User Reviews

In this episode we are again reminded that the Barkleys are progressive in the prison reform laws as another tale of mistreated convicts is the lead plot. I would not be surprised to learn that someone in the production company or writer has someone in prison that they feel is being mistreated and led to write stories concerning near innocent convicts and brutal and savage prison guards. But I digress and will get back to review of this fairly nice story.

A disease is going around with the usual harvest pickers that the Barkleys employ so they have the pull to call the State Prison and are sent three convicts to help with the harvest of oranges. Within the first two minutes of the show we know that the convicts are mild meek men while the one prison guard , played really well by Albert Salmi, is a brute that has nothing better to do than beat the prisoners every chance he gets.

The plot centers around the black convict named Damien (Yaphet Kotto)who use to be assigned to the Buffalo Unit during the war. After being beaten by the guard he is befriended by Audra after her small colt becomes sick.

When the guard is shot by one of the other convicts after the guard poisoned Audra's colt, the prisoners now have a chance to escape. With Victoria and Audra looking on, Damien has to choose either to run or face a possible parole hearing made possible by Jarrod.

The acting in this episode was above par. From the prison guard to Yaphet Kotto as the convict, the actors brought the character to life. The subject matter that nearly all convicts are angels and guards evil devils was troubling=== but the episode, on it own merit, was a good watch.

Excellent episode!!!Great acting by all. Yotto was great as Damion. But, allactors were exceptional! A fave from the four year run.

I could not wrap my mind around the concept that the Barkley family actually uses convict labor. Possibly because that other enterprising widow Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy used it so effectively and ruthlessly in her single minded drive to lift herself from post Civil War poverty. Or maybe because cowboys resent being peach pickers.

In any event one of the Barkley income producers is a peach orchard and with the hands away on a roundup Barbara Stanwyck orders some convicts from the local prison. So they send three of their best two of them being real dregs on society, Andreas Teuber and Lonny Chapman. Teuber is a rapist and the sight of Linda Evans gets his mojo going. The guard with them is also a real winner. Albert Salmi is also a racist as well as a sadist.

Which brings me to the third convict, former slave and cavalryman Yaphett Kotto who has a nice way with horses. It's he who convinces Barbara Stanwyck, Linda Evans, and Richard Long who is head of a prison reform committee that maybe California should try out that new fangled concept of parole.

Kotto and Salmi turn in a pair of fine performances. But I could not buy the fact the Barkleys would use convict labor.