"Nevada, Septemer 5, 1886: wild horses, wild men, wild times.....from the history of the west, and the life of Bat Masterson, the man who became a legend in his own time."
So starts another episode in another of those great television westerns that ran in the late 1950s. Gene Barry starred in this show which ran for three seasons. This was my first look at the show in nearly 50 years. This episode was part of the "TV Guide Presents Classic Westerns" in which eight shows from eight different programs are presented.
I found this particular episode to be interesting, well-filmed and pretty intense as Bat tries to save a man from a lynching party, led by "Clark Benson" (William Conrad). Conrad, who was a tough guy in some film noirs like "The Killers," "Body And Soul" and "Cry Danger," makes his television debut as a dramatic actor in this episode. He went on to become quite a TV star and oddly known as the narrator in the extremely successful show, "The Fugitive."
Especially wanting the man to be rescued is his fiancée, an old girlfriend of Masterson: a very sultry, beautiful Joan Marshall playing "Laura Hopkins." Her boyfriend, "Joe Best," is played by a guy whose name you might not recognize but whose face and voice you will: James Best.
Barry played a different kind of hero, dressed in derby hat and with cane - suave, debonair (like "Paladin" of "Have Gun, Will Travel") but a tough guy who takes no bull from anyone.....and I always did like that theme song!
So starts another episode in another of those great television westerns that ran in the late 1950s. Gene Barry starred in this show which ran for three seasons. This was my first look at the show in nearly 50 years. This episode was part of the "TV Guide Presents Classic Westerns" in which eight shows from eight different programs are presented.
I found this particular episode to be interesting, well-filmed and pretty intense as Bat tries to save a man from a lynching party, led by "Clark Benson" (William Conrad). Conrad, who was a tough guy in some film noirs like "The Killers," "Body And Soul" and "Cry Danger," makes his television debut as a dramatic actor in this episode. He went on to become quite a TV star and oddly known as the narrator in the extremely successful show, "The Fugitive."
Especially wanting the man to be rescued is his fiancée, an old girlfriend of Masterson: a very sultry, beautiful Joan Marshall playing "Laura Hopkins." Her boyfriend, "Joe Best," is played by a guy whose name you might not recognize but whose face and voice you will: James Best.
Barry played a different kind of hero, dressed in derby hat and with cane - suave, debonair (like "Paladin" of "Have Gun, Will Travel") but a tough guy who takes no bull from anyone.....and I always did like that theme song!
