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In its own modest way, the single best television series Lloyd Bridges ever helmed. Though it only lasted 26 half-hour episodes in the mid-1960s, this rumination on the psychological and moral readjustments anguishing former Union soldier William Colton (Bridges) as he returns to the trail of a loner in post-Civil War America, had a freeform, experimental texture unlike any television western of its day -- most likely due to the significant contribution made to its teleplays by Rod Serling. Great direction and dialogue, too. The premiere episode, "An Echo of Bugles, " featuring an unforgettably poignant performance by a virtually unrecognizable Whit Bissell as "weak-as-a-kitten" former Confederate POW "Ab Nichols", sets the tone for this meditation on the lingering schizophrenia of divided loyalties that plagued our post-Lincolnian land as Grant assumed its presidency. A revelation to be rediscovered -- best writing of any TV Western I ever encountered. Truly a Western with an adult sensibility, obviously created as a centennial reflection on the aftermath of the War Between the States as seen through the eyes of the quintessential American cowboy archetype of the "loner". Serling will never be duplicated and, boy, is he missed! Haunting and haunted.

This "dank" little Western (as Leonard Maltin has described it) may star the estimable Anthony Quinn and it sure is obscure enough, but that deft little (and far too often unheralded) character actor Whit Bissell pulls off the only indelible moments in the film as the town drunk Breezy Morgan. Whit subtly sneaks in and simply steals the film from the rest of the cast. As usual, he isn't given a lion's share of screen time to do it which makes the skillful economy of his performance all the more noteworthy. So watch closely for the subtleties he is able to bring to the pathetic Breezy. If you believe such a stock character as a town drunk in a Western is usually played far too broadly and has only been satisfactorily realized by the likes of Victor Mature or Val Kilmer as erstwhile foppish Doc Hollidays, check out Whit's little gem of a performance here. You're in for a surprise.