EVERYTHING works brilliantly in this show. I can't say enough about Eileen Heckart's performance, which pulls you in from her very first line. And Clifton James is remarkably restrained and focused, in a role that could have easily fallen into caricature (think Jacques Aubuchon in "Bank Baby"; no...then again, I'd rather not). No surprise that James graduated from the Actor's Studio, so subtle and real is his performance.
The direction and camera work are also flawless; you REALLY get a sense of the essence of each character and what makes them "tick". Almost every shot is beautifully composed, with texture, depth and lighting all serving to enhance the interplay of the characters. Check the staging, camera, and editing in the Long Branch sequence where Clifton James gets decked by R. G. Armstrong; or Katherine Ross on the hotel balcony with James below reading his newspaper totally surrounded by darkness. I'm tellin' ya, this show is superb in every way, worthy of the best feature film-making.
VERY strong script, too, with a number of unexpected twists..but very well plotted and laid out. Yes, you might ask why Steve Forrest and Katherine Ross (in a very HOT scene for the time) didn't just up-and-leave for San Francisco together and avoid the confrontation..but then, there was the matter of $500 which Steve stood to earn.
The building of intensity near the end.....as the imposing Steve Forrest begins to ride out of town, is MASTERFUL in its writing, direction, and camera work. Festus' unexpected intervention leading to the big fistfight is so damn' cool, as is the performance of RG Armstrong, who I was glad to see in such a prominent role; he was one of the true greats.
Then there's the final twist. After so much tension, as we all "pull for" RG and Eileen to make it through their ordeal alive, I let out a big, hearty laugh at the final shot. Now THAT was the perfect way to tie it all together!
Also, the library music cues were very well chosen and expertly matched to the action.
One of the absolute best, a real treasure. I'd rate it alongside Season 7's "Long, Long Trail" and "Apprentice Doc", which is the highest praise I can give it (well..not really; I doubt that "The Gallows" will ever be topped). LR.
PS-- Katherine Ross' "60's Babe" make-up was only moderately annoying. Also, the script, being tightly written and complex, does NOT need any padding with "comic relief" scenes between Festus and Doc. In fact, this is probably Doc Adam's shortest-ever appearance; a silent, background shot in his office. (Note: Hank Patterson is listed in the credits, but doesn't appear onscreen, and Glenn Strange is only glimpsed briefly in the distance, but is still credited).
The direction and camera work are also flawless; you REALLY get a sense of the essence of each character and what makes them "tick". Almost every shot is beautifully composed, with texture, depth and lighting all serving to enhance the interplay of the characters. Check the staging, camera, and editing in the Long Branch sequence where Clifton James gets decked by R. G. Armstrong; or Katherine Ross on the hotel balcony with James below reading his newspaper totally surrounded by darkness. I'm tellin' ya, this show is superb in every way, worthy of the best feature film-making.
VERY strong script, too, with a number of unexpected twists..but very well plotted and laid out. Yes, you might ask why Steve Forrest and Katherine Ross (in a very HOT scene for the time) didn't just up-and-leave for San Francisco together and avoid the confrontation..but then, there was the matter of $500 which Steve stood to earn.
The building of intensity near the end.....as the imposing Steve Forrest begins to ride out of town, is MASTERFUL in its writing, direction, and camera work. Festus' unexpected intervention leading to the big fistfight is so damn' cool, as is the performance of RG Armstrong, who I was glad to see in such a prominent role; he was one of the true greats.
Then there's the final twist. After so much tension, as we all "pull for" RG and Eileen to make it through their ordeal alive, I let out a big, hearty laugh at the final shot. Now THAT was the perfect way to tie it all together!
Also, the library music cues were very well chosen and expertly matched to the action.
One of the absolute best, a real treasure. I'd rate it alongside Season 7's "Long, Long Trail" and "Apprentice Doc", which is the highest praise I can give it (well..not really; I doubt that "The Gallows" will ever be topped). LR.
PS-- Katherine Ross' "60's Babe" make-up was only moderately annoying. Also, the script, being tightly written and complex, does NOT need any padding with "comic relief" scenes between Festus and Doc. In fact, this is probably Doc Adam's shortest-ever appearance; a silent, background shot in his office. (Note: Hank Patterson is listed in the credits, but doesn't appear onscreen, and Glenn Strange is only glimpsed briefly in the distance, but is still credited).