jeffstonewords Reviews

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)

Undead hysteria

[7/10 · 7 May 2024]

Plan 9... is one of many "space invasion" movies of its era, undoubtedly inspired in large part by the Cold War and technological advances as well as cosmological discoveries. This particular film combines the added intrigue of zombies.

It's one of those movies that might be intentionally satirical or might just be bad in some aspects or might be a bit of both. Regardless, it's highly entertaining despite its lack of palpable suspense and it's far from among the worst, which is the reputation that precedes it.

The props are a bit hokey and the acting feels contrived in many spots, but the premise is nonetheless provocative. The film does indeed raise the type of questions that tend to linger, which is an important characteristic of meaningful film.

If you're intrigued by hypotheticals, regardless of production and acting quality, this movie will probably entertain you and you'll be willing to laugh at some of its absurdities--intententional or not.

Apache (1954)

Massai is supposed to be different, blue eyes and all!

[9/10 · 5 March 2024]

This western drama follows the determined lone Apache warrior Massai (Burt Lancaster), who refuses to capitulate even after Geronimo's surrender (Monte Blue). He is pursued not only by long-time foe Al Seiber (John McIntire) but also by Nalinle (Jean Peters), who is devoted to him even though he is running for his life. Western vet Mort Mills, who appeared on Gunsmoke six times, and the criminally underappreciated John Dehner are also along for the chase.

This is not a traditional western featuring numerous gun battles in a conventional setting where good and evil are defined in more-or-less precise terms. But it is rather a thought-provoking look at the roles military men and their Native American counterparts played. It's also a story of love against overwhelming odds.

According to at least one critic, young Robert Aldrich was "forced" to change the ending. Without knowing what that other ending was, it's hard to imagine it could've been better. This ending is a marvelous triumph in more ways than one.

The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)

Stumbling to the top

[8/10 · 14 February 2024]

It's a familiar story with a mostly light-hearted approach: an aging lawman gets pushed out before he's ready and gets help from an unexpected source. But what a cast! Mitchum and Nettleton, two of the finest ever at their craft, are joined by Martin Balsam, George Kennedy, Marie Windsor, John Davis Chandler...

Mayor Wilker (Martin Balsam) is a hoot, the quintessential small-time politician with grandiose dreams. Like many politicians, he is amoral. His only regard for morality or anything else, outside of his pursuits of local women, is how such things affect the vote. His ideas are often disastrous, but he nonetheless emerges smelling like a rose over and over due to the actions of others. He believes he's destined for great heights and he's likely to reach them even though he's clearly incompetent beyond his gift for gab.

When he gathers the town and gives a surprised Marshal Flag (Mitchum) a gold watch before introducing his meek replacement, he's obviously made a mistake. The mistake is soon amplified and the new marshal is put to the test, which he runs away from, when a large gang descends on the town. This problem draws the bumbling mayor into the scheme Flag has hatched with an old foe who has flipped on his former gang, partly because he has been usurped and partly because he can't stomach the gang's new way of doing things-which include shooting old men in the back.

Some funny lines delivered in grand style definitely raise the quality of the film. There is a bit of drama interspersed among the laughs, but it's mostly a good time even though Marshal Flag is on a serious mission.

The Robe (1953)

Forgive them

[10/10 · 13 February 2024]

Primarily through characters who are not among the major historical figures surrounding the life of the Christian Messiah, this movie helps illustrate how Jesus Christ established a global kingdom not on military superiority but on love, sacrifice, mercy, forgiveness, Grace... but most of all on love.

His ideas were in stark contrast to the practices of the Roman Empire at the time, which was imperialistic and pagan. Many gods were worshiped. Citizenship was tiered and slaves might have outnumbered citizens.

Some slaves were gladiators and some were women bought to serve masters as they saw fit. Physical strength was greatly valued and mercy was not in great supply.

But Christ touched the hearts and minds of many by example, transforming them along the way. Christ's divine reach is demonstrated expertly in the final scene by Richard Burton, who is stellar throughout the film.

"Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

• Luke 23:34.

Zane Grey Theatre: Miss Jenny (1960) Season 4, Episode 14

A lady and a woman

[10/10 · 30 December 2023]

A young man named Darryl Thompson (Ben Cooper) surprises Jenny Breckenridge (Vera Miles) and her husband Harlan (Adam Williams) while they're resting en route to Oregon. Thompson has exceedingly polite manners, but he 's concealing a revolver beneath the hat he doffs. That paradoxical act sets the tone aptly and immediately for an unhinged character.

"Miss Jenny" is startled to see a gun, but she's far from hysterical. She asks Thompson what he wants and when he requests a cup of coffee, she replies that no gun is needed for that. This also sets the tone aptly and immediately for a woman who breaks stereotypes of the era by displaying exemplary grace and courage under extreme duress throughout the episode. Yet her actions are completely believable. This is a wonderful point about the episode that really shines.

Considering the circumstances, Miss Jenny's husband is also relatively composed even though he's understandably irritated. He clearly loves her and she's clearly devoted to him, which they both prove through their actions. Another wonderful point about this episode is the reminder that one of the most costly things in life can be underestimating another person, especially one with a fertile imagination.

