The first episode of "Wanted: Dead or Alive" with Steve McQueen was bounty hunter Josh Randall benefits from a powerhouse cast of villains. Carl Martin (Michael Landon later of "Bonanza" fame) and his brother Andy (Nick Adams of "The Rebel") kill Marshal Jeff Wilcox (John Cliff) in his own office. Josh Randall stumbles onto them. His attempt to rescue his friend the town sheriff fails, and murderous Andy guns down the defenseless lawman. Knocked unconscious momentarily, Josh recovers in time to fire his Mare's Leg at the retreating figures of the two brothers. He plugs Carl in the back, and Andy hunts up a doctor, Dr. Glen Leach (Vaughn Taylor of "The Professionals") who removes the bullet with no problem and then Andy shoot him and drags his body in the brush. So much for doing good deeds! Andy is the homicidal brother with Carl Michael Landon not far behind. Meantime, after the authorities found the lawman dead and Josh out cold, they surmised incorrectly that Josh shot and killed the marshal. Nothing to write home about, but efficiently done with the future star of "The Great Escape" playing a sympathetic bounty hunter.
Review of The Martin Poster
