The Teacher (15 Mar. 1958)

Questions of revising the Civil War put a schoolteacher in gunsights until Paladin decides to make a stand, urging those who may find the truth she teaches painful to do the same.

Director:

Lamont Johnson

Writers:

Sam Rolfe, Herb Meadow (creator),

Stars:

Richard Boone, Marian Seldes, Andrew Duggan

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Richard Boone	...	Paladin
Marian Seldes	...	Mollie Stanton
Andrew Duggan	...	Daniel Weaver
Jack Albertson	...	Jason Coldwell
Don Kelly	...	Coley
Jimmy Baird	...	Morse Weaver
Lana Wood	...	Becky Coldwell
Carl Bensen	...	Jackson Breck
Peter Breck	...	Frank Weaver
Jack Hogan	...	Joel Weaver

Storyline

Questions of revising the Civil War put a schoolteacher in gunsights until Paladin decides to make a stand, urging those who may find the truth she teaches painful to do the same.

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Plot Keywords:

schoolteacher | one room schoolhouse | fistfight | general store

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1958 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Filmaster Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

26 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Paladin: Without teachers, every generation would have to start by discovering fire and inventing the wheel.

User Reviews

"High Noon" in the School Yard

While eavesdropping, Paladin decides to defend embattled town teacher (Seldes). She's offended some folks by teaching history as it is and not as they would like it to be. Now they want to run her out of town, and Paladin needs help from the uncommitted town folk. But, like Gary Cooper in High Noon (1952), will he get it.

Episode benefits greatly from the uncompromising presence of that fine actress Marian Seldes. Her teacher is neither pretty, nor particularly likable—a noticeable departure from the usual. She is, however, an admirable pillar of intellectual honesty, thus commanding the appreciative Paladin's respect.

Several points in passing. Notice how the screenplay attempts to balance any possible insult to the Confederate south with the gallantry of the ex-Confederate Weaver family. TV scripts were especially sensitive to such offending possibilities since the sponsor's product is linked to the story.

The believability of the climax is unfortunately undercut by actor Bensen's noticeable lack of meanness or spirit. After all, his Jackson Breck is supposed to be an intimidating figure, but instead comes across as much too bland to either heighten suspense or be convincing.

Also, Paladin makes a strong point by equating truths of history (Quantrill's raiders) with truths of mathematics (2+2=4). But the analogy should not be pressed. After all, the truths of math are much less subject to revision than are the "truths" of history, which is one reason the former is counted as a science, while the latter is not.