THE RESTLESS GUN 1957
This is an episode of THE SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE OF STARS. This anthology series ran for over 350 episodes from 1951 to 1959. This is the 286th episode of SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE. It is also the pilot episode for the Western series, THE RESTLESS GUN. After it posted positive audience ratings, it was picked up as a series. The pilot and the series starred John Payne as a top flight gunman who would rather avoid trouble if he can. This does not mean he will not pull iron if the need arises.
Britt Ponset (John Payne) is riding to visit an old friend, William Hopper and his wife, Joyce Cunning, who have settled nearby. On the trail, he meets a man, Andrew Duggan, heading in the same direction. The two strike up a conversation, and discover they are both heading to see the same man. Duggan however tells Payne he intends to kill Hopper.
Duggan has spent 4 years in jail and wants revenge on the ex-lawman, Hopper. Payne rides on ahead to the nearby town to warn his friend. In the town, a couple of local want to be tough guys, Robert Crossan and Michael Landon like to annoy newcomers. They challenge Payne to a quick draw contest. Payne ignores them till Landon goes for his gun. Payne pulls and beats Landon by a country mile. The two young men slowly walk off.
After getting directions to Hopper's ranch, Payne pays Hopper and Cunning a call. He finds that Hopper is happy being a rancher, the couple even have, a new baby. Hopper says he has hung up his guns and does not miss being a Lawman. Payne warns Hopper about Duggan and asks what the beef is about. Duggan it seems had tried to rob a bank with his brother. The brother had been killed and Duggan arrested by Hopper.
Needless to say there is no way Payne is going to let Hopper be called out by Duggan. When Duggan sends word where to meet, it is Payne who attends to the matter. He puts a couple of rounds into the man wounding him. Payne also needs to lay a thumping, on young Landon, who wants payback for Payne making him look stupid the day before. Now the local law shows and corrals Duggan. It seems the man had escaped prison and is now wanted for killing a prison guard.
This is a watchable half hour, with Payne looking the part of a world weary gunman quite well. The director was the under-rated big screen veteran, Robert Florey. Florey's work included, THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS, THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK, DANGEROUSLY THEY LIVE, DANGER SIGNAL and the superb, THE CROOKED WAY.
The actual RESTLESS GUN series would run for 77 episodes between 1957 and 1959.
This is an episode of THE SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE OF STARS. This anthology series ran for over 350 episodes from 1951 to 1959. This is the 286th episode of SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE. It is also the pilot episode for the Western series, THE RESTLESS GUN. After it posted positive audience ratings, it was picked up as a series. The pilot and the series starred John Payne as a top flight gunman who would rather avoid trouble if he can. This does not mean he will not pull iron if the need arises.
Britt Ponset (John Payne) is riding to visit an old friend, William Hopper and his wife, Joyce Cunning, who have settled nearby. On the trail, he meets a man, Andrew Duggan, heading in the same direction. The two strike up a conversation, and discover they are both heading to see the same man. Duggan however tells Payne he intends to kill Hopper.
Duggan has spent 4 years in jail and wants revenge on the ex-lawman, Hopper. Payne rides on ahead to the nearby town to warn his friend. In the town, a couple of local want to be tough guys, Robert Crossan and Michael Landon like to annoy newcomers. They challenge Payne to a quick draw contest. Payne ignores them till Landon goes for his gun. Payne pulls and beats Landon by a country mile. The two young men slowly walk off.
After getting directions to Hopper's ranch, Payne pays Hopper and Cunning a call. He finds that Hopper is happy being a rancher, the couple even have, a new baby. Hopper says he has hung up his guns and does not miss being a Lawman. Payne warns Hopper about Duggan and asks what the beef is about. Duggan it seems had tried to rob a bank with his brother. The brother had been killed and Duggan arrested by Hopper.
Needless to say there is no way Payne is going to let Hopper be called out by Duggan. When Duggan sends word where to meet, it is Payne who attends to the matter. He puts a couple of rounds into the man wounding him. Payne also needs to lay a thumping, on young Landon, who wants payback for Payne making him look stupid the day before. Now the local law shows and corrals Duggan. It seems the man had escaped prison and is now wanted for killing a prison guard.
This is a watchable half hour, with Payne looking the part of a world weary gunman quite well. The director was the under-rated big screen veteran, Robert Florey. Florey's work included, THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS, THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK, DANGEROUSLY THEY LIVE, DANGER SIGNAL and the superb, THE CROOKED WAY.
The actual RESTLESS GUN series would run for 77 episodes between 1957 and 1959.
