A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH – "A Special Talent for Killing" – 1965
This is the 12th episode of the 1965-66 western series, A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH. The series stars Robert Horton as a man suffering from memory loss after being wounded in a gunfight. He now wanders the west looking for clues to his identity.
Horton rides into the weather beaten, mostly deserted mining town named, El Dorado. He is looking for a man who might have some information on Horton's identity.
What he finds is the fresh grave of the man he is looking for. He also meets the only four people still in El Dorado. Madlyn Rhue, who runs what is left of the local hotel. Also hanging around the hotel is Willard Sage, James Frawley, and a very thuggish, George Kennedy.
Horton decides to spend the night and grabs a room. Kennedy tries to question Horton on his "real" reason for stopping in town. Horton just shrugs and heads to his room. Kennedy then starts slapping Rhue around. "What did he tell you! Why is he here!" Rhue sobs that she does not know.
The next morning, Horton is having a meal when Kennedy again starts to question him. Horton says he is moving on and wants no trouble. Kennedy insists on an answer and starts for his gun. Horton is quicker off the mark and Kennedy thinks better of his play. He slowly backs off and exits the Hotel.
Horton now questions Rhue on why Kennedy is being such a swine? Rhue tells Horton that Kennedy, Sage and Frawley have discovered a good vein of gold in the old mine. They figure everyone passing through is after it. They had killed the man Horton was to meet because he had found out about the gold. Rhue begs Horton to take her with him. She is terrified of the three men. Horton nods OK and the two head for Horton's horse. Needless to say, the horse is not where Horton had tied it up. Rhue suggest they try the barn up the street. That is where the men keep their mounts.
Just then, Willard Sage, steps out of a doorway and levels a two-barrelled shotgun at Horton. Horton dives for the dirt while drawing his own weapon. Sage fires and misses, Horton does not. Horton and Rhue continue to the barn where they find the horses.
As Horton saddles a mount for their escape, Frawley enters firing his pistol. He wings Horton in the arm but is shot dead in return. That just leaves Kennedy outside watching the barn. Rhue helps bandage up Horton's wound while the two try to come up with a plan.
Horton knows that Kennedy must be watching the only door to the barn. They wait till sundown, then, Horton saddles up a horse and brings it to the door. He yanks open the door and swats the animal on the rear. The horse bolts out the door and roars down the street.
Horton now watches as Kennedy come out of hiding, steps into the street and starts firing at the horse. Horton now exits the barn and tells Kennedy to drop his gun. Kennedy is somewhat reluctant to do this, and swings around to fire. Horton dispatches him with a single shot.
Rhue now decides to stay in town. She knows that the town will boom again once she gets word out about the new gold find. Horton tips his hat, and then rides out to renew his search for answers to his identity.
The director was television veteran, Harry Harris. The D of P was Fred Mandl. (b/w)
This is the 12th episode of the 1965-66 western series, A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH. The series stars Robert Horton as a man suffering from memory loss after being wounded in a gunfight. He now wanders the west looking for clues to his identity.
Horton rides into the weather beaten, mostly deserted mining town named, El Dorado. He is looking for a man who might have some information on Horton's identity.
What he finds is the fresh grave of the man he is looking for. He also meets the only four people still in El Dorado. Madlyn Rhue, who runs what is left of the local hotel. Also hanging around the hotel is Willard Sage, James Frawley, and a very thuggish, George Kennedy.
Horton decides to spend the night and grabs a room. Kennedy tries to question Horton on his "real" reason for stopping in town. Horton just shrugs and heads to his room. Kennedy then starts slapping Rhue around. "What did he tell you! Why is he here!" Rhue sobs that she does not know.
The next morning, Horton is having a meal when Kennedy again starts to question him. Horton says he is moving on and wants no trouble. Kennedy insists on an answer and starts for his gun. Horton is quicker off the mark and Kennedy thinks better of his play. He slowly backs off and exits the Hotel.
Horton now questions Rhue on why Kennedy is being such a swine? Rhue tells Horton that Kennedy, Sage and Frawley have discovered a good vein of gold in the old mine. They figure everyone passing through is after it. They had killed the man Horton was to meet because he had found out about the gold. Rhue begs Horton to take her with him. She is terrified of the three men. Horton nods OK and the two head for Horton's horse. Needless to say, the horse is not where Horton had tied it up. Rhue suggest they try the barn up the street. That is where the men keep their mounts.
Just then, Willard Sage, steps out of a doorway and levels a two-barrelled shotgun at Horton. Horton dives for the dirt while drawing his own weapon. Sage fires and misses, Horton does not. Horton and Rhue continue to the barn where they find the horses.
As Horton saddles a mount for their escape, Frawley enters firing his pistol. He wings Horton in the arm but is shot dead in return. That just leaves Kennedy outside watching the barn. Rhue helps bandage up Horton's wound while the two try to come up with a plan.
Horton knows that Kennedy must be watching the only door to the barn. They wait till sundown, then, Horton saddles up a horse and brings it to the door. He yanks open the door and swats the animal on the rear. The horse bolts out the door and roars down the street.
Horton now watches as Kennedy come out of hiding, steps into the street and starts firing at the horse. Horton now exits the barn and tells Kennedy to drop his gun. Kennedy is somewhat reluctant to do this, and swings around to fire. Horton dispatches him with a single shot.
Rhue now decides to stay in town. She knows that the town will boom again once she gets word out about the new gold find. Horton tips his hat, and then rides out to renew his search for answers to his identity.
The director was television veteran, Harry Harris. The D of P was Fred Mandl. (b/w)
