Cimarron

Marshal Jim Crown (Stuart Whiman of Los Comancheros) must enforce the law in the strip of land lying between Kansas Territory and Indian territory in the late nineteenth century. He is accompanied by the stubborn , grizzled Scottish MacGregor (Percy Herbert of Navarone Guns and The Bridge on the River Kwai) and the likeable writer/photographer , Francis Wilde (the famous singer Randy Boone). Along with charming Easterner Dulcey (Jill Towsend of Poldark) who has inherited an inn , saloon restaurant from her late father .

This western adventure contains noisy action , horse pursuits , suspense and a lot of crossfire . The saga of Western life takes an exciting new dimension with Stuart Whitman as an implacable sheriff who delivers peace and order . It is set in Cimarron Strip : a stretch of land located between the Kansas Territory and land owned and occupied by Indian . Furhtermore , Cimarron Strip is full of its share of murderers , rustlers , gamblers , among others . As the sympathetic protagonists become involved in several threats , such as Indian attacks , stranger visitors with dark purports , bank robbers and range wars was always bubbling just beneath the surface . It was shown by CBS in 1971 , three years after it had been canceled and got success enough . It was a nice TV Western , a genre that on the cinema spectacle's tarnished but in television got splendor during the Sixties thanks to successful series as The Virginian , Bonanza , Wagon Train , Maverick , The High Chaparral . An unusual ninety-minute western series , formed by 23 episodes with a good main and support cast . Stars Stuart Whitman as two-fisted , but fair Marshal Jim Crown , assigned one of the West's toughest territories , he dedicates himself to taming the no-man's land known as Cimarron Strip . The agreeable quartet starring : Stuart Whitman , Percy Herbert , Randy Boone , Jill Towsend are supported by an important secondary cast as guest stars , such as : Telly Savalas , David Carradine , John Saxon , Steve Forrest, Warren Oates , Robert J. Wilke , William Bramley , Richard Farnsworth , LQ Jones , Albert Salmi , Mariette Hartley , Robert Lansing , Mark Lenard , James Stacy , Tuesday Weld , John Anderson , Lyle Bettger , Robert Duvall , Royal Dano and many others.

It displays a catching musical leitmotif by the prestigious Maurice Jarre ,who won three Academy Awards for his notorious soundtracks : Lawrence Arabia , Doctor Zhivago , Passage to India . The enjoyable series created by Christopher Knopf was well directed by good professionals and craftsmen, such as : Robert Butler , Lamont Johnson , Don Medford , Boris Sagal , Richard C. Sarafian , Sam Wanamaker, Herschel Daugherty , Vincent McEveety , Gerald Mayer , Bernard McEveety.

One of the finest westerns ever shown on television! Marshall Crown, the hero, was true, gritty, keen-thinking. The villains were believable,often complex, not the "cardboard cutouts" featured in modern TV shows.

The scenery was breath-taking, especially the opening sequence of Crown riding his horse across a broad vista of stark beauty, as the theme song, the BEST EVER for a TV western, soars majestically through the horse's dusty wake.

A wonderful supporting cast -- Dulcey, MacGregor, and Francis --added just the right touch to Crown's character, "softening or hardening" his edge as the situation demanded. Sadly, it lasted only one season. They don't make 'em like this any more!

I still remember the almost mystical episode where a mysterious something was killing folk just outside the perimeter of the town, leaving their bodies so mutilated that no-one could identify whether death was caused by man or beast. Cimarron Strip was like a western version of the Twilight Zone, instead of being the cartoon town which every other show had the Strip was its own place, far removed physically from the rest of the west and far removed in philosophy and execution from the rest of western TV shows. You never knew what complex psychological problem would come riding into town each week. Marshall Jim Crown stalked the Strip like a six-gunned God and town maiden Dulcie was the fairest of the fair. In TV Heaven, they show this every day. They should - there's never been another western like it.

BB

I was very young when I watched the reruns in the early 70s. This was more for my parents but cool enough for me. I knew this Marshall was no fool. Every episode was riveting. I really enjoyed the beginning riding the horse on the trail with that great theme. When your about 6 TV cowboys are real. I am sure I rode a few arm chairs with hat and holster on. The marshal portrayed the American Western Lawman has a prolific hero. The bad villains were really bad men that rode a horse and were not anti heroes or somethings cool. Marshal Jim Crown man's man. Today a show of this caliber would be on an HBO mini series. I don't think the networks could get away with a smart but violent show in which bad guys are left in the dirt. I yearn for good ole quality cowboy shows. A must see if you have never experience the likes of this one. I can't wait till it comes on DVD. Alias Smith and Jones comes out in Feb 2007 another classic. So hopefully soon Marshal Crown rides again.

This was a great series featuring the tough but tender Jim Crown. Plenty of action and gunplay kept the stories interesting each week. One year a friend and I kept count of the men Crown killed as compared to Matt Dillon. I don't remember which marshall came out on top, but the difference was only 2 bodies. I didn't miss an episode of this one, not only because Jim Crown was so cool, but I also liked looking at "Biscuit". Of course, MacGregor was always good for a laugh or two. Great show.