As obsessed young man Darryl Thompson, the talented Ben Cooper turns in arguably one his best performances by walking the tightrope of a believable illusion or dream he has sold himself. Adam Williams also does a fine job, although he doesn't get nearly as much screen time as Cooper and Miles, who is absolutely a tour de force-not just for how she concludes the episode but for how she handles Thompson and even manages to understand him.

The inimitable Jack Elam even makes an appearance. As reviewer kfo9494 mentions, this is indeed an "all-star" cast and it's the individual performances of the cast that make this episode so special.

Death Valley Days: Fifteen Paces to Fame (1957) Season 6, Episode 6

Jumping Pens and a Headless Hen

[9/10 · 30 December 2023]

At one of his early stops in life, the famous Mark Twain (Paul Donovan) finds a love interest and runs across a sticky romantic rival named Ganse Taylor (Doug McClure, known for Trampas in The Virginian). As a editorialist in Virginia City, he also elicits hearty laughter and some serious ire.

Words get more insulting between his paper and another until emotions rise and Twain, prodded by colleagues, publicly labels a rival newspaper man named Jim Laird an "abject coward" in his column. Laird doesn't want to fight and a close friend named Tom declines a lucrative offer to fight Twain in his stead because he likes Twain.

Laird feels trapped because he believes his newspaper will be "ruined" if someone doesn't defend its honor against Twain. He tells Tom he will have to fight or leave the country.

Twain receives a letter from Laird announcing that he has accepted the challenge and will be ready for a duel at dawn. Two of Twain's friends help him practice shooting before the duel, but they discover he didn't hit a squash or a rail or even a barn door that was supporting them. Twain believes he has zero chance and his life is about to end.

In typical Death Valley Days fashion, though, there is a twist or two that proves life often is stranger than fiction. Some of the episodes are a little more straight forward and perhaps not as interesting as others, but this episode about Twain's wild adventures in Virginia City is definitely an entertaining one.

Death Valley Days: Camel Train (1957) Season 6, Episode 2

No water? No problem.

[9/10 · 29 December 2023]

Edward Beale (Stanley Lachman) always has a book with him as he travels through the southwest for the US Army in the years before the Civil War. Beale's love of books is a critical fact a companion mentions early in the episode.

When Beale reads about the extensive use of camels in other arid parts of the world, he is intrigued and believes camels could benefit the Army. Not only can they go without water for as long as two weeks due to a four-chambered stomach, but some can carry nearly half a ton (and were carrying over 700 pounds in the episode).

Not surprisingly, Beale has trouble getting Congress to approve such a fabulous idea-perhaps because he isn't backed by a big lobby with lots of money. Beale is persistent, nonetheless. He contacts expert handlers from the other side of the world and gets continued support from Jefferson Davis, who is not yet an enemy.

When the experiment finally gets approved and underway, Beale keeps a careful and objective journal detailing feats that amaze even him. The camels do much more than any other animal could have done.

But war breaks out and the Army decreases its use of camels. The President also declines Beale's offer to serve the Union in war, citing the need for Beale to stay in California where the threat of secession is perceived to be high.

Fortunately, though, Beale has a supportive wife who agrees he and his son should keep some of the camels. Others are sold to circuses and mining operations. Some remain at Army posts and some are turned loose in the desert. But their legacy is firmly established.

This episode struck a unique chord with me because my uncle owned camels many years ago before he was murdered in an attempted robbery. He trained quarter horses in Tennessee, but also owned a variety of other animals. The camels were especially important during the Christmas season because they made appearances in nativity scenes and parades, etc. In a variety of places.

So, the episode was special to me, but I would've enjoyed it even without the wonderful connection. If you like Death Valley Days, you'll most likely enjoy it, too!

The Twilight Zone: Number 12 Looks Just Like You (1964) Season 5, Episode 17

Just Like You and You and You...

[10/10 · 19 November 2023]

Number Twelve Looks Just Like You (1964) is an eerily prophetic cautionary tale that stars a teenager named Marilyn (Collin Wilcox Paxton) who's facing the most momentous decision of her life. She must decide whether or not to undergo a process called The Transformation, during which she will be physically changed to match one of several alternatives. But is it really a decision, or is it something else?

Although The Transformation is supposedly voluntary, Marilyn is met with intense pressure and even disbelief from her slightly older friends and her relatives when she hesitates. After telling her she just needs a glass of Instant Smile, they assert how much better life will be after The Transformation. When Marilyn tells them she doesn't want to be like everyone else because being the same is like being nobody, she is sent to an institution.

The first institutional interview is in a bright room and her mother is present. The interviewer wants to be called Dr. Rex (Richard Long, who also plays Marilyn's Uncle Rick, Professor Sigmund Friend, and orderly Tom). Dr. Rex assumes a relaxed nature and points out the benefits The Transformation has afforded Marilyn's beautiful mother Lana Cuberle (Suzy Parker).

Still resistant, Marilyn next speaks with Professor Sigmund Friend. He wants to be called Professor Sig (and has SIG stamped on his sweater much the same way REX is marked on his colleague's vest). He says Dr. Rex has told him about Marilyn and he is there to help her by ridding Marilyn of her fears. He wants her to embrace a "necessary" and important step.

