"Law of the Plainsman" (1959) TV series

User Rating:

9.2/10   

Writer:

Milton S. Gelman (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 October 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Sam Buckhart was an Apache Indian who had saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush...

Cast

Michael Ansara	...	Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart (30 episodes, 1959-1960)
Gina Gillespie	...	Terry 'Tess' Wilkins (15 episodes, 1959-1960)

Also Known As:

The Westerners (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (30 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Company:

Cardiff Productions

Trivia:

Michael Ansara first played his character in this series on 17 Feb 1959 in the episode "The Indian" and again on 9 June 1959 in the episode "The Raid," both on the series "The Rifleman" (1958), but neither actually plays like a pilot for this program.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "The Rifleman" (1958)

One of a herd of Western series, but with two distinguishing features

1959-60 may have been the TV year in which more than one-half of the prime team schedule was taken-up by Westerns. I can't swear to the virtues of this series-- was only 10 at the time-- but two things have stuck in my mind that recommend it. The first, its narrative gimmick: a lawman who was also Native American. Michael Ansara had charisma to burn. The idea deserved good scripts. The chief tug on my memory all these years was its theme-music-- what I remember is distinctive and beautiful-- a stirring anthem, probably not :45 seconds long. After scanning all the retro-recordings of TV music, hoping against all odds that someone would preserve it, I am resigned to whistling from memory. I wonder who composed it?