In a role obviously adapted from Father Damien of Molokai Robert Ryan is the
guest star in this fine Wagon Train story. Ryan plays a Catholic priest on his
way west to a new parish assignment in California.
But one night Doris Kemper wife of William Fawcett is kidnapped by Indians who sneak into the sleeping camp and spirit Kemper away. What they want is for the Wagon Train to take young Perry Lopez to the white man's doctor for what is ailing him. Cure him and she's released.
But it's bad news when it's discovered that it's leprosy. The camp is pretty frightened and it's all Terry Wilson can do to prevent a mutiny.
It's fright with most of them, but Cliff Osmond hates Indians in general. Osmond who played a lot of comic villains in Billy Wilder films is quite serious and quite deadly here. He's traveling west with his nephew young Beau Bridges who is slow to adopt his uncle's hateful ways.
It's bad choices all around. But Robert Ryan dominates this story with his portrayal of a priest who really has the spirit of God inside as well as the words of convenient scripture memorized. It's one of his few small screen appearances and Ryan makes the most of it.
One of the best Wagon Train stories and Robert Ryan makes it so.
But one night Doris Kemper wife of William Fawcett is kidnapped by Indians who sneak into the sleeping camp and spirit Kemper away. What they want is for the Wagon Train to take young Perry Lopez to the white man's doctor for what is ailing him. Cure him and she's released.
But it's bad news when it's discovered that it's leprosy. The camp is pretty frightened and it's all Terry Wilson can do to prevent a mutiny.
It's fright with most of them, but Cliff Osmond hates Indians in general. Osmond who played a lot of comic villains in Billy Wilder films is quite serious and quite deadly here. He's traveling west with his nephew young Beau Bridges who is slow to adopt his uncle's hateful ways.
It's bad choices all around. But Robert Ryan dominates this story with his portrayal of a priest who really has the spirit of God inside as well as the words of convenient scripture memorized. It's one of his few small screen appearances and Ryan makes the most of it.
One of the best Wagon Train stories and Robert Ryan makes it so.
