Cimarron Strip (TV Series) The Judgement (1968) User Reviews

The making of a marshal

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 12 April 2020]

A new circuit judge in town played by Leonard Strong hands out some stiff sentences to some rambunctious cowboys which Stuart Whitman disagrees with. They also disagree on Whitman letting one of them off.

But Whitman sees some potential in Jim Stacy. He makes him a Deputy in the town of Hardesty along with Randy Boone to serve there.

Stacy does show potential as a lawman. But his real test comes when his old friend from those cowboys decides to take up bank robbery and talks most of Stacy's old mates into it. This is the acid test for Stacy.

Some nice performances from the guest cast and a good plot are featured in this Cimarron Strip story.

It can't be an attempt at a spin-off....but it sure looks like one.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 26 March 2022]

During its single season, "Cimarron Strip" was not a very popular show. One reason was that it was up against some of the top shows of the day...and there just wasn't much audience left for this western. Because of this, "The Judgement" left me a bit confused. After all, this episode sure looked like it was an attempt at a spin-off....but who would do a spin-off from an unpopular show?!

When the story begins, a group of cowboys are acting like obnoxious fools in the bank and you could easily think they intended to rob the place...and Francis comes running to stop them from completely busting up the place. But the leader of these cowboys, Joe Bravo, manages to calm down his men and surrender to the Deputy.

When the case comes to court, the new circuit judge wants to give them all huge sentences and is angry at Marshall Crown when the Marshall suggests they make Joe a Deputy in a nearby town...along with Francis as the Marshall! The judge is angry about this and decides to teach the Marshall a lesson...but how?

This is a very good episode and isn't all that far from reality. In some cases, local sheriffs were often men with checkered pasts....and Marshall Crown seeing promise in Joe isn't entirely unbelievable. Overall, a very interesting episode...well worth seeing.