Marilyn insists the step isn't necessary. Dr. Sig explains that by eliminating ugliness the State has been able to achieve its goals of eliminating inequality and injustice throughout the world. Marilyn replies that she isn't pretty but she isn't ugly. He laughs, as he does often throughout their interview, from the semi-darkness as he mentions the benefits of improved health and a longer life. But when Marilyn asks if she couldn't have those same things while keeping her original appearance, he insists that Marilyn might want the transformation later-when she would be too old to undergo the process.

She asks if he's ever read Shakespeare. He wants to know where she came upon such a book. She replies that her father had books by Shakespeare as well as titles by Aristotle, Socrates, Keats, Dostoyevsky (who she says was ugly and epileptic), and others. She talks about their writing reflecting real beauty and the dignity of the individual. The alarmed interviewer reminds her that these books have been banned for many years and says the introduction of smut will not help her cause. She is taken away by a nurse.

When Marilyn's mother and friend arrive for a visit, she is still feeling the effects of sedation. Her friend Valerie (Pamela Austin) asks again why she cares what her father thought because he's dead and numerous step fathers have followed. Valerie professes to like some of her eleven step fathers more than her own father and says it really doesn't matter because everyone is marrying everyone anyway. Marilyn eventually shouts at a bewildered Valerie, telling her to stop talking about her father-whom she loved and who apparently committed suicide because life had lost meaning for him after The Transformation.

Marilyn asks Valerie, who's already undergone The Transformation, if she ever feels anything. Valerie calls Marilyn silly and says that of course she does before chanting, "Life is pretty; life is fun; I am all and all is one."

Marilyn begins sobbing wildly, perhaps experiencing some sort of mental breakdown, before attempting an escape. Of course, her attempt is met with obstacles.

The thirty-minute episode is perhaps as chilling as it's ever been. Some people might argue it's more timely than ever. Regardless, it's definitely worth a watch. It's also an episode for everyone who values the dignity of the individual.

Daniel Boone: The Spanish Horse (1967) Season 4, Episode 11

Just call this Spanish horse "Milagro"

[6/10 · 20 October 2023]

A young boy named Cal Trevor (Michael Burns) seeks the aid of Daniel Boone (DB) after Shawnees attack the cabin where he and his father live. After DB and young Cal arrive back at the Trevor homestead, they find a scattered mess inside the cabin. DB discovers that Cal's father had been able to escape through the same tunnel Cal had used but had not been able to elude death.

After burying Cal's father, DB takes the boy and his beloved horse along because Cal has no one left to claim him. DB and Cal go to Williamsburg, which we know only because the title appears on-screen. While there, Cal is duped into entering a race with his lame horse-the only remaining connection to his father and the one thing that really matters to him in the world.

Unfortunately, Cal agrees to do this even though DB has just told the boy the horse is a long shot to ever walk properly again, much less race. Indeed, Cal is clearly naïve and arguably can be malleable even though he demonstrates signs of independence and willfulness. Nonetheless, this inexplicable leap and the subsequent race require a suspension of disbelief that's far too much for some of us to suffer gladly.

However, the episode does feature a fabulous character actor (Robert Emhardt as Squire Breen) as well as a skilled veteran of stage, TV, and film (Henry Jones as Landers). It's also probably an enjoyable episode for many young viewers and there are certainly less fulfilling choices for an hour or so of wholesome entertainment.

Yellowstone: The Long Black Train (2018) Season 1, Episode 4

Train, train, take me on out of this town

[9/10 · 13 October 2023]

"The Long Black Train" (Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 4) is an apropos title for an episode fraught with raw power, merciless violence, and poignant allusion. We learn that "the train station" is a Dutton euphemism for tracks that hasten that long black train.

We also learn that the Duttons are even more cruel and yet more vulnerable than previously portrayed. Patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner) openly acknowledges his own personal vulnerability, chiefly his inevitable decline, in a tender moment with his grandson Tate (Brecken Merrill) after rescuing the young boy from a raging river.

Constantly walking a high wire with an apparent disdain for consequences, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) seems intent on destruction. Whether she will first destroy herself with her lifestyle or bury all her enemies via psychological warfare might look like an even bet, but everything she does appears to be carefully calculated, especially after this episode, given the ruthlessness with which she humiliates her opponents.

This ruthlessness is displayed crudely and clearly in a bar scene with misplaced companion Dan Jenkins (Danny Huston). Based not only on his suit jacket but also on his mannerisms, Jenkins sticks out like a branded steer in this particular bar-where at least one fight is already ongoing when Dutton and Jenkins enter. Beth Dutton outwardly loathes the "prick" Jenkins, but he's apparently decided her constant demeaning is worth tolerating because the prospect of wild sex seems high. Pointing out his need for Viagra before they even leave for the bar isn't enough for her. She also draws him into two physical confrontations, both of which end badly for him.

Back on the ranch, perpetual misfit Jimmy (Jefferson White) loses a fistfight of his own and when he refuses to quit, Rip (Cole Hauser) steps up to give the assailant an even worse beating. Jimmy is a slow project as a cowboy but is also a branded man, tantamount to "family." Fred the assailant (Luke Peckinpah) isn't, which Rip explains to Jimmy afterwards, and so Fred must "go" because nobody is allowed to touch a branded man. "Loudmouth" Fred will be replaced by another branded man, someone picked from prison-presumably someone as vulnerable and malleable as Jimmy.

The Long Black Train features some compelling drama on its own and yet raises even more questions for upcoming episodes. Much is at stake not only for the ranch but also for the family. To what ends will they and their bitter counterparts go?

