"Cimarron Strip" (1967) TV series 1967-1968

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creator:

Christopher Knopf

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

7 September 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

The western adventures of tough but fair Marshal Jim Crown.

Plot Keywords:

Marshal | 1880s

Cast

Stuart Whitman	...	Marshal Jim Crown (23 episodes, 1967-1968)
Percy Herbert	...	Angus MacGregor (23 episodes, 1967-1968)
Randy Boone	...	Francis Wilde (23 episodes, 1967-1968)
Jill Townsend	...	Dulcey Coopersmith (23 episodes, 1967-1968)

Runtime:

90 min (23 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Good show. though unintentionally humorous at times

I remember Cimarron from its first run in 1967, and now I watch it when I can on EWST. The acting was at times over the top, the violence gratuitous, and Stuart Whitman's slurring of his lines always provided a chuckle ("Ged me muh gun, Dulzzz-y!").

Most humorous are the opening and closing scenes in which Whitman tries to ride a horse. As the horse goes full gallop across the plain, the actor appears to be doing all he can to stay in the saddle, body stiff, arms flailing up in the air. In one shot he even looks terrified, and in another he appears about to slide off the saddle! On the other hand, I do agree with the other commentators that the characters were relatively complex, with shades of gray rather than all good and all bad, which is how they are depicted in modern Western movies. Also notable is that it appears (at least in rerun) to have been filmed in somewhat washed-out color, thus adding to the gritty feel of the show. This is another technique that is popular in today's cinema (e.g., the remake of "3:10 to Yuma").

On the whole I rate this show a seven: for the unintentional laughs, complicated characters, and always an interesting storyline.