"Wanted: Dead or Alive" The Monster (TV Episode 1960) Poster

(TV Series)

(1960)

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8/10
An Elephant In A Western Tale? Yup!
ccthemovieman-116 November 2007
This is an odd story, which is one reason I like this old television show: they vary the stories quite a bit. I mean, how many westerns do you see where an elephant is the killer? Actually, it's his evil trainer behind it all, played by famous actor Martin Landau. That is revealed about halfway through the show and is a neat twist. However, the ending, to be honest, is very predictable and one you can see a mile away.

The female actress in here was a beautiful woman with a strange first name: "Bek." She was Bek Nelson and cut quite a figure, too, more like today's actresses than those of her era. Her career was almost entirely on TV and lasted a little over a decade. According to the IMDb trivia section, Bek was married to one of Steve McQueen's good friends, Don Gordon..

Anyway, it's another interesting show, and always fun to watch the charismatic, late-great McQueen in the lead role as "Josh Randall."
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9/10
Elephant as villain?
ebertip17 April 2019
An odd collection of plot elements: Shawnee Indians, miners, and a circus. A tough day for Josh's shooting: missing an elephant and its evil trainer (Landau). Landau does dispatch a corrupt government official. Bek comes across as angelic and almost gets Josh to join the circus. (Recall the Good-bye cruel world episode of the Donna Reed Show). A great supporting appearance by Fawcett ("Dr. T") as a grizzled miner.
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10/10
Martin Landau
Easygoer1028 September 2019
This is a very good episode. Many people don't know is in 1955, Martin Landau and Steve McQueen were the only 2 people (out of 3000) accepted to "The Actor's Studio", run by the great Lee Strasburg. It was the greatest acting school in the US at the time. The next year (1956), Al Pacino was accepted there.
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10/10
JOSH IN AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE...
tcchelsey24 December 2023
Hang Tight! This has got to be the most bizarre of western stories, and its fun. Josh encounters an Indian boy (well, played by Eugene Mazzola) who is scared out of his wits, barely escaping death from what he calls a "monster" who destroyed his village.

It turns out the monster is a wild elephant, linked to a crazed trainer called Khorba, played to the hilt by Martin Landau. If you ever wanted a memorable villain, Landau was the man, and he goes all out with this role. He is the ultimate desperado.

Wait for the ending!

There's an excellent supporting cast with popular actress Bek Nelson. Bek was a regular on the western series, LAWMAN, playing Dru Lemp. A couple of solid veterans here, such as William Fawcett, playing an old prospecter. Fawcett appeared in an incredible amount of westerns. Also Russell Thorsen, at his best playing a sheriff.

Without too much surprise, directed by Thomas Carr, behind the SUPERMAN tv series. The only thing missing here is the Man of Steel to stop the monster!

Child actor Eugene Mazzola does a very good job as the Indian boy, who began his career playing Rameses son in the TEN COMMANDMENTS. In his adult years, Eugene became a very successful businessman.

It was around this time Steve McQueen co-starred in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, which was a big boost to his film career.

Recommended for thrill seekers. SEASON 2 EPISODE 22.
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