Laramie: The Protectors (1960)
Season 1, Episode 27
8/10
Twist of infidelity
13 March 2017
In 1960 what was called adult westerns were starting to flood our three networks and certainly this Laramie story qualifies as one with some very adult themes. It's the cattlemen versus the homesteaders with a twist of infidelity.

Slim Sherman and Jess Harper go to William Phipps's homestead looking for their Guernsey milk cow. They run into Vince Edwards and his band of hooligans who 'protect' the homesteaders from the ranchers like Herbert Rudley who leads the group. But Rudley and Edwards have their own issues between them, Mari Aldon who is Rudley's wife who Edwards has been regularly nailing.

So when Rudley turns up dead as a result of Edwards killing him Aldon and Edwards look to blame this all on the homesteaders and rancher feud.

These two, Edwards and Aldon, truly deserve each other. In fact the only ones behaving with any kind of honor are Phipps and John Smith in this affair. Even Robert Fuller is close to giving way to some baser impulses. There's a great scene in a railroad car where Aldon tries to seduce Fuller.

This definitely is one of the best of the black and white Laramie episodes.
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