Is it just me, or did anyone else have trouble following the convoluted relationship between Ned Britt (Randolph Scott) and Blair Lunsford (David Brian)? It didn't help when former Britt gal pal Amy Brooks (Helena Carter) showed up to throw a little gasoline on the fire at the Lunsford Ranch when she arrived for dinner with Britt. After that she wasn't even a factor in the story, so what gives with her showing up at all, other than to throw another monkey wrench into the works.
As the story progresses, former gunslinger Britt intends to persuade his fellow citizens that the printing press is a thousand times more potent than gunpowder for settling disagreements and ridding the territory of thugs like the Clevenger (Ray Real) gang. I've seen Teal on both sides of the law in these old time Westerns, but it's still unusual to catch him in the role of a heel after all those Bonanza episodes in which he appeared as Sheriff Roy Coffee. It's akin to Paul Fix playing an outlaw before and after portraying Marshal Micah Torrance in the 'Rifleman' series.
Even though Lunsford seems to be an on and off good guy/bad guy, it was still interesting to see him and Britt perform that gun flip distraction to the disadvantage of the Clevenger bunch. I don't think I'm buying that something like that could be pulled off for real, but it looked pretty cool in the execution. Seems like Lunsford pulled Britt's fat out of the fire more than enough times for Britt to come around.
The topper for me was how quickly Miss Flora Talbot got over her romance with Lunsford when all was said and done. You would think there would have been a bit more angst over his demise, especially after she admitted shooting him, although that scene was cast in doubt with the appearance of Clevenger. Still and all, the new sheriff didn't waste any time making his mark in Fort Worth, finding just enough spare moments to welcome a new Toby on the way for Mrs. Britt to close out the story.
As the story progresses, former gunslinger Britt intends to persuade his fellow citizens that the printing press is a thousand times more potent than gunpowder for settling disagreements and ridding the territory of thugs like the Clevenger (Ray Real) gang. I've seen Teal on both sides of the law in these old time Westerns, but it's still unusual to catch him in the role of a heel after all those Bonanza episodes in which he appeared as Sheriff Roy Coffee. It's akin to Paul Fix playing an outlaw before and after portraying Marshal Micah Torrance in the 'Rifleman' series.
Even though Lunsford seems to be an on and off good guy/bad guy, it was still interesting to see him and Britt perform that gun flip distraction to the disadvantage of the Clevenger bunch. I don't think I'm buying that something like that could be pulled off for real, but it looked pretty cool in the execution. Seems like Lunsford pulled Britt's fat out of the fire more than enough times for Britt to come around.
The topper for me was how quickly Miss Flora Talbot got over her romance with Lunsford when all was said and done. You would think there would have been a bit more angst over his demise, especially after she admitted shooting him, although that scene was cast in doubt with the appearance of Clevenger. Still and all, the new sheriff didn't waste any time making his mark in Fort Worth, finding just enough spare moments to welcome a new Toby on the way for Mrs. Britt to close out the story.