General Electric Theater (TV Series) The Coward of Fort Bennett (1958) User Reviews

Decisions have consequences, but sometimes they are Justified.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 18 January 2022]

For Ronald Reagan, the new commander of Fort Bennett, he not only has to deal with the surrounding Cheyenne tribe, but possibly the presence of smallpox as well. He has to think not only of the good of the men who remain in the fort, but the patient as well, so he makes the decision to transfer him too a nearby hospital, risking attack on the fort while he's away. That not only puts him at risk of attack himself while being out of the fort, but also catching smallpox. When the port is indeed attacked, he is put on trial for cowardice, and sentemced to death. There are truths however that have not been revealed, and that comes at the most ironic of times. Reagan gives a very convincing performance, and is surrounded by a great supporting cast including Neville Brand. Good writing and a lot of tension makes this an above-average episode in the classic sense of the best of TV anthology.