Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) A Thread of Respect (1959) User Reviews

James Coburn already a knife thrower...

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8/10 · 24 October 2018]

The main thing I noticed in this episode is the opening scene, where Jim Coburn 's character thows a knife againt a wall to impress a tenderfoot and his son. Doesn't that sound familiar to you? It does to me. I don't know if John Sturges saw this episode before preparing his MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, but I am sure he did. I don't think about a coincidence. Besides this, the episode is not bad at all, exploring psychology and human behaviour matter. The father son relationship is much interesting, the Young man accusing his old man to be a coward. That's what I like in many Zane Grey Theatre series: psychological topics.

Stellar cast of TV and Movie Greats

[FloridaFred · 10/10 · 24 March 2020]

The story is good... immigrants vs. bullying trail drivers. But it's the cast that makes this show so enjoyable. Denver Pyle ("Uncle Jesse" from "The Dukes of Hazzard") is the local attorney who rents a shop to newly arrived tailor Gino Pelleti (played by Danny Thomas), and his son George Pelleti (played by Nick Adams; "The Rebel"). James Coburn ("The Magnificent Seven", "The Great Escape") is perfectly cast as Jess Newton, a trail driver who holds a personal grudge against Italian immigrants. George Pelleti (actor Adams) is the coming-of-age immigrant son who is torn between loyalty to his father, and trying to fit in with the local crowd. Gino Pelleti (actor Thomas) doesn't want to stand up to the bullying, but he also doesn't want to look like a coward in the eyes of his son. Fistfights, vandalism, rough-housing on horseback, and gun play provide plenty of action. And what James Coburn role would be complete without knife-throwing? I rate "A Thread of Respect" 10 stars.

stinks to heaven

[sandcrab277 · 4/10 · 15 December 2020]

Danny thomas stinks up the screen with a very badly done italian accent and denver steaming pyle of crap is there to egg him on .. james coburn plays the antagonist with two of his saddle tramp buddies try to bully the new tailor and his son played by nick adams ... just the kind of rot you get to see often on zane grey theater productions

A Thread of Respect

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 10 January 2023]

James Coburn plays Jess Newton, a knife throwing bully who hates foreigners.

It just so happens that Gino Pelleti (Danny Thomas) and his son George (Nick Adams) are Italian immigrants who arrived to this small frontier town from California.

They plan to open a tailor's shop but Jess Newton and his cronies plan to drive them out. The Pelleti's are mocked and made fun off. Their shop is ransacked.

Gino wants to turn the other cheek. He does not want to get into a scrap but George does. Jess decides to take George out for a drink for standing up to him. The implication being that he will later get revenge on him.

Gino challenges Jess to a duel as he does not want his son hanging around with Jess. It will lead to more trouble.

Jess wants to get into a gunfight with Gino but the wily old tailor has his own weapons to draw on.

It seemed the story was George would get stitched up by Jess and his gang. So it was a surprise that did not happen. It would have been a better motivation for Gino to challenge Jess.