User Reviews

"The Marquesa" has a familiar theme. Bart wins a cantina called the Lucky Lady when his four treys beat a full house. He travels to the New Mexico territory only to learn the cantina has been closed due to a dispute over ownership. Nevertheless, he reopens it with drinks on the house. This was the last of Adele Mara's three appearances in Maverick, and she plays the Marquesa. She believes she is an impostor, a saloon girl, until it turns out that she really is the Marquesa and heir to the land. Adele was married to the show's creator, Roy Huggins. Nobby Ned Wyngate appears as a Jim Buckley-like grafter, although his character never caught on.

This Maverick story finds Bart Maverick the brand new owner of a saloon and it actually looks like Jack Kelly may settle down here and try to create a gambling palace where he will have house percentage on his side.

But a woman named Lily Nightingale former saloon singer is now claiming to be a long lost heir to the property and having one of those old Spanish land grants giving her the whole town. She's got herself a nice entourage including duena Eufemio Morris, cavalier caballero Rudolfo Hoyos, Jr., a judge played by Morris Ankrum, and a deaf mute service who loves his big knife and what he can do with it.

Evicted from his property and not about to take it lying down, Kelly is actually helped by the arrival of Edward Ashley another of those recurring con artists that Maverick featured. He actually joins forces with Bart Maverick this time and the fact he knows them from spending time in jail with them is of considerable help.

Adele Mara plays the title role in this episode of which a lot is based on the classic film Anastasia that starred Ingrid Bergman, Helen Hayes, and Yul Brynner.

In reference to the comment about Bart's almost closed eyes in the last scene: that was part of the story. He had a black eye that was almost swollen shut as a result of getting hit in the eye during a fight in the next to last scene.

The lead actors in Maverick were always excellent as Jack Kelly is in this one. Another thing that made Maverick so good were the excellent supporting actors. Combine that with excellent, clever writing, and you have a series that is really special.

Raymond Hatton stood out as Charlie Plank as he did as Harry in Royal Four Flush. Morris Ankrum, who played Joshua Haines in Naked Gallows, plays Judge Jason Painter in this episode. Lane Chandler plays the sheriff in this episode as he did in many of his other nine appearances, and was always a pleasant addition. Carlos Romero, who played Clete Spain in Substitute Gun, plays Manuel Ortiz here. Jay Novello played many varied roles in the series, and showed range from comedic to dramatic. In his role here, he is menacing.

The writing in this one isn't as good as the best Maverick episodes, but it is very good.

Bart's eyes are almost shut in the last scene. Must have had a rough night and an early shoot!