Also, after an appearance by Whiskey Myers and music by Uncle Lucius, who will we hear next? The featured music of previous episodes (e.g., Chris Stapleton, The Trishas, Whitney Morgan, Ryan Bingham...) has been grand without being too conspicuous and some of the lyrics have dovetailed eloquently.

Wagon Train: The Kurt Davos Story (1962) Season 6, Episode 11

Gretchen Gets It

[10/10 · 6 October 2023]

Kurt Davos, an immigrant blacksmith, is traveling to California with Gretchen, a Boston Terrier. He quickly becomes well-liked, arguably the favorite member of the wagon train, because he helps people whenever possible without any expectation of recompense. Gretchen is also well-liked by seemingly all of the wagon train members except one.

That one member, Florence Hastings, doesn't merely dislike Gretchen. She has an acute phobia of dogs, which seems irrational until some of her tragic history is revealed late in the episode. That phobia apparently extends to all animals and manifests itself when a bull chases her and she becomes paralyzed with fear. Although Florence has nearly killed Gretchen on two separate occasions (once with a frying pan and once with a gun), Kurt rushes to her aid and wrestles with the bull until other men arrive on the scene to lasso the perturbed animal.

Kurt is there again when Florence, the last remaining passenger after the others have disembarked, gets trapped on a runaway wagon. Kurt manages to save Florence from any harm, but he is so gravely injured that he must depart the train. Wooster, who initially thought Gretchen was strange but gradually grew to love her, puts money in a hat and passes it around. Other members of the train give testimony about the help they received from Kurt, who always refused any sort of payment in return.

Despite her fear of Gretchen, Florence volunteers to care for a paralyzed Kurt and promises to never harm the little dog. Unfortunately and purely by accident, she is unable to keep her promise. But this is just one more wrinkle in an inspirational story that is centered on a dog and unexpected physical challenges but encompasses important truths about willpower and the capacity of the human spirit.

Wagon Train features many fine acting performances, but Eddie Albert as Kurt Davos is one of the best and Gretchen deserves a lot of credit. Those who love dogs will surely enjoy certain canine nuances throughout the episode, but anyone who has ever overcome tragedy or supported a person in any way who has overcome tragedy, etc. Can also find plenty to appreciate.

P. S. - My late dear friend, who died unexpectedly at a relatively young age, lived with Boston Terriers. Like Gretchen, they were divinely sweet yet there's little doubt they would've savagely protected my friend to their own deaths.

It's also interesting that Wooster paraphrases the inimitable Mark Twain in this episode, suggesting that a starving dog won't bite if you feed him and make him prosperous. However, that is just the first part of the quote. "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man."

Gunsmoke: Dry Well (1964) Season 9, Episode 15

While Yuma weaves Dillon waits

[9/10 · 23 September 2023]

Bored housewife Yuma Linz (Karen Sharpe) is a femme fatale with perhaps no equal circa 1890 near Dodge, Kansas. While her husband Dave (William Henry) is away running various errands, she entertains multiple men who discover each other's presence and become sworn enemies.

Even Yuma's husband sees evidence of infidelity with his own eyes. But Yuma doesn't miss a beat. Instead, she convinces Dave his tired eyes are playing tricks on him and that he just needs rest and the special meal she's prepared. Rather than trouble Yuma, the discoveries of her unfaithfulness intensify some dark passion within her. Puppeteer Yuma enjoys the competition for her affection and has a ready answer for each man in her life. She believes she has everything under control, but comforts like hers rarely unfold in an orderly fashion.

Seeking relaxation by heading out on a fishing trip, Qiunt is instead pulled into Yuma's terrible web when he witnesses the shooting of her husband. Quint tries to talk to the dying man. But as he leans close to hear the man's ebbing voice, Quint is struck over the head by Ira (Ned Glass as a ruthless villain who justifies any means through the end objective of protecting his dissolute son). Ira is convinced his son Web, motivated by an obsession for Yuma he can't hide, killed Dave Linz so that he could move in with Yuma.

Crazed Ira ties up Quint and threatens to harm him if he does not sign a paper stating Quint "seen" Yuma's other lover Jeff (John Hanek) kill her husband. Quint could sign that paper and plan to later retract the statement, but he has no reason to believe his life will be spared after his signature is obtained. He also has a strong sense of independence and integrity. After Quint repeatedly refuses to sign, Ira and his son throw Quint down a dry well and hang a bucket of rocks that could "spilt his skull like a melon" above.

When Marshal Dillon begins investigating the most recent murder in the Dodge area, Yuma turns up the heat on yet another man. But Dillon keeps his cards close to his vest and that intensifies Yuma's interest in him. As expected, the marshal uses this to his advantage. While Yuma weaves, Dillon waits.

This plot is twisted and arguably even a bit byzantine, which seems apropos considering the course and ultimate fate of so many extramarital relationships-especially when one cavalier spouse is seeing multiple lovers and gaslighting the other spouse. Is it crazy? Of course it is, but it's not nearly as crazy as some of the episodes of Forensic Files or Deadly Women or Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry? Or so many other true crime shows. Some people who have lived "normal" productive lives will shred holy tenets when they believe they have a shot at love, money, fame... It's an uncomfortably brutal aspect of the human condition, a Pandora's box that often consumes the aspirant along with her marionettes when a blinding need overwhelms reason.

