***Official 2nd Annual HTF Western Movies/TV Shows Challenge 2025*** (3 Viewers)

[Robert Crawford]

***Official 2nd Annual HTF Western Movies/TV Shows Challenge 2025***

1. Watch Western-Movies/TV Shows from midnight March 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025 (use your own time zone to set the ending time).

2. Each Western-Movie/TV show can be viewed by physical media such as DVD, Blu-ray, 4K/UHD, etc. Other means of viewing can be done either by streaming or just watching a TV broadcast such as TCM or any other TV channel and/or internet outlet/app. Recorded or not recorded doesn't matter.

3. Unlike other HTF Movie Challenges, there isn't a minimum number of Westerns you have to watch during this Challenge. Each movie/TV show episode counts as one point each.

4. The only requirement during this Western Challenge is to briefly tell us why you liked or disliked each Western you watched. Please note the viewing means by which you watch the movie/TV show. Whether it was by physical media, streaming, TV broadcast and etc. Furthermore, your opinion can be expressed in just a few sentences or even longer paragraphs as to why you enjoyed the movie/TV show or why the movie/TV show didn't work for you. Such comments serve as an incentive for other people to watch or not watch a Western they never seen beforehand.

5. At the end of the challenge, the point totals will be added up based on the one-point system outlined in number 2 above. There won't be any participation categories like there are in other HTF Challenges. At the end of the Challenge, I will simply tabulate the total number of points each participant accumulated during March. Each participant will be listed with the number of points each has accumulated during March.

 

[Robert Crawford]

See my Summary with Movies/TV Shows Grades:

150) 03-30-25: "Cowboys & Aliens: Theatrical Cut" (2011) (4K/UHD) 3.5/5 Stars
Even though, I've seen this movie beforehand, during last evening's viewing, I noticed that I forgot much of this sci-fi western film. It was the theatrical cut that I watched and felt there were some missing pieces to this story so I'm going to watch the extended cut which is about 17 minutes longer. For the most part, I did enjoy this film about aliens coming to the earth out in New Mexico during the 1870's and mining not only gold from our planet but performing deadly experiments on humans they abducted. Frankly, the storyline is kind of weak with some plot holes but it's still an entertaining movie with different groups of people that are normally at odds against each other, now working together to combat the alien invaders. The 2024 Kino 4K/UHD release offers a fine looking 4K without HDR video presentation. I'll probably watch the extended cut of the film later this after this challenge is over with.

151) 03-30-25: "Blazing Saddles" (1974) (4K/UHD) 3.5/5 Stars
I think I made a mistake watching this movie just before going to bed. It wasn't as funny to me as it's been with prior viewings. Perhaps, I've watched this movie too many times because the jokes and stunts have lost some of their humorous effect on me. However, I still recognized the cinema greatness of this parody of not only western films but the Hollywood studio system. With that said, I did laugh out a couple of times during its runtime. I'm not going to bother writing about the film's storyline because it's so well known. However, the film touches on subject matters that are still relevant today, like racism, false narratives, political corruption and just plain bigotry. It was a movie ahead of its time that probably couldn't be made today. Some very talented people were involved in making this classic western parody. Ever since I watched this movie during its theatrical run, I wondered if Richard Pryor would've been effective as Cleavon Little as Bart. The 2024 Warner 4K/UHD release is something special with its 4K/HDR video presentation and Dolby Atmos audio.

 

[Robert Crawford]

My first memory of Unforgiven was watching the trailer for it in a halfway full theater in Santa Barbara in 1992, and hearing the gasps and murmurs from the audience when Clint Eastwood's aged and beaten face was seen. Many in the audience had grown up seeing Eastwood's younger faces, from his characters from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and suddenly he seemed to have aged ten years. This trailer promised a Western that was as tough as Eastwood's face, and it delivered. Because I remembered how gritty it was, and sometimes difficult to watch, I'm not sure if I've seen it all the way through in the years since, although I've watched parts of it.

But for this Western challenge I got the 4k uhd blu-ray of Unforgiven and watched it today. The image quality is excellent, and accurate to the realistic low-light conditions intended for many scenes. Production design for Unforgiven was by Henry Bumstead, who began working in 1944 as a set designer for Cecil B. DeMille, and who also worked with Hitchcock on Vertigo. Screenplay was by David Peoples, who also worked on Blade Runner and 12 Monkeys. Fine work by Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, and the rest of the cast.

