SHOTGUN SLADE "The Missing Train" 1959
SHOTGUN SLADE was a syndicated western series that ran for 78 episodes during 1959 – 61. The show stars Scott Brady as the title character. Brady is a private detective roaming the west taking cases that interest him. Besides a six gun, Brady carries a distinctive weapon, an over and under combination shotgun and rifle. (Rifleman, Wanted Dead or Alive, The Rebel etc all had the main characters with oddball weapons) This episode is the first of the production run.
Brady is called to Denver for a job. He is hired by railway owner, Hugh Sanders to look into a rather large theft. The theft turns out to be a million dollars worth of freshly minted gold pesos. These were stolen off a train taking the coins to Mexico. Not only is the gold missing, so is the car they were on and the four guards inside the car. The railway is on the hook to cover the loss.
The only clue is a man arrested in Denver for being drunk. The man, Dick Bernie, had one of the coins on him. The man though refuses to talk. Brady pays the man a visit to his cell for a bit of quiet conversation. Of course the "talk" turns into a knock-down, drag-out exchange of fists and boots.
Brady is soon on his way south to Texas following the line the train took. He hits a small town close to the border and stops at the local saloon. Inside he looks up Allison Hayes, Hayes just happens to be Dick Bernie's sister. Brady lays on a line of horse droppings about being a pal of her brother. He then shows Hayes the gold peso. He tells the woman that he is part of a group looking to move the hot coins for a price.
Things start to move quickly from here with new players, Peter Whitney and John Durren entering the picture. It seems that Whitney, Durren and Miss Hayes do indeed have the gold. The four missing guards had been in on the deal as well. They however picked their partners unwisely and are dead and buried. Now Hayes brother, Bernie, appears on the scene. He had broken out of jail in Denver and hot-footed it to Texas.
Various guns, rifles and lead throwers are now pulled and used. Bernie and Durren are quickly filled to overflow with lead. Miss Hayes and Whitney are collared and handed over to the local law, Tex Ritter.
Brady, who was slightly wounded in the battle, is soon on a train back to Denver. Once there, he confronts railway boss, Sanders about being the man behind the whole deal. Hayes and Whitney had spilled the beans on Sanders. Sanders thought that a million was too much to pass up. He had only hired Slade to make it look good. He never expected the man to actually solve the case. Off to the jail-house Sanders goes.
The episode has its moments, but really plays out too much like a "Richard Diamond" episode. The most un-western sounding jazzy score does not help. Since this is the first episode, I will need to take in a few more before deciding on the series.
Scott Brady was the brother of film noir icon, Lawrence Tierney. Brady also started out in film noir with roles in, HE WALKED BY NIGHT, CANON CITY, UNDERTOW, UNDERCOVER GIRL and IN THIS CORNER.
The small town Sheriff in the episode was played by b-western veteran, Tex Ritter. One of a number of singing cowboy types popular in the 1930's and 40's. He is best known for singing the song, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" in the film, HIGH NOON. He was the father of actor, John Ritter.
Allison Hayes some will recall from the 50's sci-fi classic, ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN.
Of note here is the series creator and producer, Frank Gruber. Gruber. Gruber cranked out the story or screenplays for film and television between 1939 and 1968. He worked in several different genres and was equally adept with all. These include, NORTHERN PURSUIT, THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS, JOHNNY ANGEL, DRESSED TO KILL, FIGHTING MAN OF THE PLAINS, CARIBOO TRAIL, WARPATH, PONY EXPRESS and SILVER CITY.
SHOTGUN SLADE was a syndicated western series that ran for 78 episodes during 1959 – 61. The show stars Scott Brady as the title character. Brady is a private detective roaming the west taking cases that interest him. Besides a six gun, Brady carries a distinctive weapon, an over and under combination shotgun and rifle. (Rifleman, Wanted Dead or Alive, The Rebel etc all had the main characters with oddball weapons) This episode is the first of the production run.
Brady is called to Denver for a job. He is hired by railway owner, Hugh Sanders to look into a rather large theft. The theft turns out to be a million dollars worth of freshly minted gold pesos. These were stolen off a train taking the coins to Mexico. Not only is the gold missing, so is the car they were on and the four guards inside the car. The railway is on the hook to cover the loss.
The only clue is a man arrested in Denver for being drunk. The man, Dick Bernie, had one of the coins on him. The man though refuses to talk. Brady pays the man a visit to his cell for a bit of quiet conversation. Of course the "talk" turns into a knock-down, drag-out exchange of fists and boots.
Brady is soon on his way south to Texas following the line the train took. He hits a small town close to the border and stops at the local saloon. Inside he looks up Allison Hayes, Hayes just happens to be Dick Bernie's sister. Brady lays on a line of horse droppings about being a pal of her brother. He then shows Hayes the gold peso. He tells the woman that he is part of a group looking to move the hot coins for a price.
Things start to move quickly from here with new players, Peter Whitney and John Durren entering the picture. It seems that Whitney, Durren and Miss Hayes do indeed have the gold. The four missing guards had been in on the deal as well. They however picked their partners unwisely and are dead and buried. Now Hayes brother, Bernie, appears on the scene. He had broken out of jail in Denver and hot-footed it to Texas.
Various guns, rifles and lead throwers are now pulled and used. Bernie and Durren are quickly filled to overflow with lead. Miss Hayes and Whitney are collared and handed over to the local law, Tex Ritter.
Brady, who was slightly wounded in the battle, is soon on a train back to Denver. Once there, he confronts railway boss, Sanders about being the man behind the whole deal. Hayes and Whitney had spilled the beans on Sanders. Sanders thought that a million was too much to pass up. He had only hired Slade to make it look good. He never expected the man to actually solve the case. Off to the jail-house Sanders goes.
The episode has its moments, but really plays out too much like a "Richard Diamond" episode. The most un-western sounding jazzy score does not help. Since this is the first episode, I will need to take in a few more before deciding on the series.
Scott Brady was the brother of film noir icon, Lawrence Tierney. Brady also started out in film noir with roles in, HE WALKED BY NIGHT, CANON CITY, UNDERTOW, UNDERCOVER GIRL and IN THIS CORNER.
The small town Sheriff in the episode was played by b-western veteran, Tex Ritter. One of a number of singing cowboy types popular in the 1930's and 40's. He is best known for singing the song, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" in the film, HIGH NOON. He was the father of actor, John Ritter.
Allison Hayes some will recall from the 50's sci-fi classic, ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN.
Of note here is the series creator and producer, Frank Gruber. Gruber. Gruber cranked out the story or screenplays for film and television between 1939 and 1968. He worked in several different genres and was equally adept with all. These include, NORTHERN PURSUIT, THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS, JOHNNY ANGEL, DRESSED TO KILL, FIGHTING MAN OF THE PLAINS, CARIBOO TRAIL, WARPATH, PONY EXPRESS and SILVER CITY.