User Reviews

This Zane Grey Theater western takes place in the sleepy town of San Ardo where Gerald Mohr and henchmen Harry Lauter and Morgan Woodward gun down the marshal from ambush. It's all part of their nefarious scheme to throw the forces of law and order into disarray so they can rob the stagecoach.

Mayor Robert Burton of San Ardo offers the now vacant marshal's job to his prospective son-in-law Wendell Corey. But all Corey wants to do is settle down with Peggie Castle, he's given up the gunman's trade.

Like Michael Corleone said, sometimes you're just dragged back in. Best part of the story is the dialog between Corey and the sadistic Mohr. Mohr's penchant for little sadistic twists to his trade are what does him in.

Interesting that both Corey and Castle died relatively young and from alcoholism. That sad end you could never foresee watching them here.

Another fine Zane Grey Theater teleplay.

Wendell Corey as "Clay Burnett," an interesting man who gets pressured by his fiancé and her relative to become the town's next marshal. The problem is, "Clay" (Wendell Corey) doesn't want the job.

I hesitate to say too much here to give anything away but Corey is good in the lead as is Humphrey Bogart-lookalike "Gerald Mohr" as the lead villain, "Veringo." The dialog between the two actors, Corey and Mohr, is fascinating at times, making the episode surprising in a few spots. (You'll be surprised at a few things that happen.)

T he love interest was played by 30-year-old Peggie Castle, whose measurements are given on her bio page here on IMDb. Sadly she died at the young age of 45, which seems young even for an alcoholic. (She died of cirrhosis of the liver.)

Outlaw Veringo has gunned down a town's Marshall. With the young men of the town away. The town's bank is vulnerable to be robbed.

One of the elders, Mayor Jim wants Clay Burnett to be the new Marshall. After all he is engaged to marry his daughter Jenny.

Only Clay does not want the job, he is willing to help out though. Even after Jenny pleads with him, Clay is resolute, even though he is now regarded as a coward in some quarters.

The sadistic Veringo is not finished with Clay though. Fearing he might change his mind Veringo sets out to finish Clay off in a creative way as Clay rides off from the town.

Directed by Ted Post who also made Magnum Force. There is something hard edged about the villains, maybe Dick Powell's introduction alluded to this in a cryptic way.