I saw an interview with Hackman a while ago from a few years after he'd retired, and he said that it was stressful working on movies, and that his doctor had encouraged him to cut down on his stress. Since he felt he'd had a good run and had put in his time, Hackman just walked away from it, and seemed at that moment to be at peace with the decision.

My rating for Unforgiven from 1992: A+

Picture quality for the 4k uhd blu-ray: A+

William Munny (Clint Eastwood): "It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have....We all got it coming, kid."



View attachment 250034

I just realized that I haven't watch one Clint Eastwood western during this challenge. On the final day of this challenge, I'm going to watch "Unforgiven" on 4K/UHD. The video presentation has been criticized for being too dark. I'm going to see how it looks on my new OLED.

 

[benbess]

The Last of the Mohicans from 1992 is my favorite Western of all time. Just as the cgi era was dawning it's a true epic where everything is real, and more importantly the emotions feel real as well. Everything about this film fits together—the music by Trevor Jones, the cinematography by Dante Spinotti, the production design by Wolf Kroeger, the costumes by Elsa Zamparelli, and so on. Director Michael Mann describes in the audio commentary, which I listened to last night, how as an impressionable teenager he watched a 16mm copy of the 1936 version of this story, and so it took root in his mind early. Using much of the 1936 screenplay by Philip Dunne, but revising and adding to it to make it even better, he and everyone else working on it created a wonderful film with such texture and power. The cast makes this film come to life: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeline Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Wes Studi, Steven Waddington, Maurice Roeves, and on and on.

In the audio commentary it's impressive to hear how steeped in the real history of the era director Michael Mann became.

Anyway, I've seen this movie more times than any other Western, probably about thirty times, almost once a year since it came out in theaters. The last half hour or so of the movie has an almost overwhelming intensity, and so far this part of the movie always makes my eyes mist up by the end.

My rating for The Last of the Mohicans from 1992: A+

Picture quality for the Director's Cut blu-ray: A

Here's an amusing trivia item from imdb. I don't know it's it's true, but from the rather obsessive sound of the director's audio commentary it feels like it might be: "Many long nights were spent filming the siege scenes. Loudspeakers were installed around the battlefield and fort so directions could easily be given to the hundreds of cast and crew. One night after many long hours, Mann shouted over the speakers, "What's that orange light? Turn out that orange light!" After a pause, another voice came over the speakers saying, "That's the SUN, Michael."


Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis): "You stay alive! If they don't kill you, they'll take you north up to the Huron lands. Submit, do you hear? You're strong! You survive! You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you! No matter how long it takes, no matter how far."

 

[Mark-P]

Entry #27
The Iron Horse, Fox Film Corporation, 1924, Silent. This is an early John Ford movie about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Hunky Dave Brandon (George O’Brien) is a railworker courting childhood friend Milly (Madge Bellamy) who is the daughter of the railroad proprietor, and he is fighting against two men who are secretly trying to thwart the plans and bring down the railroad company. It’s an epic 2 and a half hour silent film that really put John Ford on the map as a filmmaker. It ends with the golden spike at Promontory Point.

For whatever reason, Kino cancelled their plans to put this out on Blu-ray, however I purchased it in HD on Amazon, though it is pretty much the same transfer as the Ford at Fox DVD.
Rating 3.5 stars out of 4.

Entry #28
High Noon, United Artists, 1952. Believe it or not, I had not seen High Noon in 26 years! It is a superb film, and I think everybody already knows what it is about. This wedding day from hell is a taut 84 minutes told in real time, that just sprints by in what feels like no time at all. It had been so long since I had seen it that I audibly gasped when Quaker Grace Kelly shot one of the villains, because I had completely forgotten that she was the hero!

What is really interesting is how controversial this movie was when it was first released. It was despised by some other directors and stars of Westerns who felt it was un-American.

My viewing was on iTunes in 4K HDR and it looked absolutely incredible.
Rating 4 stars out of 4.

I’ll be back early tomorrow morning with my final 2 entries, and they are big ones.

