Black Saddle

This short-lived western series was a departure from the usual B-western fare that had dominated the big screen for so many years. Peter Breck (later to be Nick on Big Valley) and Russell Johnson (Later the Professor on Gilligans Island) starred in this tale of an ex-gunman who began using the law to subdue the owlhoots who circumvented prairie law.

Breck and Johnson did well in this series, but the plot and limited action were too much of a departure for the series to catch on. Still, its worth a look to see these interesting actors early on in their budding careers.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started watching the early morning reruns of this series on Talking Pictures TV, but after seeing a number of episodes, I am thoroughly impressed. At only 25 minutes, episodes are short, but the amount of story and intrigue is remarkably high for such a brief running time. The quality is extremely good in general, and many of the episodes are very tense. The acting is also very believable, with the interplay between Clay Culhane and the town Sheriff, who seem to have a slightly difficult relationship (evident in most episodes), being particularly interesting. I am now watching every weekday morning, and having to watch episodes I miss, which are fortunately on You Tube. Love it! Right, back to Red Dead Redemption 2...

Seeing the kind of success that Warner Brothers was having with Sugarfoot with a young lawyer as a protagonist, Dick Powell's Four Star Production came up with the idea of a gunfighter giving up his weapons and studying for the bar and passing same.

Peter Breck was the gunfighter/lawyer and he happens to settle in Marshal Russell Johnson's town. Johnson had a peculiar relationship with Breck. He certainly was handy to have around if he was on your side. But just his reputation brought in trouble to his town that Johnson didn't need. Every episode as I recall seem to bring out these complexities.

Of course both these guys did better with their respective next television series, Johnson with Gilligan's Island as the Professor and Breck as Nick Barkley in The Big Valley.

Back in 1959 when I was a mere lad of 12 years old, Peter Breck came home to visit his family who happened to live on Cutler Street in Rochester, New York. My brother, sister, and I along with my cousins happened to meet him when we went across the street and kind of crashed the Breck family gathering. My grandparents happened to live on that block as well I have to say Peter Breck was a gracious man putting up with those juvenile fans of his.

So here's to you Peter Breck, a real cowboy hero. And a pretty good actor, except for that film The Beatniks.