John "Hannibal" Smith

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John "Hannibal" Smith
The A-Team character
HannibalSmith.jpg
John "Hannibal" Smith as he appears in the first and second season opening credits
First appearance"Mexican Slayride"
Created by Frank Lupo & Stephen J. Cannell
Portrayed by George Peppard (TV series)
Liam Neeson (film)
TBC (TV series reboot)
Voiced by David Lodge
In-universe information
AliasHannibal
Mr. Lee
GenderMale
Title Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel [1]
Awards [2] Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Korea Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith is a fictional character and one of the four protagonists of the 1980s action-adventure television series The A-Team, played by George Peppard. The producers originally had James Coburn in mind to play the part of Hannibal, but it eventually went to Peppard. [3]

Contents

The character—which was based loosely on former United States Army Special Forces officer Bo Gritz [4] —appeared on The A-Team from its beginning in 1983 until its end in 1987. The character was played by Liam Neeson in the 2010 film adaptation. His often spoken line "I love it when a plan comes together" was included in TV Land's "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases" in 2006. [5] [6]

Character biography

The A-Team is a group of ex-United States Army Special Forces soldiers who, near the end of the Vietnam War, were arrested for a crime they did not commit and managed to escape from the Military Police. As fugitives, the A-Team works as soldiers of fortune, using their military training to fight oppression or injustice. Hannibal, along with B. A. Baracus, Templeton "Faceman" Peck, and H. M. "Howlin' Mad" Murdock make up the A-Team.

In the pilot episode ("Mexican Slayride: Part 1"), Hannibal is described by a reporter colleague of Amy Allen as follows: "The leader [of the A-Team] is a Colonel named John Smith. But everybody calls him Hannibal. The guy has a very unorthodox style." Smith takes his name from the famous military commander and strategist, as alluded to by B. A. Baracus in the same episode; various items of tie-in literature for the series commented that just as the original Hannibal had led the elephants over the Alps, this Hannibal had led his men over the wall of Fort Bragg after they were wrongly arrested. He is distinguished by his unflappable demeanor, even when in peril, his constant cigar-smoking, his black leather gloves, and his many disguises. He is a master tactician (although his plans rarely turn out as they are supposed to; when asked if she thought this was going to work, Amy Allen summed it up by saying, "Hannibal's plans never work right. They just work.") and seems to have a plan for getting the team out of any situation they get into. His favorite catchphrase is, "I love it when a plan comes together"; he is often heard to remark "Nice" after part of his plan has succeeded - sometimes with destructive or explosive results.

He fought in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, serving in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam, and is a Medal of Honor recipient. His rank is inconsistent: throughout the first four seasons, he is referred to as possessing the rank of lieutenant colonel, though in keeping with US Army practice, he is most often referred to simply as "Colonel". In the fourth-season episode "Members Only" and fifth-season episodes "Trial by Fire" and "Firing Line", however, he is wearing the eagle insignia of a full colonel. (His medals in these episodes are also different from those on display the last time he wore his Class A uniform in the first-season finale, "A Nice Place to Visit".) Thriving on adventure and the adrenaline rush of life-threatening situations (or being "on the jazz", as the rest of the team refers to it), he seems to genuinely enjoy every challenge they encounter. He is renowned by both allies and enemies for being cool-headed and extremely clever. There is rarely a situation where he is not able to smile in the face of adversity. He will usually light up a cigar when he needs to do some thinking—often when coming up with a plan, or in the heat of a dangerous or exciting moment. He is also often seen putting on his gloves when he senses the action is about to pick up (such as a fist fight breaking out). When captured by their enemies, he will deliver flippant or sarcastic remarks. He regularly dispenses aphorisms, especially to their foes, upon defeating them. He also has some medical skills which he picked up when in Vietnam.

He styles himself a "master of disguise", though his skill lies not so much in how convincing his disguise is, but in his ability to assume any role and convince others that his role is genuine. Most episodes begin with the prospective clients coming to meet the A-Team, only to be introduced to one of Hannibal's comic aliases. Hannibal uses his various disguises to screen all the A-Team's potential clients to assure they are not fronts for the military—sometimes playing more than one at a time. Clients often make reference to a "Mr. Lee", the owner of a Chinese laundromat who tells them where to meet the team.

Hannibal is also an aspiring actor, playing monsters in low-budget horror movies (being a fugitive, he can only choose roles in which his face cannot be seen). His many roles include "Gatorella", "Killgator" [7] and his most famous, "The Aquamaniac". [8] Naturally, Hannibal secures his roles playing his own agent; somehow always 'eluding' the Producer of his true identity.

Romantic relationships

Recurring aliases

Awards and decorations

"A Nice Place to Visit"

The following are the medals and service awards fictionally worn by Lieutenant Colonel Smith in "A Nice Place to Visit".

Personal decorations
Medal of Honor ribbon.svg Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star ribbon.svg Silver Star
Soldier's Medal ribbon.svg Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal
Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Unit awards
Presidential Unit Citation (Korea).svg Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (Vietnam).svg Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Campaign and service medals
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg Korean Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal
Foreign awards
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
Other accoutrements
CIB2.gif Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd award)
US Army Airborne senior parachutist badge.gif Senior Parachutist Badge
US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg 101st Airborne Division Shoulder sleeve insignia
United States Army Special Forces CSIB.svg United States Army Special Forces Shoulder sleeve insignia

"Members Only"

The following are the medals and service awards fictionally worn by Colonel Smith in "Members Only".