Spoiler: Running tally

Running tally:
1. Conquest of Cochise 3-1-25
2. Westward the Women 3-2-25
3. Oregon Passage 3-3-25
4. The Tall T 3-4-25
5. Vera Cruz 3-5-25
6. Conagher 3-6-25
7. California Conquest 3-7-25
8. McCabe & Mrs. Miller 3-9-25
9. Fort Dobbs 3-10-25
10. Bend of the River 3-11-25
11. Jubal 3-12-25
12. The Law and Jake Wade 3-14-25
13. The Shadow Riders 3-15-25
14. Cimarron (1960) 3-17-25
15. Santa Fe Trail 3-18-25
16. Apache Rifles 3-19-25
17. The Big Trail 3-20-25
18. Broken Arrow (1950) 3-21-25
19. Garden of Evil 3-22-25
20. War Arrow 3-23-25
21. Northwest Passage 3-23-25
22. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean 3-24-25
23. Bad Company (1972) 3-25-25
24. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 3-26-25
25. Duel in the Sun 3-27-25
26. The Light in the Forest 3-29-25
27. The Iron Horse 3-30-25
28. High Noon 3-30-25

 

[Tino]

Viewing #14. UHD.
Mel Brooks’ Classic

What can be said about this classic spoof of westerns that hadn’t already been said? Probably nothing.

Wonderfully irreverent and awesomely politically incorrect it pays homage and ridicules every Western trope before it. Hilariously. Everything including the kitchen sink.

Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman. Slim Pickens. Madeline Kahn. Richard Roundtree. Mongo…. Etc.

Never gets old. 10/10

 

[Tino]

Viewing # 15. Digital HD
TI West’s

I enjoyed this very low budget 2016 western story of revenge starring Ethan Hawke and John Travolta.

A familiar story of a stranger and his dog passing thru a sleepy western town and the ensuing violence that follows when something loved is taken away.

Nice supporting performance by Taisa Farmiga. Miscast is Karen Gillian as her older sister in love with the town bully.

All in all a decent modern western. 7/10

 

[Walter Kittel]

The Last of the Mohicans from 1992 is my favorite Western of all time.

I posted briefly about this film earlier in this thread regarding the finale. It is a terrific film and endlessly entertaining.

Seeing another post on the topic reminded me of one thing that always stuck with me... Despite 'roughing it' for any number of days in the woods, the cast of the film - particularly Hawkeye and Cora are able to maintain that 'freshly shampooed' look throughout the film. Us mere mortals should be so lucky. When I was younger, I'd camp out for the weekend and look like a hobo.

- Walter.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Viewing #14. UHD.
Mel Brooks’ Classic
View attachment 250072


Never gets old. 10/10

It got a little old for me last night but I was tired and sleepy. I still remember debating this film with my classmates in 1974.

 

[Tino]

It got a little old for me last night but I was tired and sleepy. I still remember debating this film with my classmates in 1974.

Much of the charm is nostalgia for me I admit as it’s one of the first films I ever saw in a theater.

 

[benbess]

After the box offices successes of Unforgiven and The Last of the Mohicans for a few years more big Westerns were made. Lawrence Kasdan's Wyatt Earp is an expensive epic that's more than three hours long, and feels almost like a miniseries. Wyatt Earp got mixed to negative reviews and lost a lot of money. I recommend Netflix's recent docudrama called Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy Wars, which confirms that a lot of what's in this movie more or less happened. Kevin Costner slowly transforms in Wyatt Earp from an almost innocent young man into a cold killer out for revenge. The fine cinematography is by Owen Roizman, who also filmed The French Connection, The Exorcist, The Stepford Wives, Network, Tootsie, etc. Just a year after this movie Roizman retired.

My rating for Wyatt Earp from 1994: A-

Picture quality for the blu-ray: A-

Nicholas Earp (Gene Hackman) "Do you think you're the first person to lose someone? That's what life is all about, loss. But we don't use it as an excuse to destroy ourselves. We go on, all of us."

 

[benbess]

Watched Tombstone for the first time today. Experiencing Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday and Michael Biehn as Johnny Ringo trade Latin phrases with each other was somehow the realization of a cinematic dream that I hadn't realized that I had. The cast is almost unreal, and also includes Kurt Russell (who helped direct), Sam Elliot, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Dana Delany, Stephen Lang, Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Zane, Harry Carey Jr., Charlton Heston, and others. Since 1981's Blow Out I've enjoyed films that use a split diopter, and it was effectively used in Tombstone by cinematographer William Fraker (Bullitt, Paint Your Wagon, 1941, Wargames, etc). One of the split diopter shots from Tombstone is below.

My rating for Tombstone from 1993: A

Picture quality for the streaming version from amazon: A

Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) "What's it like to wear one of those?"

 

[Josh Steinberg]

30. Have Gun Will Travel, “Broken Image” (Season 4, Episode 32) - 3/28
-This one was a nice follow-up to the Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which I had revisited the night prior. Paladin is summoned to a small town who needs its local hero to saddle up against an armed threat. But once Paladin is on the trail with that local hero, he starts to realize that not all is what it seems with the acts of heroism attributed to that man.