Categorically, "Dry Well" is an episode about the madness of unbridled aspiration and blinding obsession. The title is a brilliant metaphor and the acting is compelling. Karen Sharpe is like a cat gleefully playing with blind mice while Ned Glass shows he can be ruthless and chilling as an unbalanced father willing to protect his son at any costs. James Arness often excels as Matt Dillon, but his acting in "Dry Well" is the strong type of performance required as a counterbalance to the narcissistic Yuma.

Unapologetic Yuma (Karen Sharpe) is the star of the show. Secondary cases can be made for self-possessed Marshall Dillon and steadfast Quint as well as irrational Ira. Regardless, each is more than convincing in one of Gunsmoke's most memorable episodes, a haunting treasure that is worth watching multiple times because so much of the plot is based on allusion and innuendo.

Gunsmoke: A Man a Day (1961) Season 7, Episode 14

Dillon Undoes a Deadly Web

[10/10 · 22 September 2023]

An outlaw gang intent on robbing Dodge's bank plants an attractive mole named Bess (Fay Spain) in a small billiards parlor. Swayed by Bess' beauty and charm, Chester fails to recognize the incongruity of a female hostess in such a place and doesn't notice at least one verbal clue Bess drops inadvertently.

Chester meets Bess in the humorous opening scene. An ostensibly busy Doc tries to squeeze in a quick game with a distracted Chester but eventually leaves in frustration-which Chester doesn't seem to notice for a while. Chester does, however, keep noticing Bess and takes on the task of showing her around the town. This greatly eases her job of gathering info for the gang.

The leader of the gang eventually sends a note requesting Marshal Dillon's presence at a certain farmhouse. A duty-pressed Dillon sends Chester in his stead, much to the chagrin of the gang. Nonetheless, they share their demands with Chester: Marshal Dillon must leave town, which will allow them to rob the bank, or the gang will begin killing a man a day-starting with "unimportant" people while moving up the ladder toward the marshal's closest friends.

Chester soon realizes the gang has considerable intel on the denizens of Dodge. A menacing Grice (Leonard Nimoy) makes this clear in chilling fashion when he says how much he would personally like to kill Chester after he makes threats toward Kitty and Doc.

Marshal Dillon assigns bodyguards to the stubborn Kitty and irascible Doc, who both try to refuse any protection. But the marshal's orders are firm and the bodyguards are so dedicated to the task and feel so obligated to their friends that they won't even accept the three dollars per day offered as a wage. Nonetheless, tension builds as men die and the lovely Ana (Ann Morell) is accosted by one of the vulgar killers, who forces Ana to serve him supper after four members of the gang murder a worker on the farm where she lives.

While the pressure mounts and the gang's confidence increases, Dillon gathers his own intel and devises a plan to unravel the killers' brutal scheme. The plan includes subterfuge common in an episode of Gunsmoke, so common it perhaps gets taken for granted sometimes. Regardless, it's an essential plot twist in this episode. But none of it happens without Dillon's willingness to carefully study and ability to clearly understand the motivation of the criminal(s) in each particular case.

This episode features a tremendous cast that doesn't disappoint. The exchange at the end between Dillon and Bess is particularly compelling. It is not only wonderful acting but also a great piece of psychological warfare. As so often happens in an episode of Gunsmoke, a particularly ruthless, diabolic, greedy, arrogant, or otherwise repulsive antagonist is not merely defeated; the adversary is ripped into shreds by the inertia of reaching too far or too fast or in the wrong direction.

Yellowstone: Daybreak (2018) Season 1, Episode 1

Tangled webs and assorted seeds

[9/10 · 21 September 2023]

"Daybreak" opens with the aftermath of a gory accident. An oversized flatbed carrying large construction equipment has overturned. The driver has a head wound that hints at a bullet hole. The scene might be gratuitous. On the other hand, it might be not only a bit of foreshadowing but also a symbol of the central conflict (i.e., residential development versus ranching).

John Dutton (Kevin Costner), patriarch of the largest ranching empire in the nation, is on the scene with gun in hand when the wailing of sirens fills the air. Dutton is struggling to maintain the status quo by holding on to ranch land that others want for development. This is an emotional and financial battle that tests political, legal, social, and personal alliances. When many cattle from Dutton's Yellowstone Ranch are discovered on adjoining land under reservation control, Dutton is matched against an aggressive tribal chief (Thomas Rainwater, Gil Birmingham) whose grand aspirations contribute to a fight with devastating consequences.

While Dutton and his powerful allies face formidable foes and complicated issues, his personal relationships are arguably an even bigger challenge. The Dutton offspring have achieved various degrees of professional success, but all of them seem to be plagued by personal demons often associated with familial dysfunction. Some of the dialogue, especially the exchange regarding closure and penance and where one might or might not find such things, suggests there are dark secrets lurking not far below the surface.

"Daybreak" by itself might seem unsatisfying, but it plants many interesting seeds-which makes it an effective pilot. Some of those seeds, like the governor's lingering hand on Dutton's shoulder, are subtle. There are lots of clues in the dialogue and the episode is worth another watch, albeit a careful one, if you're skeptical.

