A mystery element drives this old time Western, with Sterling Hayden front and center as the Iron Sheriff of the title. His son's (Darryl Hickman) been accused of murdering a stage coach driver who was robbed of newly minted 1891 silver dollar coins. What bothered me a little about the set up was how little faith the town had in their long time lawman to do the right thing, even if it was his son waiting for trial and possibly facing a hangman's noose. You would think the citizens would cut him a break and let him go about investigating the case in an honorable way.
The surprising thing about the story was how each new revelation about the robbery and murder led to yet another fact that kept tripping up an open and shut case. John Dehner did a pretty credible job as the defense attorney for young Bengie Galt (Hickman), and would have won the case early if the sheriff hadn't toughed it out with his honesty and dedication to the badge. Which made it seem out of character for him to go off in search of the real killer (O.J., take note), so hell bent for leather that he would gun the man down without giving him a chance. I had a pretty good idea Sam would do the right thing in the end, but gee, did he really have to pistol whip and hogtie the Marshal (Walter Sande)?
I'm still thinking about that silver dollar and how it made it's way to Bengie, but that's not the biggest question mark of the story. What do you suppose ever happened with Jackson Gallagher (Peter Miller), the guy who robbed Chinaman Charley Key (Sammee Tong)? Seems like he got away scott-free!
The surprising thing about the story was how each new revelation about the robbery and murder led to yet another fact that kept tripping up an open and shut case. John Dehner did a pretty credible job as the defense attorney for young Bengie Galt (Hickman), and would have won the case early if the sheriff hadn't toughed it out with his honesty and dedication to the badge. Which made it seem out of character for him to go off in search of the real killer (O.J., take note), so hell bent for leather that he would gun the man down without giving him a chance. I had a pretty good idea Sam would do the right thing in the end, but gee, did he really have to pistol whip and hogtie the Marshal (Walter Sande)?
I'm still thinking about that silver dollar and how it made it's way to Bengie, but that's not the biggest question mark of the story. What do you suppose ever happened with Jackson Gallagher (Peter Miller), the guy who robbed Chinaman Charley Key (Sammee Tong)? Seems like he got away scott-free!