31. The Rounders - 3/28
-I unashamedly love this movie, with Henry Fonda and Glenn Ford pitch perfect as two idiot cowboys stuck working for a cheapskate rancher played by Chill Wills. Humor is subjective and this might not work for everyone, but it hasn’t failed yet to crack me up.

32. The Man From Laramie - 3/30
-The last of the Stewart/Mann westerns. My memory of it had been that it was my least favorite of the five (and maybe it still is, but “least favorite” does not mean “bad”), but the movie as a whole was stronger than I remembered.

 

[benbess]

I haven't seen director Richard Donner's Maverick since it came out in 1994. There are still a good number laughs along along the way in this epic light-hearted comedy. Nice cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond (Oscar winner for CE3K). Lots of guest stars from Western tv shows and movies from the 50s and 60s.

My rating for Maverick from 1994: B+

Picture quality streaming Maverick on amazon: B+

Anabelle (Jodie Foster): "Well, you all don't have the exclusive on tells!"




Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is almost the end of the line when it comes to hand-drawn animated American movies. Good songs by Bryan Adams with music by Hans Zimmer.

My rating for Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron from 2002: A

Picture quality for the blu-ray: A

Spirit: "They say that the history of the west was written from the saddle of a horse, but it's never been told from the heart of one. Not till now. I was born here, in this place that would come to be called the Old West. But, to my kind, the land was ageless. It had no beginning and no end, no boundary between earth and sky. Like the wind and the buffalo grass, we belonged here, we would always belong here. They say the mustang is the spirit of the West. Whether that west was won or lost in the end, you'll have to decide for yourself, but the story I want to tell you is true."

 

[Scott Merryfield]

17) 3/31/25 In a Valley of Violence (2016) iTunes HD Digital 2/5

I got this film for free from the Universal Rewards program when the studio canceled the program and I had to use up my points. I am glad I didn't pay anything for it, as neither my wife nor I really cared for the movie.

Ethan Hawke (Paul) is a drifting deserter from the cavalry who comes through the town of Denton on his way to Mexico along with his dog. John Travolta plays the town marshal, whose son Gilly (James Ransone) picks a fight with Paul, who quickly takes care of Gilly in a fair fist fight. Gilly and his "gang" get revenge by bushwhacking Paul, killing his dog, and leaving him for dead. Unfortunately for them, Paul is not dead and returns to unleash his vengeance on them.

The film attempts to emulate a spaghetti western with its opening titles and musical score, but comes off as a poor attempt at this. Other than Hawke and Travolta, the acting is very weak at best, and downright terrible at its worst. The story's outcome is pretty predictable, too.

Spoiler: Summary of films watched

1) 3/2/25 The Gunfighter (1950) Criterion Blu-Ray 4.5/5
2) 3/2/25 Unforgiven (1992) 4K UHD 5/5
3) 3/4/25 The Searchers (1956) 4K UHD 5/5
4) 3/5/25 The Shootist (1976) Arrow Video Blu-Ray 4.5/5
5) 3/6/25 Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) 4K UHD 5/5
6) 3/9/25 The Wild Bunch (1969) Original Director's Cut Blu-Ray 5/5
7) 3/10/25 The Professionals (1966) Blu-Ray 5/5
8) 3/11/25 Tombstone (1993) Blu-Ray 4.5/5
9) 3/12/25 High Plains Drifter (1973) Kino Lorber 4K UHD 4.5/5
10) 3/13/25 Support Your Local Sheriff (1969) Twilight Time Blu-Ray 4.5/5
11) 3/13/25 Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) Twilight Time Blu-Ray 3.5/5
12) 3/21/25 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) iTunes 4K Digital 5/5
13) 3/23/25 True Grit (2010) iTunes HD Digital 4.5/5
14) 3/27/25 Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004) Fandango @ Home 4K Digital 5/5
15) 3/29/25 Legends of the Fall (1994) iTunes 4K Digital 4.5/5
16) 3/30/25 Old Henry (2021) iTunes 4K Digital 3.5/5
17) 3/31/25 In a Valley of Violence (2016) iTunes HD Digital 2/5

 

[Robert Crawford]

See my Summary with Movies/TV Shows Grades:

152) 03-31-25: “Unforgiven” (1992) (4K/UHD) 5/5 Stars
I haven't much to say about this great western except to say that this film will go down as one of the best ever filmed. With its quotable dialogue from Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman along with strong support from Morgan Freeman, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this 2017 4K/UHD release again on my new OLED. Everything looked great and I didn't think it looked particularly dark on my display because it's been mentioned as overly dark by others on their HT setup. Furthermore, both main characters from this film, William Munny and Little Bill Daggett along with Big Whiskey Wyoming will be well remembered in western movie lore.