The Winning Team (1952)

Good movie about a great pitcher

[8/10 · 27 August 2023]

Plenty of baseball fans can appreciate this movie centered around the career of Grover Cleveland Alexander (Ronald Reagan). He was an epileptic (perhaps due to a beaning early in his career, per Baseball Reference Bullpen), shell-shocked war vet (which the movie minimized, unfortunately), and one of baseball's greatest pitchers ever. However, much of this movie is more about the relationship between a man and the woman he needed desperately than it is about baseball. Moreover, for those who aren't conversant in baseball, a detailed knowledge about the game isn't essential even during the game action although the movie was correct about at least one essential baseball detail. Alexander's control was indeed excellent. He led his league in fewest walks per nine innings five times.

Ronald Reagan was as affable in the role of Alexander as player/manger as Rogers Hornsby supposedly was irascible in real life, preferring to forego any activity (including watching movies) that might harm his eyes as he claimed he did nothing during the winter but wait for spring and think about hitting. Doris Day apparently has at least a few mild critics, but Reagan's eagerness to work with her again after a previous film does speak in her favor. Of course, some people might say that had more to do with romance than it did with professional appreciation. Regardless, it's almost eerie that Day remarked (per Turner Classic Movies) on Reagan's love of talking and said he should be making speeches all around the country. As for Day herself, she was believable as a dutiful spouse and did evoke considerable pathos during the carnival scene-which was almost certainly apocryphal (like the timing of GCA's House of David tenure). Alexander never missed significant time in his MLB career aside from his military service during the 1918 season, which precipitated his sale to the Cubs (because the Phillies were nervous about the war and its potential consequences). Alexander pitched for only three MLB teams and never had to look for work after his phenomenal rookie season.

There are also some errors like uniform numbers and car models and clothing and certain buildings, but this is a solid film about an elite pitcher who was in fact a drinker yet nonetheless still remains unfairly maligned by certain myths (e.g., a purported Game 7 hangover, which Rogers Hornsby heatedly contested throughout the remainder of his life, insisting he had asked GCA after Game 6 to be ready in the bullpen in case Pop Haines developed yet another blister or some other issue). The movie also takes some liberties (e.g., NL MVP Bob O'Farrell throwing out Babe Ruth trying to steal second base, not a strikeout, actually ended the Series). Nonetheless, it still remains closer to the spirit of the truth than the myths about Alexander and Hornsby do.

The hullabaloo in the movie about Alexander's "unbreakable" records isn't mere hyperbole. He does indeed still hold three impressive records that almost certainly will never be even remotely approached unless the game changes dramatically and/or MLB experiences something like a Serling's Mighty Casey redux. Alexander still owns the all-time records for shutouts in a season (16 in 1916) and most wins against one team (70 versus Cincinnati). His 28 wins as a rookie are also a "modern-day" (post-1900) record. Furthermore, in an age when so many Hall of Fame inductions are debatable, Alexander's resume is one of the strongest. One of Cooperstown's earliest members (1938, third class), he won five earned run average (ERA) titles and no pitcher has topped his three Triple Crowns (consisting of ERA, Strikeout, and Win titles in the same season).

Some viewers might not care that the greatest right-handed hitter in history (Hornsby, by both conventional stats and advanced metrics) was wearing a number (7) he never wore during his entire MLB career, per Baseball Reference and Baseball Almanac. Numbers were worn sporadically before 1926, but players did not wear numbers consistently at that time. Hornsby wore both #4 and #6 for the Cardinals, but never #7 according to available records. However, at least one serious baseball fan is willing to overlook it despite the noteworthy omission of a fabulous conversation on the mound during Game 7 after Lazzeri nearly hit a homer twice but pulled the ball foul both times because Alexander had him out in front (or swinging early). Hornsby was rattled by the loud fouls, but ended the discussion by asking "who was he" to tell GCA how to pitch. Yes, in the case of this movie, the errors can be overlooked in the spirit of enjoying an entertaining and uplifting film that gets the important facts and the sense of it all right in all the right places.

"I could throw harder than Grover, but he could put the ball through a knothole. He had perfect control."

• George Pipgras, speaking about Grover Cleveland Alexander late in his career.

The Fugitive: Everybody Gets Hit in the Mouth Sometime (1965) Season 2, Episode 24

Klugman shows his chops...again

[9/10 · 1 May 2023]

The good doctor takes a no-questions-asked job as a dispatcher for a troubled trucking company. Gus Hendricks (Jack Klugman), the owner, has a long-standing reputation for disregarding safety rules and is under increased regulatory scrutiny because one of his drivers has died in an accident-one that presumably could've been prevented.

Hendricks feels internal pressure to support the driver's widow and her two young children, who are constantly getting into trouble. Their physically attractive mother, Lucia Mayfield (Geraldine Brooks), seems unable and/or unwilling to control them without a male authority figure and seductively suggests as much on at least one occasion to Dr. Kimble. She is also constantly asking Hendricks, who's already struggling to pay bills, for money-which only increases the guilt Hendricks feels and the pressure he puts on himself to make life easier for the widow's family.

Hendricks is further conflicted when acquaintance Cleve Logan (Barry Atwater as G. B. Atwater) proposes a lucrative opportunity involving insurance fraud. Hendricks initially refuses the offer categorically. However, the pressure increases and drives Hendricks to drink with dire consequences when little Jimmy, Geraldine's son, needs $300 in dental work.

