https://youtube/watch?v=VKp-w2DXyaw “The Hanging Cross” December 21, 1957 **** B+ Wow! This is quite a distinctive and indeed unique episode. Normally at the start of each show, you see the same “generic” shot of Paladin in side silhouette that then becomes close up to the gun. You see the hand and the drawn gun pointing to the audience. Paladin then gives a few lines from the episode. This is an excellent, dramatic tease to lure the viewer to keep watching the show (instead of changing the channel back then to the Lawrence Welk show perhaps!). However, what makes this particular episode unique is that Richard Boone filmed a new intro just for “The Hanging Cross.” In a sense, it’s “live” and personal, just for Christmas! Here he actually takes off his belt and holster and looks at the camera, saying: “With this gun I could’ve stopped murder tonight. And I’ve taken it off. That’s my present to you…”[Note: Once again, this was the Christmas show, and the episode took place on Christmas Eve]… “In all life I’ve only seen a dozen real killers, but I’ve seen ten thousand people that would stand by and let it happen. Which is the greater evil?” With the HGWT Main Title music playing, Paladin then puts his gun and holster up on a clothing peg and the words “Richard Boone” that soon fades, and then “Have Gun” appears followed by “Have Travel.” The story, incidentally, was written by Gene Roddenberry. Another distinction in this Christmas show drama is that the music editor decided to include most of a very impressive “religious material” cue during Paladin’s “sermon” in the church on Christmas Eve to the townspeople. That cue is “Religious Procession No. 1” (cue # 253), CBS 8-34-D, located in Box # 2 at UCLA in the CBS Collection. The music was not composed by Bernard Herrmann, however (although it has some rather Herrmannesque qualities). Rather, it was penned by Rene Garriguenc. CBS Library VIII Reel 34-D description sheets identify the music as “Neutral, legato religioso background for strings and woodwinds; breaks at :47, 3:06.” Duration is 3:35. The cue’s companion piece is titled “Religious Procession No. 2” (cue # 254). It was substantially aired on a Perry Mason episode about a killer loose in a religious retreat (I forgot the title as I’m writing this). The episode itself is a definite “message” story, quite fitting for Christmas. It’s initially a heavy drama but not a tragic one because it ends quite well. Edward Binns plays the hardened Nathaniel Beecher (his tough-guy persona made complete by his very bushy eyebrows!). Abraham Sofarer plays the Pawnee Indian chief, Cah-la-te. Young Johnny Crawford (just before his Rifleman role) plays Robbie. -Chapter 1 from 9:09 to 9:16: “Middle Tag” (HGWT) -Chapter 2 from :01 to 1:52: “Indian Signals” a mix of bars starting on Bar 1. Scene: Paladin is in a pow-wow discussion with the Pawnee chief. -Chapter 2 from 1:53 to 2:24: “Lead-In A” (Police Force) Bars 5-9 -Chapter 2 from 6:00 to 9:19: “Religious Procession No. 1” (by Rene Garriguenc) Bars 1-31, 29-32, then a small repeat. Paladin stands before the group and speaks: “My card says Have Gun Will Travel. I have no intention of trying to justify my profession to you, or my personal code. I am a long way from being a preacher. But I do know something about killing, and that’s what you people are going to have to do tonight….” (etc). -Chapter 3 from :01 to 1:09: “Indian Suspense” Bars 1-16. Scene: Pawnee encampment facing a confrontation with Beecher (“suspenseful” indeed). -Chapter 3 from 1:10 to 1:55: “Emotional # 3” (Walt Whitman) starting on Bar 2. Scene: The townspeople arrive and share Christmas Eve food and song with the Indians. The ending is somewhat laughable (a shake-your-head groaner), but this is after all a Christmas morality play, so I think we should make allowances for it! ***************************************
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:40:50 +0000
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