The Virginian (TV Series) A Gallows for Sam Horn (1964) User Reviews

Romance and Range War

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 January 2020]

Edward Binns is one of a fine group of guest stars for this Virginian story. Binns is a railroad tycoon who is trying to seize several ranches for his railroad's right of way. Lee J. Cobb is the attorney for the ranchers among them is John Lupton.

But there's personal rivalry, a romantic rivalry for Laurel Goodwin between Lupton and Buck Taylor who is Binns's spoiled son. When Taylor is shot down, Lupton is arrested and even with Cobb defending him in court it's not looking too good.

Rounding out the guest cast is Virginia Christine as Binns's wife and George Kennedy as his tough guy railroad troublehooter. There is a great confrontation scene with Kennedy and Deputy Clu Gulagher.

All actors love courtroom scenes and Lee J. Cobb does quite well during the trial sequences. Good story line all the way through.

Ninety-minute format succeeds

[pfors-647-501497 · 8/10 · 12 April 2013]

The ninety-minute format of "The Virginian," initially questioned by skeptics who predicted it would be unworkable, became the series' greatest strength. Writers seized the opportunity it provided to add density to stories and characterizations. In the meticulously plotted "A Gallows for Sam Horn," motivations are so crystal-clear that even the unsympathetic characters played by Edward Binns and Buck Taylor are recognizably human. Stellar cast, headed by Lee J. Cobb's reliably commanding performance as Judge Garth, also includes Virginia (Mrs. Olson) Christine, a fine dramatic actress when she wasn't selling coffee, and George Kennedy. Playing a burly railroad enforcer, Kennedy displays the deft touch that would enable him to leave his thuggish stereotype behind and become a top-flight actor and enduring star.