Ultimately, a series of events put both Hendricks and Kimble in a terrible predicament. Kimble's strong sense of loyalty inevitably pulls him into the fray with Hendricks, forcing him to risk his own freedom.

This is arguably one of the darkest and most bitter episodes. It brings to mind a line by Tolstoy about the illusion of beauty and by Bellow about good intentions being worse than malevolence when they lack understanding. In a show filled with trouble, there's even more trouble beneath the surface.

There are hard truths, jagged consequences, and complicated characters with no easy resolution. As usual, the great Jack Klugman (who also appeared on the 1963 episode "Terror at High Point") is fabulous.

Wagon Train: The Jenna Douglas Story (1961) Season 5, Episode 6

A Cure that Can Burn

[9/10 · 1 May 2023]

A woman named Jenna Douglas (Carolyn Jones) is discovered by wagon train members, who believe she is the victim of scavengers. They take her back to the group with them and attempt to care for her. However, as the train rolls on, one innocuous event after another triggers hysterical reactions from Douglas-causing people begin to doubt anything she says.

Members of the train distance themselves from her, especially after they discover she has been institutionalized, but a worldly doctor familiar with advances in psychiatry begins therapeutic sessions with her. These sessions are helping Douglas until another train member mentions the doctor's wife and children waiting on his arrival.

Like many patients often do, Douglas has developed deep feelings for her therapist. Her unraveling seems inevitable, but lots of things can happen when a wagon train passes through the untamed frontier.

This episode features excellent dialogue, evocative metaphor, and a stirring performance by Carolyn Jones. In particular, Jenna Douglas talks about how it was such a pleasure just to watch her husband breath-the wounded husband who she alludes died in battle. She also talks about the burns on her hands and how the wounds won't heal, even though no physical trace remains.

The High Chaparral: The Guns of Johnny Rondo (1970) Season 3, Episode 18

Maudlin Muck

[4/10 · 8 April 2023]

It's old story dragged down by distracting filler. An infamous gunfighter (Steve Forrest as Johnny Rondo) who's killed sixteen men, as the meandering ballad reminds over and over again, is trying to leave his past behind. But he inevitably runs into trouble.

Johnny Rondo is looking for work as he and his son make their way to California. After meeting Buck in a bar, Rondo accepts a job on the High Chaparral.

Rondo's desire to leave his past behind is complicated by a teenage son (Kurt Russell as Dan Rondo) who wants to learn how to handle a pistol against his father's wishes. Rondo understands the name alone will make the young man a target.

Rondo's past does indeed catch up with him when the brother of a man he killed vows revenge. As usual, Manolito and Buck are on the scene with their clever lines and wit that is quick when the stakes are highest.

The maudlin ballad that ran on at the beginning and end of the show as well as before and after every commercial break ruined the episode. I like The High Chaparral a lot, but I never would've watched this particular episode if I'd known that ridiculous racket was going to take up so much time.

The story probably could've been a solid thirty minute episode without all of that nauseating filler. I love music, but only when it's decent or better and apropos.

Do yourself a favor. Even if you love The High Chaparral, sit this one out.

Rawhide: Incident of the Painted Lady (1961) Season 3, Episode 26

Captivating

[9/10 · 11 March 2023]

This episode opens under a familiar Rawhide theme when the herd is held captive. In this particular instance, the drive is interrupted by a collective group who have been swindled by a Texas trail boss who took cattle on consignment before vanishing.

The collective decides to hold Gil Favor and his herd for ransom simply because he is also a Texan. The collective members justify their action by explaining Texans stick together. Therefore, at least in their minds, Favor is complicit just because he's a Texan.

He has three obvious choices: fight, pay the exorbitant fee, or capture the swindler. Favor and his crew are greatly outnumbered and the fee is unreasonable, so the pursuit for the swindler gets underway quickly.

It's a convoluted plot that gets more twisted as the story unfolds. Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) ultimately gets his man and saves his herd as usual, but mesmerizing Marie Windsor absolutely steals the show in this episode.

The Stratton Story (1949)

Could've been Elite and yet became a Star

[9/10 · 10 March 2023]

This appears to be a movie about baseball, but it's really a movie about perseverance and determination. It's especially inspirational because it's based on the true story of a pitcher who loses a leg yet manages to pitch again professionally for several years.

The serious baseball fan in me really loved this movie based on a true story (even if it did erroneously feature the unmistakable gait of Joe DiMaggio before he was actually in the majors!). Seeing Joltin' Joe round third and the real Bill Dickey talk baseball with Stratton (James Stewart) was fabulous. At one time, Dickey was widely considered the best catcher ever and he eventually mentored the great Yogi Berra. So, I enjoyed seeing him, but the movie fan in me also loved the fabulous performances by James Stewart, June Allyson, and others.

Lines in the movie about Stratton being one of the game's brightest stars were not silver screen hyperbole. Manager Jimmy Dykes' line that he wouldn't trade Stratton for any other pitcher is definitely believable, whether he uttered those actual words or not. According to Stratton's SABR bio, Cubs Manager Charlie Grimm compared Stratton to Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander-winner of 373 games, hurler of ninety shutouts (both of which are still NL records), star of the 1926 World Series, and also the subject of at least one movie (The Winning Team, starring Ronald Reagan).

