An Improvement over Season Five!
Part way into this season, 76 year old Charles Bickford who played Shiloh owner John Grainger died forcing yet another big change at the ranch. Truth is, Bickford was a mediocre replacement for the orignal owner Judge Garth, played by the meritorious Lee J Cobb. Bickford was crusty, stiff and too old for the part. Enter: Clay Grainger, John's brother who then took over the ranch (although John's absence was never fully developed in its explanation)
Sometimes replacement can be a good thing and this time it was clearly an improvement. Clay Grainger was played by none other than the venerable John McIntire who acted the role with a commanding and likeable presence. Mac had been in this position before having replaced the deceased Ward Bond part way thru the Wagon Train series. Make no mistake, McIntire is perfect in this role. Not only that, his real life wife Jeanette Nolan plays his character wife Holly in The Virginian.
This is truly a refreshing change, given...
virginian episodes
Here are capsule impressions from season six of "The Virginian," another year of upheaval for the graying series, which still kept to a fairly high standard.
THE RECKONING -- Guest stars, Charles Bronson, Miriam Colon
Vengeance-minded outlaw chief holds The Virginian and Elizabeth Grainger captive, but his wife's near-term pregnancy complicates matters. Plucky Sara Lane butts heads with Bronson while fighting to save Colon's baby and Drury's bacon in solidly constructed episode directed by Charles S. Dubin and scored by Bernard Herrmann. Odd presence of street smart Charles Grodin, playing a taciturn, buckskin-clad heavy, isn't too distracting.
THE LADY FROM WICHITA -- Guest stars, Joan Collins, Rose Marie
Saloonkeeper conceals her past when she arrives in Medicine Bow to collect inheritance. Leisurely outing allows plenty of elbow room for spunky duo of foxy Collins and wisecracking Rose Marie, both very likable.
STAR CROSSED -- Guest stars,...
"The Virginian Season Six"
I bought the first two seasons of "The Virginian" and was completely satisfied with the shows. Season six has been somewhat disappointing. Despite the coming of John Mc Intire as the new owner of Shiloh, the childish scripts of several shows and the lack of the presence of the main characters on several episodes, The Virginian and Trampas, made those somewhat boring and uninteresting. Obviously, by season six the series had passed its best years. Still, several episodes are still top-notch and that made the investment on season 6 worthwhile.
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