The Hanging of Roy Carter (4 Oct. 1958)

Paladin doubts his unlikely task of delaying a state execution until new evidence can be presented can be accomplished without assistance that is not being offered.

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry, Herb Meadow (creator),

Stars:

Richard Boone, John Larch, Robert Armstrong

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Richard Boone	...	Paladin
John Larch	...	Chaplain Robert April
Robert Armstrong	...	Sidney Carter
Scott Marlowe	...	Roy Carter
Paul Birch	...	Warden Bullock
Francis McDonald	...	Jesse (as Francis J. McDonald)
Barry Russo	...	Keno Smith (as John Duke)
Michael Hinn	...	Marshal
K.L. Smith	...	1st Guard
Edward Faulkner	...	2nd Guard (as Ed Faulkner)
Rusty Wescoatt	...	3rd Guard (as Rusty Westcoatt)

Storyline

Paladin doubts his unlikely task of delaying a state execution until new evidence can be presented can be accomplished without assistance that is not being offered.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1958 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmaster Productions, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

26 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Good Premise Loses its Nerve

Paladin is hired by a tyrannical father (Armstrong) to save his innocent son (Marlowe) from hanging at the state prison. But Warden Bullock (Birch) is bent on the execution since it was his son who was murdered.

The premise poses all sorts of dramatic possibilities, but the opportunities are mostly squandered by clumsy direction (the escape from the gallows), an overly pat ending, and cheaper sets than usual. What appears a gutsy screenplay challenging TV conventions of the time (an unjust execution, a chicken-hearted chaplain), unfortunately loses its nerve in several highly contrived scenes. Too bad that the good dramatic set-ups weren't handled more imaginatively. Then a really memorable entry would have resulted instead of this missed opportunity.