Telling a convincing tale in twenty five minutes involves an economy of world building - setting up a location, characters, building a conflict and establishing a resolution.
This episode does that well, showing a town under the thrall of a protection racket run by its own sheriff (a loose but effective performance from John Larch), and John Payne's lead being hamstrung in what he can do by the religious woman he admires who prohibits the use of guns to solve problems.
Complicating matters is an unethical gambler played by the incredible Jack Elam. As an actor Elam had one of the ugliest beautiful faces out there, one of those mugs that just looked wrong from any angle, like something erupting from a Picasso cubist nightmare. Disturbing yet quite magical. He brings his particular physiognomy to a two-faced character that drips with menace.
In resolving matters without guns Payne has to set one villain against another and hope he survives the crossfire.
An entertaining and effective half hour.
This episode does that well, showing a town under the thrall of a protection racket run by its own sheriff (a loose but effective performance from John Larch), and John Payne's lead being hamstrung in what he can do by the religious woman he admires who prohibits the use of guns to solve problems.
Complicating matters is an unethical gambler played by the incredible Jack Elam. As an actor Elam had one of the ugliest beautiful faces out there, one of those mugs that just looked wrong from any angle, like something erupting from a Picasso cubist nightmare. Disturbing yet quite magical. He brings his particular physiognomy to a two-faced character that drips with menace.
In resolving matters without guns Payne has to set one villain against another and hope he survives the crossfire.
An entertaining and effective half hour.
