I think Nightmare at Fort Killman gives us clues about the production model that Universal had in place when making The Virginian. In the previous installment, Doctor Pat, we have James Drury (The Virginian) and Clu Gulager (Ryker) appear in a starring capacity with a cameo by Don Quine (Stacy). In this one, the rest of the cast is used: Charles Bickford (John Grainger) and Doug McClure (Trampas) with Don Quine's Stacy featured as the central character. My guess is that after Don Quine did those quick scenes in Doctor Pat, he and the rest of the cast began working on the Fort Killman episode at the same time Doctor Pat was being filmed. Except for the train depot, entirely different sets are used and different directors are at the helm: Don McDougall for Doctor Pat and Abner Biberman for Fort Killman. Sara Lane (Elizabeth) does not appear in either of these two episodes.
Aside from the production model, this episode is worth discussing because of how it carries forward themes of justice as related to Stacy Grainger. This time, the Virginian is off in San Francisco, and Stacy is supposedly traveling to meet him, but he is shanghaied along the way. He is forced to endure harsh conditions at a military outpost. Both he and his grandfather will get caught up in the political cover-up that is occurring at the fort.
While I found some of the dialogue to be a bit over-dramatic (after all, we are supposed to see that Stacy is the victim of ruthless men), I did find the machinations of the guest characters rather interesting. At each turn, it seems as if Stacy will not beat 'the system' and escape, even with his grandfather's help. There is a great scene where Stacy does get away, but they come to get him at the Shiloh Ranch and he must go back and face murder charges (of course we know Stacy did not really kill anyone).
Eventually, good does triumph over evil and Stacy is released as a free man. But there are some setbacks along the way. A particularly poignant moment involves the death of a fellow black soldier that had befriended Stacy. While the previous episode, Doctor Pat, seems to advance the feminist cause, this one is likely inspired by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. In both cases, the production enables us to see more positive portrayals of women and blacks on television.
Aside from the production model, this episode is worth discussing because of how it carries forward themes of justice as related to Stacy Grainger. This time, the Virginian is off in San Francisco, and Stacy is supposedly traveling to meet him, but he is shanghaied along the way. He is forced to endure harsh conditions at a military outpost. Both he and his grandfather will get caught up in the political cover-up that is occurring at the fort.
While I found some of the dialogue to be a bit over-dramatic (after all, we are supposed to see that Stacy is the victim of ruthless men), I did find the machinations of the guest characters rather interesting. At each turn, it seems as if Stacy will not beat 'the system' and escape, even with his grandfather's help. There is a great scene where Stacy does get away, but they come to get him at the Shiloh Ranch and he must go back and face murder charges (of course we know Stacy did not really kill anyone).
Eventually, good does triumph over evil and Stacy is released as a free man. But there are some setbacks along the way. A particularly poignant moment involves the death of a fellow black soldier that had befriended Stacy. While the previous episode, Doctor Pat, seems to advance the feminist cause, this one is likely inspired by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. In both cases, the production enables us to see more positive portrayals of women and blacks on television.