153) 03-31-25: “Two Mules for Sister Sara: International Cut” (1970) (4K/UHD) 4/5 Stars
I first watched this movie during its theatrical run, but it wasn't this film version. It was the shorter domestic cut that I need to revisit someday because I kind of forgot what that domestic version of the film looked like. I've bought this international cut on three different Blu-ray releases and then a fourth time on 4K/UHD last November. A mercenary for hire rescues a nun from being raped by three bandits south of the border. Afterwards, Eastwood with the help of MacLaine is trying to help Mexican revolutionaries against French troops under Maxmillian. TBH, I never bought MacLaine as a nun in 1970 nor today while watching it again. Of course, in the film, that turns out to be true. Anyhow, I thought it was an okay western back in the day. However, I do like the film a lot more today for some reason. Over the years, my film appreciation for it has increased. I really like the film's musical scoring. Originally, this was supposed to be a Bud Boetticher directed film that went by the wayside. Boetticher's screenplay was rewritten by blacklisted writer Albert Maltz. Don Siegel directed Eastwood for the second time before doing so again in three more films. The movie was filmed in Durango Mexico which has been used by several westerns. I was pleased with the 4K/Dolby Vision video presentation from the 2024 Kino 4K/UHD release as it looked terrific on my display.

154) 03-31-25: "Outlaw Women" (1952) (Vudu HD Digital) 1/5 Stars
I'm finished up this western challenge watching for the first time, a couple of horrible westerns. First up was a 2023 Vudu HD digital purchase. A "B" western made by an independent production company in 1951 after two weeks of filming. Released in 1952, it's an awful western about a western town controlled by women in which the men are outnumbered 9-1 and the women control everything. Marie Windsor plays the boss lady of the town and Maria Hart plays her ramrod that strikes matches off her teeth. I liked the idea of an early feminist western but the writing, production values and acting are just terrible in every way. It's funny seeing Jackie Coogan/Uncle Fester of Addams Family fame, playing a gunslinger in this cheap production western. Also, the Vudu video presentation is as awful as the film.

155) 03-31-25: "Massacre River" (1949) (Max) 1.5/5 Stars
My last western for this challenge is almost equally bad as "Outlaw Women". The difference is I kind liked the actors in this bad western more so than that prior film. This is basically a western soap opera involving a couple of love triangles. First, we have two army calvary lieutenants, who are in love with the daughter of their fort's commanding officer. Also, we have two women in love with one of those lieutenants, one the colonel's daughter and the other a saloon owner. All of this love stuff takes place during Indian conflicts with the army and settlers that is pushed to the film's background. And that's the problem with this film because there is more talk than action. Furthermore, the action sequences are poorly staged especially the ones between the Indians and army. Even the film mattes are pretty bad throughout the film. The two lieutenants are played by Guy Madison and Rory Calhoun. Cathy Downs plays the "good" girl and Carole Mathews plays the "bad" girl in love with Madison. This is another western I never heard of until browsing the other day on Max. It's definitely a western I'll never watch again with its misleading film title and little actual action sequences. Anyhow, it’s the final western I'll watch for this year's western challenge. I'll tally my count in the morning.

 

[Tino]

4 episodes of Bonanza viewed on Tubi

Viewing 16
S1 Ep 19 The Gunmen
A fun lighthearted episode where lil Joe and Hoss are mistaken for hired killers. A riff in the Hatfields vs the McCoys.

Viewing 17
S1 Ep 20 The Fear Merchants
The Cartrights come to the aid of a Chinese boy accused of murder. An engrossing exciting episode.

Viewing 18
S1 Ep 21 The Spanish Grant
A good episode dealing with seizing of homes and lands. The Elderly lady seemed so familiar to me when I realized it was the actress who played T’pau on the classic Star Trek episode Amok Time.

Viewing 19
Ep 22 Blood On The Land
A great violent episode about a sheep herder who tries to steal the Ponderisa.

 

[Tino]

Does Little House On The Prairie count as a western series. I’ve been caring for my mother in law who has dementia and we must have watched at least 50 episodes in the last month.

