The Poker Fiend

Paladin's hired by a wife to bring back her rich husband before he loses their fortune in a five- month poker marathon! Naturally, the gamblers don't want to lose their pigeon, so trouble ensues.

You don't expect to see dude types like Peter Falk or Jack Weston in a macho Western, but here they are, thankfully playing gamblers instead of cowpokes. It's an odd entry, entirely indoors, and about gambling addiction. The story's not very believable since Weston's character is so pathetic, yet tough broad Sommers is supposedly stuck on him. In fact, the narrative as a whole is rather hard to follow, especially the showdown poker game where Falk and Paladin play for Weston's "soul". But then maybe that's just me. I wish there were some kind of highlight to single out, but, in my book, there just isn't, adding up to a sub-standard entry.