User Reviews

HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL "The Englishman" 1957

HAVE GUN – WILL TRAVEL was a Western series that ran on television between 1957 and 1963. The series was very popular and was always in the top ten of the television ratings. The series ran for a total of 225 episodes. Richard Boone headlines as "Paladin", a gun for hire, if the cause is right. Working out of San Francisco, Boone places ads in newspapers offering his services. $1,000 and he is your man. While handy with a gun or fists, he tries to settle the problem without violence. (Not very successfully as a general rule)

In this episode, the 13th the series, Boone meets Englishman, Tom Hellmore in San Francisco. Helmore is on his way to see the Montana ranch he inherited. Helmore has no idea of the vast distance it is to Montana. He seems to think it is just a brisk morning's ride away. Boone sets the man straight and is hired to escort Helmore to the ranch. Running the ranch at the moment is an American cousin, the drop dead gorgeous, Alix Talton.

Several weeks later Boone and Helmore arrive at the town where the ranch is. The local shopkeeper, Murvyn Vye decides to have a joke at the new "dude" in town. He hires the chief of the local tame Indians, Ted de Corsia to take some of his men and fake an Indian attack on the ranch.

Needless to say Helmore grabs a handy rifle and fires before Boone can stop him. Chief de Corsia collects a round in his shoulder. The Indians are not happy about this as they had been told it was all a joke. The braves haul their chief back to camp for some repair work.

It dawns on Helmore that perhaps he is not cut out for life in the wild-west. He wants Boone to take him back to San Francisco. Back in town there is trouble a brewing though. The Indians have been given a keg of whiskey by idiot shopkeeper, Vye.

The next day, Boone, Helmore and his cousin, Talton hit the small burg. To say the natives are restless would be an understatement. They want blood, Helmore's blood to be exact. Helmore walks up to the bandaged de Corcia and tells him he is sorry. The chief has several of his braves ride up on Helmore and knock him to the ground. Helmore gets up each time and stands his ground.

Boone now steps up and tells de Corcia that Helmore has shown how brave he is. He then arranges a trade between the two men. Helmore gets some plain western clothes and de Corsia gets Helmore fancy dude outfit. Everyone is happy and problem solved. Helmore's cousin Talton now talks the man into staying and helping on the ranch.

This one is played for laughs for the most part and is entertaining enough.

Miss Talton was a former Miss Atlanta. She had a decent Hollywood career playing eye candy in various films and television series.

Paladin meets British James Brunswick (Tom Hellmore) at his hotel in San Francisco and offers to provide him safe escort to the ranch he's inherited in Montana. There Brunswick becomes the target of a series of dumb practical jokes by the local shopkeeper N.G. (Murvyn Vye) that almost leads to the outbreak of an Indian war.

There's a lot of comic touches in this "fish out of water" episode, but it turns serious when Brunswick stands up to Indian Chief Blackfoot Harry (Ted de Corsia) and proves his bravery. Paladin seems to like Brunswick a good deal and is amused by his naivety. There's a great moment when Brunswick arrives in town looking like he just got off the set of "Gunga Din" or "Lives of the Bengal Lancers" rather than a western. Hellmore is very good at the role, as is former Miss Georgia Alix Talton, who plays Felicia, Brunswick's cousin and co-owner of the ranch.

But despite all the chemistry, the script fails them. N.G. is written a little to over the top (and performed that way) and his idea of a practical joke with the Indians faking being on the warpath is not very funny at all. The scene where Brunswick does stand up to the chief is a good one however.

Apparently this episode was a little short on time, because just when you think its over there's an additional pointless scene back in San Francisco that adds nothing to the story as Paladin gloms on to the latest attractive woman at the hotel. Also, when Harry is shot, paladin mentions the wound is "high in the chest". But when we see him later, Harry has his ARM in a sling, implying he was hit in the arm.

Too many stereotypes to count in this one. The skin lodges in the town, the 'firewater' the giant feather war bonnet would never be worn on a fake raid, the Englishman wearing shorts in Montana, a woman running a ranch alone who can't wait for a man to arrive and take everything over, it goes on. The war dance around the keg was over the top, and wasn't it illegal to give whiskey to Indians? Absent the stereotypes the episode could have been enjoyable.

A practical joker plays 'jokes' that are more cruel than amusing. Alix Talton (Felicia Carson) was a former Miss Georgia, but she lacks any sort of southern accent. She sounds more Midwestern twangy. Paladin's relationship with the English gentleman is the most interesting bit of this one.

Paladin's Horse: Einstein. (Bay with front white stockings and a white face stripe.)

Paladin's Gear: Black Conchita hat, black Western shirt open at the neck, black trousers, black holster with Colt. The spurs are back in this episode.

Paladin Shoots: No one.

Deaths: 0

Paladin's Total Kills: Manfred Holt, Jailbreak Team 3, Miguel Rojas, Strome's lackey, Mulrooney

Total Kills by Paladin: 7