THE WESTERNER "Jeff" 1960
This is the first episode of the short run western series, THE WESTERNER. The series starred Brian Keith as a wandering cow-hand travelling the southwest United States. Of note here is the creator and producer, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course known as the writer and director of, THE WILD BUNCH. This series only ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 1960.
Keith has heard word that a girl he knew from before has fallen on hard times. She is now a "working girl" in a dump of a bar in an equally bad dump of a small town. The woman, Diana Millay, is kept by her "manager" ex-boxer, Geoffrey Toone.
Keith offers to take her away from the life she now has. Of course this does not come off as Keith has planned. He is forced to kill one of Toone's man, Charles Horvath. Then there is a brisk knock down and drag out bout of flying fists required.
Millay, who at first agrees to being rescued, then changes her mind and tells Keith she is staying with Toone. Keith is somewhat at a loss as to her decision, he just shakes his head and wanders off into the night.
This is much better than I am making it sound like. More or less shot on a single set, it just drips with atmosphere. There is not a wasted bit of film here. Then again, it was directed by Sam Peckinpah. Handling the cinematography is the great, Lucien Ballard. Ballard and Peckinpah would work together on, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, STRAW DOGS, JUNIOR BONNER, THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOUGE and of course, THE WILD BUNCH.
Peckinpah, as well as creating the series, wrote, produced and directed this particular episode. Look close, and you will spot soon to be Peckinpah regular, Warren Oates in a 30 second bit as a drunk.
This is the first episode of the short run western series, THE WESTERNER. The series starred Brian Keith as a wandering cow-hand travelling the southwest United States. Of note here is the creator and producer, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course known as the writer and director of, THE WILD BUNCH. This series only ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 1960.
Keith has heard word that a girl he knew from before has fallen on hard times. She is now a "working girl" in a dump of a bar in an equally bad dump of a small town. The woman, Diana Millay, is kept by her "manager" ex-boxer, Geoffrey Toone.
Keith offers to take her away from the life she now has. Of course this does not come off as Keith has planned. He is forced to kill one of Toone's man, Charles Horvath. Then there is a brisk knock down and drag out bout of flying fists required.
Millay, who at first agrees to being rescued, then changes her mind and tells Keith she is staying with Toone. Keith is somewhat at a loss as to her decision, he just shakes his head and wanders off into the night.
This is much better than I am making it sound like. More or less shot on a single set, it just drips with atmosphere. There is not a wasted bit of film here. Then again, it was directed by Sam Peckinpah. Handling the cinematography is the great, Lucien Ballard. Ballard and Peckinpah would work together on, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, STRAW DOGS, JUNIOR BONNER, THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOUGE and of course, THE WILD BUNCH.
Peckinpah, as well as creating the series, wrote, produced and directed this particular episode. Look close, and you will spot soon to be Peckinpah regular, Warren Oates in a 30 second bit as a drunk.
