"Wagon Train" The Christopher Hale Story (1961)

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Director:

Herschel Daugherty

TV Series:

"Wagon Train" (1957)

Original Air Date:

15 March 1961 (Season 4, Episode 25)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title | Wagon Train | Cult Western | Covered Wagon

Cast

John McIntire	...	Christopher Hale
Robert Horton	...	Flint McCullough
Lee Marvin	...	Jud Benedict
L.Q. Jones	...	Lenny
Frank McGrath	...	Charlie Wooster
Terry Wilson	...	Bill Hawks
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Claire Carleton	...	Mrs. Hennessey
Charles Horvath	...	Muerto
Wesley Lau	...	Stevens
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Wash (as Red Morgan)
Nancy Rennick	...	Mrs. Stevens

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Revue Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Revue Studios

Taking The Reins Of The Train

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This episode of Wagon Train was a milestone in the series long history. It introduced the character of Chris Hale as the new wagon-master of the show following the sudden death of Ward Bond.

The show had to some creative writing with other series regulars, Robert Horton, Terry Wilson, and Frank McGrath taking up the slack for the late Ward Bond for a few episodes. What eventually they came up with occurs in this episode.

The Wagon Train comes across the sight of an Indian massacre with a lone survivor who has just buried his and his brother's family. It's John McIntire as Chris Hale, a former noted wagon-master who had retired from the business and wanted to settle down with his family. That dream is now destroyed and with all his loved ones now suddenly dead, McIntire is understandably distraught.

Right after that however a new wagon-master arrives to takeover, sent by the Western Trails Company who had previously employed Bond. It's Lee Marvin and he turns out to be a regular Captain Bligh. Marvin quite frankly isn't interested in anything else other than speed. As he so eloquently puts it, if he can get a train to California fast enough, he can actually take two trains out per calendar year and double his salary. His salary and that of his men who are little better than outlaws, one of whom is character actor L.Q. Jones.

Of course Marvin ain't happy seeing McIntire on the train as he and McIntire have some history. All this sets up for the inevitable conflict and the Western Trails company gets a new and a good wagon-master for the duration of the series.