User Reviews

After coming off a desert where he lost his horse, Bret Maverick is grateful for any kind of rescue. Rescue comes in the form of the Belcastles an English family which has bought a cattle ranch because it sounds like jolly good spot. The Belcastles include Seymour Green, Joan Elan , and the head of the clan Reginald Owen.

When back on the desert these three and James Garner are stripped of horses, water, food, and weapons and left stranded Garner is the only one who has some idea of what he's doing. But he's stymied by Owen who says by class he is the natural leader of the bunch.

Owen was the perfect characterization of the famous British cartoon figure from between the World Wars, Colonel Blimp. Blimp was this smug self satisfied aristocratic type who thought the British Empire was put on earth to bring law and order to the planet and it will last forever because God intends it so.

Anyway Garner is at his wit's end with this thick as a brick Englishman. But that's the fun in this Maverick story.

The first ten minutes or so is among the most amusing of the series. After that, the episode settles into a routine trek across the desert of a WB sound stage. Nonetheless, the premise is a pregnant one— the down-home Maverick has to deal with a haughty, titled British family when they extend their hospitality after he collapses at their door. The culture conflict is mined expertly by writer Marion Hargrove for snappy lines. Then too, Britishers Owen and Elan manage the task of being snooty without being dislikable. In fact, the pixie-like Elan is quite a good actress, catch her many subtle expressions. It's also Garner in his absolute physical prime.

Good thing the premise carries the hour since there's not much action until a poorly staged climactic shoot-out. Anyway, kudos to writer Hargrove and the cast for the many amusing moments.

The disquisition on grass by Lord Belcastle is profound, worthy of 100 stars by students of history and modern colonialism, via capital

Lord M:. "I should put the question to you, Sir. What always brings persons from one place to another? Grass." Mav: I thought for a minute you said 'grass?

Lord M: Quite. Grass is food. The whole history of civilization, my dear chap, is of people, ever moving westward, looking for greener grass. From the very beginning of recorded time...(interrupted) At present, the world's finest grass is in Wyoming. Consequently, so are we. Use better cattle..feed it on the native grass here. Has millions in it.

Mav: Well that makes sense. You moved here for business reasons.

Lord M: Good heavens no! We're merely moving a bit of capital. Now, soon as we got things here ship shape in blissful fashion,it's hippity-hop and home again.

Lord Ms Brother: The new colonialism, old boy. Don't send troops, send money.

There you have it! From 1958, Marion Hargrove uncovers the entire raison d'etre for the English Crown and Pilgrims Society!

Maverick. 1958 "The Belcastle Brand,"