The Yank

Ordinarily I do not like shows -- or books -- about villains, but the careful and objective writing for this pilot allowed me to give it a high rating.

James Drury gave such a good performance, I was amazed that I hadn't previously realized what talent that man had.

John McIntire was always one of the greats and his is the second most important character.

Most of the other players, except possibly L.Q. Jones, are rather unknown today, but deserve more recognition.

It's impossible not to wonder how this would have fared had the series been produced, but at least this pilot -- NOT a "TV movie"! -- is available at YouTube, and is also available from Westerns on the Web.

This is a fine 30 minute episode of a series than never aired. When The Rebel was cancelled, so was The Yank. If you want to watch it, it's included in the box set of The Rebel TV series. In retrospect, the fact that it wasn't picked up and didn't become a popular show was good, as Drury would soon be cast in The Virginian.

The success of "The Rebel" in its first season inspired producer Andrew Fenady to look at the post-war adjustments faced by "Rebel" Johnny Yuma through the eyes of a counterpart: a former Yankee soldier turned doctor.

Matthew Dorn (James Drury) wandered through the wrecked Southern states, trying to use his medical skills as a means of penance for the carnage he committed as a Union officer during the Civil War.