THE WESTERNER – "Line Camp" – 1960
This is episode 10 of the short run western series, THE WESTERNER, with Brian Keith starring. Keith plays a wandering cow-hand travelling throughout the southwest United States. Of note here is the creator and producer, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course known as the writer and director of, THE WILD BUNCH. This series only ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 1960.
Down on his luck cowboy, Brian Keith and his dog are crossing northern Texas. It is winter, and the snow is getting thick when Keith's dog finds the body of a dead cowpoke. It seems the man was thrown from his horse which is standing nearby. Keith loads the body on the horse and then back tracks the trail.
He soon comes up of a group of cowpokes running a herd to feed. The dead man turns out to have be a member of their group. The boss, Karl Swenson, hires Keith to replace the dead man. "$25 a month, and your keep." Swenson offers. Keith, who has not eaten in several days, accepts.
He follows the group to their line cabin where the cowpokes shelter from the cold and snow. The crew includes, Hari Rhodes, Slim Pickens and Robert Culp. Line boss Swenson tells Keith the rules are simple, no drinking and no gambling. Tempers are a bit frayed over the weather and the death of the other cowhand. A fight starts between Keith and the cook, Slim Pickens. That is soon settled and Swenson has the pair clean up the mess.
Swenson heads off for a meeting with one of his bosses at the next line camp. A couple of hunters, Hank Patterson and Jimmy Lee Cook ride up to the cabin. They have been out looking for deer without any success. They need some grub and are willing to trade a jug of rotgut whiskey. Needless to say the trade is made and all get drunk as a skunk.
When Swenson returns, he fires Keith and Culp for being drunk. They are to clear out the next morning. In the morning the still drunk Culp, misunderstands a comment from Keith. Culp then tries to force the reluctant Keith into a gun fight. Keith refuses to bite at Culp's prodding. That is till Culp draws and fires, pinking Keith in the leg. Keith returns fire and the argument is soon finished. Keith mounts up and rides off followed by his dog.
This is a very well put together episode with, Tom Gries, writing as well as directing. Gries lifted quite a few bits from this episode and used them in his big screen western, WILL PENNY. Gries started out in television before making a switch to the big screen. His western film work, includes, 100 RIFLES and BREAKHEART PASS.
The episode was lensed by master cinematographer, Lucien Ballard. The one time Oscar nominated Ballard's films include the film noir, THE LODGER, THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL, DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK, INFERNO, THE KILLER IS LOOSE, THE KILLING, A KISS BEFORE DYING, CITY OF FEAR and MURDER BY CONTRACT. His western films include. BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE,WHITE FEATHER, THE PROUD ONES, THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, NEVADA SMITH, WILL PENNY, TRUE GRIT and THE WILD BUNCH.
This was my first glimpse of this series and it was very positive. Too bad it only lasted the 13 episode.
This is episode 10 of the short run western series, THE WESTERNER, with Brian Keith starring. Keith plays a wandering cow-hand travelling throughout the southwest United States. Of note here is the creator and producer, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course known as the writer and director of, THE WILD BUNCH. This series only ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 1960.
Down on his luck cowboy, Brian Keith and his dog are crossing northern Texas. It is winter, and the snow is getting thick when Keith's dog finds the body of a dead cowpoke. It seems the man was thrown from his horse which is standing nearby. Keith loads the body on the horse and then back tracks the trail.
He soon comes up of a group of cowpokes running a herd to feed. The dead man turns out to have be a member of their group. The boss, Karl Swenson, hires Keith to replace the dead man. "$25 a month, and your keep." Swenson offers. Keith, who has not eaten in several days, accepts.
He follows the group to their line cabin where the cowpokes shelter from the cold and snow. The crew includes, Hari Rhodes, Slim Pickens and Robert Culp. Line boss Swenson tells Keith the rules are simple, no drinking and no gambling. Tempers are a bit frayed over the weather and the death of the other cowhand. A fight starts between Keith and the cook, Slim Pickens. That is soon settled and Swenson has the pair clean up the mess.
Swenson heads off for a meeting with one of his bosses at the next line camp. A couple of hunters, Hank Patterson and Jimmy Lee Cook ride up to the cabin. They have been out looking for deer without any success. They need some grub and are willing to trade a jug of rotgut whiskey. Needless to say the trade is made and all get drunk as a skunk.
When Swenson returns, he fires Keith and Culp for being drunk. They are to clear out the next morning. In the morning the still drunk Culp, misunderstands a comment from Keith. Culp then tries to force the reluctant Keith into a gun fight. Keith refuses to bite at Culp's prodding. That is till Culp draws and fires, pinking Keith in the leg. Keith returns fire and the argument is soon finished. Keith mounts up and rides off followed by his dog.
This is a very well put together episode with, Tom Gries, writing as well as directing. Gries lifted quite a few bits from this episode and used them in his big screen western, WILL PENNY. Gries started out in television before making a switch to the big screen. His western film work, includes, 100 RIFLES and BREAKHEART PASS.
The episode was lensed by master cinematographer, Lucien Ballard. The one time Oscar nominated Ballard's films include the film noir, THE LODGER, THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL, DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK, INFERNO, THE KILLER IS LOOSE, THE KILLING, A KISS BEFORE DYING, CITY OF FEAR and MURDER BY CONTRACT. His western films include. BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE,WHITE FEATHER, THE PROUD ONES, THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS, RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, NEVADA SMITH, WILL PENNY, TRUE GRIT and THE WILD BUNCH.
This was my first glimpse of this series and it was very positive. Too bad it only lasted the 13 episode.
