User Reviews

This episode of Wagon Train features a murder mystery as John McIntire and his crew conduct an investigation of who murdered Frenchman Lee Bergere.

Bergere speaks cultured French and has some cultivated manners especially with the women. But he's a degenerate gambler and thoroughgoing rat who is romancing three different women on the Wagon Train. Spinster lady Jocelyn Brando who is traveling west with brother Whit Bissell and widow Anne Jeffreys and her daughter Carole Wells.

Bergere needs a lot of money to get another gambler Joe Maross off his back. But it's Bergere who's found stabbed to death.

I judge mysteries by whether I can identify the perpetrator and I did in this case. Still it is a well acted ensemble of regulars and guest cast members that put this one over.

One hopes the perpetrator get a good lawyer and doesn't do too much time in jail. Bergere was really a piece of work.

Others have covered the plot, so I'll look at the production itself.

Disclosure: Anne Jeffreys was my cousin-in-law and she was a versatile, solid actress/singer (though she doesn't sing in this). That said, this plot is pretty weak, made weaker by the overuse of closeups. They in turn make the acting seem almost silent movie exaggerated at times. There was no need for all the closeups, and I can't even begin to discern the director's reason for them, especially since everyone in the cast is a competent actor.

The script is pretty weak, too. Some of the lines are almost laughable, made so in part because the camera is practically up the actor's nostrils. You know when you're focused on something other than the story and the action, something is wrong.

The cast deserved better.