A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH – "Town on Fire" – 1965 - This is episode 8 of the 1965-66 western series, A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH. Robert Horton is a man with amnesia who wanders the west looking for clues to his identity.
Horton has been working for banker Simon Scott in a small south western U.S. town. Scott is the local big wig and more or less runs the town. His daughter, Elinor Donahue, has taken a shine to Horton. She is trying to get Horton to stay on and give up his quest for his identity.
The next day a man rides into town and posts a note on the post outside the Sheriff's office. A just out of prison gunman, Don Megowan, intends to ride into town and burn it to the ground. Megowan is less than amused that Scott had gotten him sentenced to 10 years in prison on a murder beef. He intends to get even.
Later that afternoon, Megowan and his gang ride into town and toss a bundle of dynamite through the front window of Scott's bank. Scott is killed and daughter Donahue seriously injured.
The townsfolk all start packing and rapidly leave town. They all remember Megowan as a crazy man. Even the Sheriff, Warren Kemmerling packs his bags for a speedy exit. The only men still in town are Horton, and the town doc, Henry Jones. Jones is busy caring for the badly hurt Donahue.
Horton grabs all the shotguns and rifles from the Sheriff's office. He places them at various locations around the street. He then picks a spot to wait for Megowan and his men to return.
When they do, Horton manages to bushwhack the gang and narrow the odds. The rather surprised gang, ride out of town to regroup. They then charge back in. Horton bags a couple more of the gang while Jones joins in, and blows one of the bunch out of his saddle with a scattergun. Megowan rides at Horton but Horton gets the best of him as well. The gang is no more.
The town's people sheepishly return and Donahue slowly starts to recover from her injuries. Horton tells her it is time for him to move on. He needs to know who he really is.
The director was veteran television and b-film man, Nathan Juran. His film work includes the westerns, LAW AND ORDER, TUMBLEWEED, DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER and GOOD DAY FOR A HANGING. He is probably best know for his 50's sci-fi low renters, THE DEADLY MANTIS, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH, THE BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS and ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN.
(b/w)
Horton has been working for banker Simon Scott in a small south western U.S. town. Scott is the local big wig and more or less runs the town. His daughter, Elinor Donahue, has taken a shine to Horton. She is trying to get Horton to stay on and give up his quest for his identity.
The next day a man rides into town and posts a note on the post outside the Sheriff's office. A just out of prison gunman, Don Megowan, intends to ride into town and burn it to the ground. Megowan is less than amused that Scott had gotten him sentenced to 10 years in prison on a murder beef. He intends to get even.
Later that afternoon, Megowan and his gang ride into town and toss a bundle of dynamite through the front window of Scott's bank. Scott is killed and daughter Donahue seriously injured.
The townsfolk all start packing and rapidly leave town. They all remember Megowan as a crazy man. Even the Sheriff, Warren Kemmerling packs his bags for a speedy exit. The only men still in town are Horton, and the town doc, Henry Jones. Jones is busy caring for the badly hurt Donahue.
Horton grabs all the shotguns and rifles from the Sheriff's office. He places them at various locations around the street. He then picks a spot to wait for Megowan and his men to return.
When they do, Horton manages to bushwhack the gang and narrow the odds. The rather surprised gang, ride out of town to regroup. They then charge back in. Horton bags a couple more of the gang while Jones joins in, and blows one of the bunch out of his saddle with a scattergun. Megowan rides at Horton but Horton gets the best of him as well. The gang is no more.
The town's people sheepishly return and Donahue slowly starts to recover from her injuries. Horton tells her it is time for him to move on. He needs to know who he really is.
The director was veteran television and b-film man, Nathan Juran. His film work includes the westerns, LAW AND ORDER, TUMBLEWEED, DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER and GOOD DAY FOR A HANGING. He is probably best know for his 50's sci-fi low renters, THE DEADLY MANTIS, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH, THE BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS and ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN.
(b/w)
