ruin his military career.
8)	*A Wind From the East*	Forced to bail out of a crippled plane, Raynor and a Japanese Air Force officer struggle to survive in a dangerous wilderness.
9)	*A Moment In the Sun*	Raynor is torn between duty and friendship when an Air Force buddy suddenly develops a crippling fear of flying.
10)	Cover Story	While testing a new flight system, Raynor is hounded by an investigative reporter probing for revelations about defense spending.
11)	*Realities*	Raynor and Vanessa are so involved in their friends' marital problems, they don't notice Carl is facing a crisis of his own.
12)	*The Wake*	Tension mounts in the Sarnac household as Raynor prepares for a mission that has already claimed the life of one of his best test pilots.
13)	*Medals All of Brass*	Raynor is forced to face the harsh truth that an old friend is really a spy for the KGB.
14)	*A Wind of Change*	A flight over Vietnam turns into a journey of terror when Raynor is shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese.
15)	*Give Unto Caesar*	Stiff penalties await a pilot who disobeys orders and brings a Russian defector back to America.
16)	*Moonchild*	The news that a child is on the way puts a wedge in the Sarnac's marriage as they both try to cope with feelings of doubt and guilt.
17)	*Images*	The Sarnac family faces an uncertain future when Venessa decides she needs a break from her husband and children.
18)	*Fathers and Sons*	Raynor finds himself on an emotional roller coaster when he discovers the truth about Carl's illness...and about Jackie's relationship with a new boyfriend.
19)	*Just In Time*	While on special assignment in Vietnam, Raynor launches a dangerous rescue mission to save a Vietnamese boy he wants to adopt.
20)	*Call To Glory: JFK*	Raynor and his family face difficult personal challenges in the days leading to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
21)	*Fathers and Daughters*	Jackie longs to follow in her father's footsteps and become an Air Force pilot.
22)	*The End, The Beginning*	Raynor's release from captivity and his homecoming celebration are postponed.