It was interesting because of its complexity, covering issues of easement rights vs govt homesteading land, racism, cutthroat political ambition in a territorial setting with an eye toward statehood, the use of the law to degrade or lift up, and the possible loss of competence and courage with age. It takes place in both Medicine Bow and Washington, D.C., including exteriors of both and interiors of courtrooms in both. The 90 minute format enabled The Virginian to deal with more per episode than 60 minute shows.
I disagree with the previous reviewer who said the alcoholism wasn't explained. Manstead said he didn't suffer any of the usual losses that excused hitting the bottle and that was why he drank. He crawled into a bottle because he had become a coward, and it took a great effort to show him that he was more than he believed he was. This was a theme that was often used in Westerns with old sheriffs who had given in to fear. It was rarer to see it with a lawyer who couldn't handle the responsibility of his job.
"Something that is morally wrong can never be legally right." Good line, before the Supreme Court. Ah Sing never gave up so they fought the case to the highest court in the land. And the bigoted JP proved he wasn't evil so much as ignorant. He could be educated.
This took place in 1967 so the message would have meant something more to the audience then. Ah Sing's nonviolent protest would have seemed familiar to Americans from the Civil Rights struggle, not saccharine. He wasn't threatening but he wasn't giving up and he wasn't giving in.
I loved that the Chinese couple were not portrayed by people of European ancestry. Virginia Ann Lee was drop dead gorgeous. (I had to think that Elizabeth would soon have her walking beside her husband rather than behind him!)
I would have appreciated, though, not hearing Ah Sing talk like Charlie Chan. That lost it a star for me although I didn't take off a star for the idea that the bride was coming soon and we saw the changes of the seasons before she did, because soon is a flexible term. It lost another star because it tackled too many issues at once and fell short of adequately dealing with them all. I gave it eight stars because it tried.
Was the Virginian in this episode? I didn't see him. I thought he was in all of them.
I disagree with the previous reviewer who said the alcoholism wasn't explained. Manstead said he didn't suffer any of the usual losses that excused hitting the bottle and that was why he drank. He crawled into a bottle because he had become a coward, and it took a great effort to show him that he was more than he believed he was. This was a theme that was often used in Westerns with old sheriffs who had given in to fear. It was rarer to see it with a lawyer who couldn't handle the responsibility of his job.
"Something that is morally wrong can never be legally right." Good line, before the Supreme Court. Ah Sing never gave up so they fought the case to the highest court in the land. And the bigoted JP proved he wasn't evil so much as ignorant. He could be educated.
This took place in 1967 so the message would have meant something more to the audience then. Ah Sing's nonviolent protest would have seemed familiar to Americans from the Civil Rights struggle, not saccharine. He wasn't threatening but he wasn't giving up and he wasn't giving in.
I loved that the Chinese couple were not portrayed by people of European ancestry. Virginia Ann Lee was drop dead gorgeous. (I had to think that Elizabeth would soon have her walking beside her husband rather than behind him!)
I would have appreciated, though, not hearing Ah Sing talk like Charlie Chan. That lost it a star for me although I didn't take off a star for the idea that the bride was coming soon and we saw the changes of the seasons before she did, because soon is a flexible term. It lost another star because it tackled too many issues at once and fell short of adequately dealing with them all. I gave it eight stars because it tried.
Was the Virginian in this episode? I didn't see him. I thought he was in all of them.
