Both Brandon De Wilde and Michael Burns who play brothers in this episode are two of the most fascinating actors in my viewing experience. I remember De Wilde with Alan Ladd in Shane and later as younger brother to both Warren Beatty in All Fall Down and Paul Newman in Hud plus many other roles. Sadly he passed away at 30 following an accident. Burns, on the other hand, left acting and had degrees from both University of California and Yale, went on to write a well respected history book and was then a college professor for 22 years. When I was a kid there was something about Burns that always impressed me and finding out later his accomplishments didn't surprise me. An extremely sensitive and intelligent actor who even starred in a Robert Altman film with Sandy Dennis, Burns was a bit young here and had not hit his stride but would later become one of the regulars featured in the Wagon Train franchise as character Barnaby West.
The story itself is clever enough with some tension and mystery and while not one of my favorites it was still wonderful to see these two young, extremely talented fellows work together as brothers.
I might give this one a 10 just for the superb casting choices but there is something here once again involving the cook, Charlie Wooster, that is supposedly humorous yet by today's standards it would be considered bullying. I know Charlie would feel left out if not picked on some because he picks back but looking at it today I'm surprised how far his "whipping boy" part can be pushed and considered funny. I wish there was a special feature entitled What Charlie Wooster was REALLY Feeding his Tormentors! I'm sure Frank McGrath didn't mind playing the part of having to endure constant ribbing as well as Terry Wilson, one of the worst at dishing it out, since both got to be real stars for a change for 8 seasons with a good, steady income. I think that Wilson did some stand in work for John Wayne and stunt work and he's also a fine actor. I was never a big Denny Miller fan but he certainly didn't hurt the series. It hurt the series to lose Ward Bond and again when Robert Horton left the series. Still, overall Wagon Train was one of the best shows of any kind during it's 8 year run.
The story itself is clever enough with some tension and mystery and while not one of my favorites it was still wonderful to see these two young, extremely talented fellows work together as brothers.
I might give this one a 10 just for the superb casting choices but there is something here once again involving the cook, Charlie Wooster, that is supposedly humorous yet by today's standards it would be considered bullying. I know Charlie would feel left out if not picked on some because he picks back but looking at it today I'm surprised how far his "whipping boy" part can be pushed and considered funny. I wish there was a special feature entitled What Charlie Wooster was REALLY Feeding his Tormentors! I'm sure Frank McGrath didn't mind playing the part of having to endure constant ribbing as well as Terry Wilson, one of the worst at dishing it out, since both got to be real stars for a change for 8 seasons with a good, steady income. I think that Wilson did some stand in work for John Wayne and stunt work and he's also a fine actor. I was never a big Denny Miller fan but he certainly didn't hurt the series. It hurt the series to lose Ward Bond and again when Robert Horton left the series. Still, overall Wagon Train was one of the best shows of any kind during it's 8 year run.