Personal decorations
Medal of Honor ribbon.svg Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Cross
Us legion of merit officer rib.png Legion of Merit Officer Degree
Silver Star ribbon.svg Silver Star
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Army Achievement Medal
Unit awards
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation
Campaign and service medals
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg
Korean Service Medal with three service stars
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal
Foreign awards
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal
Vietnam Military Merit Ribbon.svg Vietnam Military Merit Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
Other accoutrements
CIB3.svg Combat Infantryman Badge (3rd award)
US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif Master Parachutist Badge
Combat service identification badge of the United States Army 1st Cavalry Division.svg 1st Cavalry Division Shoulder sleeve insignia
US Sixth Army patch.svg Sixth Army Shoulder sleeve insignia

"Trial by Fire" and "Firing Line"

The following are the medals and service awards fictionally worn by Colonel Smith in "Trial by Fire" and "Firing Line".

Personal decorations
Medal of Honor ribbon.svg Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star ribbon.svg Silver Star
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Campaign and service medals
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg
Korean Service Medal with three service stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars
Foreign awards
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
Other accoutrements
US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif Master Parachutist Badge
Combat service identification badge of the United States Army 1st Cavalry Division.svg 1st Cavalry Division Shoulder sleeve insignia
United States Army Special Forces CSIB.svg United States Army Special Forces Shoulder sleeve insignia

2010 film

Liam Neeson as John "Hannibal" Smith in the 2010 The A-Team film. Liam Neeson as Hannibal Smith 2010.jpg
Liam Neeson as John "Hannibal" Smith in the 2010 The A-Team film.

In the 2010 movie adaptation, Hannibal is portrayed by Liam Neeson. Identified as "John H. Smith" on a toe tag, Hannibal is portrayed as a character who, though still tactically brilliant and capable of making a plan come together, is not quite as unflappable as his television counterpart. In fact, due to the betrayal nature of the storyline (concerning the "crime they did not commit"), Hannibal is often shown as angry and intense. The team's conviction by military court visibly affects him, though his penchant for wisecracks is still prevalent (for the television character, more than a decade had passed since the conviction so such reactions were never shown in the show).

Except at an airport when the A-Team is flying from Norway to Los Angeles (in which Hannibal's disguise is Neeson's real-life appearance), the character does not don any disguises in the film, instead leaving that arm of business to Face. The cigar smoking was also kept intact; despite Neeson being an ex-smoker, he kept his personal preferences aside for the role. [9] Hannibal shows considerable leadership abilities, attempting to take the A-Team's full blame for their alleged crime, and breaking them out of prison when they reject it; however, he steps back and lets Face plan the final mission, a decision B. A. regrets.

In the film, Hannibal is a full colonel, has served in both the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment and the 7th Special Forces Group, in which he and his team are still members until their court martial, and has served a total of two and a half years in overseas combat zones. Unlike the TV series, Hannibal is not a Medal of Honor recipient. Like B.A., Face, and Murdock, he has an Army Ranger tattoo (on his left arm).

Awards and decorations

The following are the medals and service awards fictionally worn by Colonel Smith in the 2010 movie adaptation.

Personal decorations
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Unit awards
Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Campaign and service medals
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with three bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Service and training awards
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Overseas Service Ribbon
Foreign awards
NATO Medal ribbon (Article 5).svg NATO Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Other accoutrements
CIB2.gif Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd award)
US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif Master Parachutist Badge
USAF - Occupational Badge - High Altitude Low Opening.svg Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder.gif Pathfinder Badge
United States Army Special Forces CSIB.svg United States Army Special Forces Shoulder sleeve insignia
SpecialForcesTabMetal.jpg Special Forces tab
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger tab

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References

  1. Hannibal's rank is inconsistent in the series. For the first four seasons, when referred to, the distinction of Lieutenant Colonel is made. When he's on trial in the episode "Firing Line" in season 5, however, he is a full colonel. He also wears the insignia of Lieutenant Colonel (a silver oak leaf) in the first season episode "A Nice Place to Visit", rather than the eagle insignia used for full Colonels, which he does wear in "Trial by Fire" and "Firing Line".
  2. Hannibal's medals are shown in the season 1 episode "A Nice Place To Visit" and the season 5 episodes, "Trial by Fire" and "Firing Line".
  3. Bring Back... The A-Team (2006)
  4. David Neiwert, "What kind of life do I have without my bride?" Archived 2010-03-06 at the Wayback Machine , Salon.com , 1998-09-28.
  5. The Star Ledger. December 11, 2006.
  6. "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases". 2 March 2010.
  7. This role is referred to in the season 4 episode "Uncle Buckle-Up", when Murdock reviews Hannibal's resumé.
  8. Hannibal as the Aquamaniac is first shown in the pilot, "Mexican Slayride: Part 1", and is shown again in the third season episode "Breakout!".
  9. "The a Team - PTC Challenge". Archived from the original on 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-06-21.