Cage at McNaab (16 Feb. 1963)

Paladin is asked by the wife of a man who is condemned to die to visit him in prison and see if new evidence can be found to clear her husband. Not sure if he wants the job, Paladin agrees ... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Nelson

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry, Herb Meadow (creator),

Stars:

Richard Boone, Lon Chaney Jr., Jacqueline Scott

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Richard Boone	...	Paladin
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	O'Connor - Convict (as Lon Chaney)
Jacqueline Scott	...	Nora Larson
Christopher Dark	...	Brian Larson
Ford Rainey	...	Warden
George Keymas	...	First Guard
John Harmon	...	Trowbridge - Night Guard
David Fresco	...	Jose - Dog Handler
Joe Yrigoyen	...	Second Guard

Storyline

Paladin is asked by the wife of a man who is condemned to die to visit him in prison and see if new evidence can be found to clear her husband. Not sure if he wants the job, Paladin agrees to the visit and it leads to quite an unexpected result. Paladin literally finds he now walks in another man's footsteps.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Offbeat

I certainly didn't see the central twist coming in this imaginative Gene Roddenberry screenplay. After five years of relentless script demands, I'm surprised production was able to come up with an offbeat premise. The way the story is filmed and the way events conspire against our erstwhile Paladin suggest a frontier film noir, of all things.

Lon Caney's role is a brief, odd one and may have been a favor to a veteran actor then on the alcoholic downgrade. He was always good at projecting pathos despite the bulk, which he does here in a sympathetic role. Too bad about the ending, at least in my view. Developments seem hurried and not very convincing, as if production had to do a quick wrap-up. Nonetheless, the half-hour is occasionally riveting and certainly worth catching up with.