The Indian Girl Story
(Wagon Train season 8, 1965)
Were it not for the camera coming in close for both Bill and Charley, it wouldn’t have been Wagon Train enough; it would have been Acid Western, and that somewhat early on in that under-represented genre.
What got tacked-on to the end of the series, a very dark entry in an otherwise enjoyable thing that went between drama and pure oater, Bill and Charley holding the line for what was Wagon Train morality. They found their acting motivation, as the director opted for the close-ups that made the entire difference in the storyline—the very reaction shots were sufficient to establish order in the Wagon universe.
Bruce Dern as a renegade mechanically gave suggestions to the angry band of natives. There was a scene of himself breaking the hands of Barney.
There was an insert of Ernest Borgnine in “war paint”, but simply a few seconds in one camera shot: the perfect bookend for the regular cast, with Borgnine serving as “guest star” of the very first episode of the series 8 years earlier.
The Hitch Hiker
(Twilight Zone season 1, 1959)
She had dry-gulched a hitch-hiker and sped away.
But in turns out, he was up ahead, beside the road, again and again.
Like Santa Claus.
“I’ll take your part…
Ooooooooh
When times are tough…
I’m sailing right behind….”
This is what I got for listening to music while watching Twilight Zone. A song of devotion, and the lady freaking out on the show.
But I thought of Thom Yorke.
“Open up your skull.
I’ll be there.
Climbing up the walls.”
The Racetown Story
(Wagon Train season 8, 1965)
They drugged Bill and took his winnings.
When Barney relented, they stripped him and poured molasses all over him.
“You were right, Bill. I shouldn’t get in other people’s problems.”
Close up on Bill.
The face said enough, of course, of Bill Hawks.
He seemed to be coming unhanded, taking off his gunbelt and walking forward to Sam Race and his minions. Hal Needham was all ready to get in the back and shanghai Bill, but Bill, gun belt in hand, whacks Needham in the back of the head with the thing. On to the Boss Battle with a smiling, malevolent Dan Duryea(as Sam Race).
And the bullwhip.
Typical of Wagon Train morality, much ado of course in dialogue, but an oater at heart, letting a good fistfight settle the matter.
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