This fourth episode ever of "Laramie" sees the classic series suddenly well into its stride, realising its potential and up alongside the level of the best westerns of its day, including "Rawhide" which had started just eight months before and the well established "Gunsmoke" and "Wagon Train". Beginning at the same time as "Bonanza", autumn 1959, "Laramie" beat it out for realism and in all departments except color photography. The partners John Smith (as Slim Sherman) and Robert Fuller (as Jess Harper) are fully comfortable in their characters, with Slim taking the guiding "older brother" role in the relationship and Jess the somewhat wayward, unconventional youth. While last week's appearance by guest Ernest Borgnine was something of a tour de force by the Academy Award winner, this week's guests Bert Freed and Anthony George were fully integrated into the comprehensive scheme of things as "Laramie" would continue for four years. Slim Sherman is also showing himself to be the athletic one, throwing himself around like a gymnast, and diving full length into a swollen river (reminiscent of the Tarzan movies) to save non-swimmer Jess.
Review of Fugitive Road
