THE WESTERNER "Ghost of a Chance"1960
This is the ninth episode of the short run western series, THE WESTERNER. The series starred Brian Keith as a wandering cow-hand travelling the southwest United States. Of note here is the creator and producer, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course known as the writer and director of, THE WILD BUNCH. This series only ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 1960.
Keith and his dog Brown, ride south into Mexico to deliver a letter to a small village. Keith has been promised 50 dollars to deliver said letter. They find things are out of tilt in the village. Other than a few heavily armed bandito looking types, there are only women in the village.
Keith hits the Cantina for something to drink and to see about delivering the letter. The owner is none other than (Smouldering Eyes) Katy Jurado. While downing a shot of local tequila, Keith is rousted by several of the banditos and disarmed.
The leader of the gang, Joseph Wiseman, asks what Keith is doing in the village. Keith tells him about delivering the letter and the 50 bucks he was promised. Wiseman takes the letter and has a look. The note is in English so he hands it to Keith who shakes his head, he can't read or write. Finally Miss Jurado is brought in to read the note. It says that a shipment of arms and ammunition while be passing by the village in several days. This makes Wiseman and his bunch very happy.
A bit later, Keith asks Jurado what the hell is going on. Wiseman and his friends have taken the village men hostage. They plan on raiding the army weapons shipment and wanted no trouble from the locals. The women though have come up with a plan and they ask Keith to help.
The best looking of the womenfolk, are soon batting their lashes etc at the bandits and plying them with strong drink. When the men are suitably greased, machetes are pulled and used. Keith's guns are now returned to him and he helps dispose of several more of the bandits.
Soon the town is villain free and Keith and his dog prepare to ride back to Texas. Barkeeper Jurado promises that he will get the $50 he was offered. The note it seems had been from her brother.
While the story is a tad on the weak side it still makes for a decent time waster. Mission Impossible creator, Bruce Geller directs. The look of the episode is quite sharp with top flight cinematographer, Carl Guthrie at the controls. His big screen work include the film noir, FLAXY MARTIN, CRY WOLF, BACKFIRE, UNDERCOVER GIRL, THIS SIDE OF THE LAW, HELL BOUND, DEATH IN SMALL DOSES, CAGED, THE TATTERED DRESS and HIGHWAY 301.
It is always a treat to see Miss Jurado in anything. She possesses a pair of the most expressive eyes one will ever see on screen. Katy Jurado of course is well known to fans of the western, having appeared in, HIGH NOON, SAN ANTONE, ARROWHEAD, BROKEN LANCE, MAN FROM DEL RIO, DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE, ONE EYED JACKS and THE BADLANDERS. Jurado also appeared in series creator, Sam Peckinpah's western, PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID.
A small side note here is the dog, "Brown". I kept wondering why the hound looked so familiar, so I looked it up. The dog is none other than "Spike", the dog who played "Old Yeller" in the film of the same name.
This is the ninth episode of the short run western series, THE WESTERNER. The series starred Brian Keith as a wandering cow-hand travelling the southwest United States. Of note here is the creator and producer, Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah is of course known as the writer and director of, THE WILD BUNCH. This series only ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 1960.
Keith and his dog Brown, ride south into Mexico to deliver a letter to a small village. Keith has been promised 50 dollars to deliver said letter. They find things are out of tilt in the village. Other than a few heavily armed bandito looking types, there are only women in the village.
Keith hits the Cantina for something to drink and to see about delivering the letter. The owner is none other than (Smouldering Eyes) Katy Jurado. While downing a shot of local tequila, Keith is rousted by several of the banditos and disarmed.
The leader of the gang, Joseph Wiseman, asks what Keith is doing in the village. Keith tells him about delivering the letter and the 50 bucks he was promised. Wiseman takes the letter and has a look. The note is in English so he hands it to Keith who shakes his head, he can't read or write. Finally Miss Jurado is brought in to read the note. It says that a shipment of arms and ammunition while be passing by the village in several days. This makes Wiseman and his bunch very happy.
A bit later, Keith asks Jurado what the hell is going on. Wiseman and his friends have taken the village men hostage. They plan on raiding the army weapons shipment and wanted no trouble from the locals. The women though have come up with a plan and they ask Keith to help.
The best looking of the womenfolk, are soon batting their lashes etc at the bandits and plying them with strong drink. When the men are suitably greased, machetes are pulled and used. Keith's guns are now returned to him and he helps dispose of several more of the bandits.
Soon the town is villain free and Keith and his dog prepare to ride back to Texas. Barkeeper Jurado promises that he will get the $50 he was offered. The note it seems had been from her brother.
While the story is a tad on the weak side it still makes for a decent time waster. Mission Impossible creator, Bruce Geller directs. The look of the episode is quite sharp with top flight cinematographer, Carl Guthrie at the controls. His big screen work include the film noir, FLAXY MARTIN, CRY WOLF, BACKFIRE, UNDERCOVER GIRL, THIS SIDE OF THE LAW, HELL BOUND, DEATH IN SMALL DOSES, CAGED, THE TATTERED DRESS and HIGHWAY 301.
It is always a treat to see Miss Jurado in anything. She possesses a pair of the most expressive eyes one will ever see on screen. Katy Jurado of course is well known to fans of the western, having appeared in, HIGH NOON, SAN ANTONE, ARROWHEAD, BROKEN LANCE, MAN FROM DEL RIO, DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE, ONE EYED JACKS and THE BADLANDERS. Jurado also appeared in series creator, Sam Peckinpah's western, PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID.
A small side note here is the dog, "Brown". I kept wondering why the hound looked so familiar, so I looked it up. The dog is none other than "Spike", the dog who played "Old Yeller" in the film of the same name.