 

[compson]

In Apache (1954), an early effort from director Robert Aldrich, Burt Lancaster plays Massai, a member of an Apache tribe who, after Geronimo’s surrender, escapes while being transported to a reservation in Florida. Lancaster isn’t likable, but we pull for him in part because of how awful most of the U.S. Army members are portrayed. A 1954 movie told from the point of view of an Indian warrior is a worthy exercise, but the movie isn’t enthralling or even particularly interesting.

Wichita (1955) has become a cattle railhead, and the town prepares for the great influx of people and commerce. Wyatt Earp goes to Wichita to start a business, but he’s so offended by the lawlessness he witnesses the first night cattlemen come to town that he accepts the job of marshal. Town business leaders soon fear Earp is going too far. Joel McCrea is too old to play Earp as he begins his time in law enforcement (the real Earp was 27; McCrea is 49) and romances 25-year-old Vera Miles, and there are no surprises in the tight 81-minute runtime, but it’s a hugely enjoyable film. Jacques Tourneur directs. The movie is composed to use the full width of the 2.55:1 Cinemascope frame and must have been a mess in pan-and-scan.

James Stewart plays the title character in Anthony Mann’s The Man From Laramie (1955). After delivering supplies from Laramie to New Mexico, Stewart’s wagons are burned and mules killed on orders from the spoiled son of the rancher who owns most of the land in the area. Stewart sticks around while the son and his father’s longtime ranch foreman compete for the father’s favor. This is another tough and successful movie from Mann and Stewart, with one particularly striking scene of violence.

 

[compson]

The Virginian wraps up its first season (1962-63):

Ep. 26, Echo of Another Day. Trampas’s friend, Bradford Dillman, has completed his sentence for his involvement in the theft of $50,000 in gold that he hid. His old partner finds him and wants the gold. Ed Asner plays a government agent with the same objective. The episode does a good job of building to the inevitable climax but ends predictably.

Ep. 27, Strangers at Sundown. Judge Garth and Betsy are traveling by stagecoach with six other passengers when they come under fire. They’re soon barricaded in a way station as the attackers demand that one specific passenger be sent out to them. The passengers argue over what to do. There’s a danger in an episode like this that it just fills time until the conclusion, but things happen here to keep the story moving. It’s a good episode with a good climax, though one wonders why those who wanted to send the targeted passenger out didn’t simply walk out themselves. The passengers include Harry Morgan and Richard Anderson.

Ep. 28, The Mountain of the Sun. On a train, the Virginian meets three female missionaries headed to Mexico to deliver medicines to a band of murderous Yaqui Indians. The Virginian ends up escorting them. The episode is nearly as naïve as the missionaries.

Ep. 29, Run Away Home. The Virginian is carrying a large sum of money belonging to Judge Garth, while being pursued by a man who feels wronged. The story is by Gene Roddenberry and the teleplay by Howard Browne (author of Paul Pine detective novels, among other things), but much of the episode feels like filler. There is a nice twist, though, with 20 minutes to go.

Ep. 30, The Final Hour. Judge Garth grants a right-of-way to a coal mining company, and Polish immigrants arrive to begin constructing the mine. Don Galloway (later on Ironside), a rancher’s son, is attracted to a young immigrant. She’s interested in Trampas, but her over-possessive longtime boyfriend is angered if she has contact with any other man. At the episode’s midpoint, Galloway and the boyfriend come to blows, with deadly consequences. Tensions rise between the immigrants and ranchers opposed to the immigrants’ presence in the area. The episode is well-intentioned but feels very much like a made-for-television confrontation.

 

[Malcolm R]

Godless (2017) - Netflix

Chapter Three: Wisdom of the Horse

The Quicksilver advance security team arrives in La Belle and immediately begins making a bad impression. Roy starts breaking horses for Alice as she begins teaching him to read, per their bargain. At the same time, Roy takes on the role of father figure of sorts for Alice's son, Truckee, teaching him how to ride, about the environment, how to be smart in a confrontation, and that at times it's better to use your brain instead of your gun. Marshall Cook comes to a sudden and violent end at the hands of Frank Griffin as he and his gang continue the search for Roy Goode.

Some beautiful scenes with horses in this episode with the backdrop of the location scenery and wonderful cinematography. I'm still not really sold on Michelle Dockery here (I'm used to seeing her in Downton Abbey). She was nominated for an Emmy for acting, but she seems to spend most of her time standing around observing what's going on rather than being a central figure. The rest of the cast is very good.