"The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters" (1963) TV series 1963-1964

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 September 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot Keywords:

Wagon Train | Father Son Relationship | Pulitzer Prize Source | Cult Western | Based On Novel

Cast

Dan O'Herlihy	...	'Doc' Sardius McPheeters (26 episodes, 1963-1964)
Kurt Russell	...	Jamie McPheeters (26 episodes, 1963-1964)
Charles Bronson	...	Linc Murdock (23 episodes, 1963-1964)
James Westerfield	...	John Murrel (20 episodes, 1963-1964)
Sandy Kenyon	...	Shep Baggott (20 episodes, 1963-1964)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

MGM Television

Movie Connections:

Edited into Guns of Diablo (1964)

Well-made western series

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters was based on the book by Robert Lewis Taylor about a wagon train headed to California to find gold and all the problems they run into along the way. Where else could you find a TV show with Charles Bronson, Kurt Russell and the Osmonds? The stories in this rare, obscure show were surprisingly serious and often very violent. Kurt Russell proved his acting ability at a very young age. Many of the episodes revolved around Jaimie wandering off from the wagon train and getting kidnapped by highwaymen or Indians. Bronson's role was wagon master. Michael Witney was the main wagon master Coulter when the show started but then, Bronson started appearing as the wagon master sporadically with no explanation as to what happened to Coulter. I wonder if his absences from some episodes were strictly to make room for Bronson? This series was last aired on TNT in the 80s and I have the tapes of all 26 episodes from that airing. I've watched them several times and have noted some bloopers in the message forum.