She's as far from a lady who lunches in this episode of "Wagon Train" as one can possibly be, and for the future legendary star of Broadway, her appearance on this Western Anthology show is a delightful surprise. In this episode, she's out to find a man whom she tells her wagon driver Elisha Cook Jr. Has something that belongs to her. That something happens to be a 12 year old boy, her son who was taken away from her when he was born when she was sent to prison for allegedly killing her husband, his father. Now the boy has been raised by the grandfather, Carl Benton Reid, and believes him to be his real father. Stritch doesn't say it in so many words, but Cook believes that she wants him to kill Reid.
The very sweet Eugene Mazzola is touching as the young boy, and Reid is a sour influence, confronting Stritch and questioning her over her motives and seemingly suspicious that she may be Mazzola's mother. Stritch gives a direct no nonsense performance, completely subtle and not at all filled with anything theatrical outside of the necessary drama. That occurs when she breaks down and tells Mazzola the truth, and it's up to wagon train leader Robert Horton to intervene. There's a few logical problems with certain plot developments, but those are minor, making this a good episode with Stritch very good. But then, when was she ever bad?
The very sweet Eugene Mazzola is touching as the young boy, and Reid is a sour influence, confronting Stritch and questioning her over her motives and seemingly suspicious that she may be Mazzola's mother. Stritch gives a direct no nonsense performance, completely subtle and not at all filled with anything theatrical outside of the necessary drama. That occurs when she breaks down and tells Mazzola the truth, and it's up to wagon train leader Robert Horton to intervene. There's a few logical problems with certain plot developments, but those are minor, making this a good episode with Stritch very good. But then, when was she ever bad?