In 1937, Stratton was only in his Year (age) 25 season when he was named to the AL All-Star team and led the league in fewest walks per nine innings. Over 1937 and 1938, his last two seasons in MLB, he won a combined thirty games against only fourteen losses while tossing thirty-one complete games. These numbers at such at young age definitely suggest that Dykes could have considered Stratton's pitching potential as bright as any.

Regardless, the dog lover in me also enjoyed the critical role Stratton's hound played in perhaps saving his life in the movie. That appears to be a bit of fiction, according to his SABR bio, but it's a good bit of fiction.

Romance, baseball, a dog, comedic relief, true inspiration... the movie offers many things for many types of people. Nonetheless, the true story contains details that might have made a movie seem too unreal. Stratton's short SABR bio, written by Gary Sarnoff, shares many of these details.

"Monty, now all you need to make your life complete is have Hollywood make a picture about you."

• Ethel Stratton.

Gunsmoke: Aunt Thede (1964) Season 10, Episode 13

One Feisty Little Woman

[9/10 · 2 March 2023]

Festus' feisty Aunt Thede (Jeanette Nolan) rolls into town and kick-starts one of the zaniest and yet most endearing Gunsmoke episodes ever. Thede is a shotgun-toting illiterate moonshiner and preacher from the hills of Missouri who counsels a lovestruck couple. She believes her copy of Little Women is actually "The Book" (or the Holy Bible), which she adamantly declares is supportive of her distilling activities-pursuits that are in clear conflict with laws Marshall Dillon must uphold.

"Haybill, Matthew, you can't go agin' the Good Book!" - Festus, pleading the case of the good nectar and virtues of moonshining.

In addition to the fabulous regulars, there are some great stars in this episode: Jeanette Nolan (a witch on The Twilight Zone, Thriller, Night Gallery...), Howard McNear (Floyd the Barber from The Andy Griffith Show), Dyan Cannon (twelve Oscar nominations), Frank Cady (Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Shasta Grape Soda and other ads...), James Stacy (Lancer)... Even James Arness' daughter (Jenny Lee Arness) makes an appearance. But Nolan is the star of the show and she puts on a delightful performance.

Wagon Train: The Sister Rita Story (1959) Season 2, Episode 25

No greater love

[10/10 · 10 February 2023]

This poignant episode features a fabulous cast many people will recognize from other shows. The main characters aside from a wagon train scout and a band of aggressive Utes are Catholic nuns and their Navajo orphans.

When scout Flint McCullough discovers the nuns, they are on a mission of mercy that's in danger of being derailed by Utes who have already destroyed the orphans' village and are determined to kill them, too. They view all Navajo, even children, as mortal enemies.

Complicating the situation, Flint is irrepressibly attracted to Sister Rita (Vera Miles). She is courageous, kind, selfless, loyal, and unaware of her physical beauty. She represents the ideal woman he has harbored in his mind during his lonely travels but has never expected to meet. Adding to the intrigue, she hasn't yet made her perpetual vow.

When all efforts to attain a peaceful resolution have been exhausted, the nuns are prepared to die rather than cede the orphans to the Utes and Flint refuses to abandon the nuns. An attack is imminent, but it won't end like most we expect to see in the old wild west.

The Twilight Zone: The Long Morrow (1964) Season 5, Episode 15

Serling Silver

[10/10 · 5 February 2023]

Like so many of Serling's stories, this gem was far ahead of its time despite its simple design. An astronaut and his love interest are separated by an unmanageable amount of space of time. It doesn't seem so fantastic now, but it's still artistically spectacular.

This poignant episode about star-crossed lovers has a simple plot and only three actors. There are no special effects and the set is spartan. Yet, it's pure magic.

The magic is in the acting and the writing. Dialogue without distraction, carefully crafted words expressing boundless possibilities... This is how excellence traverses the high wire without a safety net, without breaking a sweat.

Field of Dreams (1989)

Just imagine...

[10/10 · 19 December 2021]

On the surface, this is initially a movie about baseball. At some point, penance also emerges as a critical theme.

Those who know baseball history probably understand that the issue of penance is an important theme in the game for a variety of events that transpired even before the career of Shoeless Joe and the 1919 "Black Sox" (who were actually referred to as the Black Sox much earlier than 1919 due to dirty unis after owner Charles Comiskey initiated laundry fees that players resisted).

Yes, there are historical characters like Shoeless Joe and Moonlight Graham who carry more weight with passionate baseball fans (or Seamheads) than they might with most other people. But there is also gorgeous imagery courtesy of writer Terence Mann. There is perhaps no one better than James Earl Jones to delivers those famous words so many people remember.

Baseball, penance, a lost writer seeking his purpose... The movie is about all of those things, but fundamentally it is an eloquent film about the powers of imagination. As Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

Some people have focused on flaws with the plot. Some have said they think the idea of a baseball diamond on the edge of a cornfield is silly. But this is a film that continues to strike sacred chords within the hearts and minds of not only Seamheads, but also dreamers and those who love the vivid possibilities of language.

Dateline NBC: A Bronx Tale (2014) Season 22, Episode 52

Fresh Take

[10/10 · 6 November 2021]

Wow! An episode for those who refuse to quit.

Incredibly thought-provoking. The things we take for granted, the assumptions we make about other people, the opportunities so many squander...

I cannot remember the last time I cried so much.

"There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul."

• Ella Wheeler Wilcox.