Chicken (5 Dec. 1964)

Mistakenly hailed as a hero who downed four robbers, a man rethinks his decision to let folks regard him as a gunfighter when protecting the woman he wants calls for a gunman's skill.

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writer:

John Meston

Stars:

James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Arness	...	Matt Dillon
Milburn Stone	...	Doc
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty
Burt Reynolds	...	Quint
Glenn Corbett	...	Dan
Gigi Perreau	...	Lucy
John Lupton	...	Carl
L.Q. Jones	...	Brady
Lane Chandler	...	Morgan
Dave Willock	...	Becker
Lane Bradford	...	Davis
Chubby Johnson	...	Rogers
Roy Barcroft	...	Roy
Michael Keep	...	Willis
John Pickard	...	Phelps

Storyline

Dan Collins finds himself in the middle of a stage holdup when he spends the night at a stage station. When he wakes after a night of drinking, he finds the bandits all dead. The folks on the stage are very happy and think he did the killing. He doesn't see any reason to make them think different.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 1964 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arness Production Company, CBS Television Network, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A strong script makes this an A+ show

I can not say enough about this episode. A well written piece of drama that is just as strong today as if it happened in Kansas in the 1870's. One of the better shows I have seen in a long time.

It begins when Dan Collins is cooking supper for himself and his partner. A man comes into camp and steals all the food. Dan does nothing but watch the guy eat. When his friend returns he is mad because Dan did not stand up to the food thief. But Dan is not that type of guy.

Dan then goes alone to a stagecoach rest area waiting for a stage to Dodge. While there he gets friendly with the person running the station and drinks with him. It just so happens that four bandits are ready to take the station and wait for the coach to arrive. But because of conflict between the four bandits - it ends up the the manager of the station and all four bandits killing each other because of the conflict. Dan was passed out inside the station and had nothing to do with the shooting. When the stagecoach arrives they believe Dan saved them from a terrible fate and raise him up as a hero.

When Dan arrives in Dodge word has already arrive about his heroic feat. Dan can do no wrong. But when he meets a young woman named Lucy it will prove too much for him. Dan really loves the woman and wants her to be his wife. But Lucy wants little to do with him mainly because a land baron is trying to run her and her brother off the land.

But soon Dan will get the chance to really be a hero. Plus. we the viewer, will know why Lucy was cold to Dan's advances. Both will not meet to the viewers satisfaction.

A great story with a great cast. I was literally moved by the episode. A great show that was a pleasure to watch.