Gunslinger is an American Western television series starring Tony Young that aired on the CBS television network from February 9, 1961, through September 14, 1961, on Thursdays from 9 to 10 p.m. EST. The theme song was sung by Frankie Laine. The program was also broadcast in London.
Plot
Young played Cord, a young gunfighter who works undercover for the local army garrison commander at Fort Scott in the New Mexico Territory, acting as a secret law enforcement agent in the territory. Pico McGuire, Murdock, and Billy Urchin were agents working undercover with Cord. Captain Zachary Wingate was Cord's superior, and Amber Hollister was the romantic interest for Cord.
Gunslinger was the successor to Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater.
Cast
- Tony Young as Cord
- Preston Foster as Captain Zachary Wingate
- Charles Gray as Pico McGuire
- Dee Pollock as Billy Urchin
- Midge Ware as Amby Hollister
- John M. Pickard as Sgt. Major Murdock
Guest stars
Production
Gunslinger was the mid-season replacement for The Witness. Charles Marquis Warren was the executive producer, and Seeleg Lester was the producer. Andrew McLaglen was the director, and John Dunkel and Louis Vittes were the writers. CBS Productions produced 12 episodes of the program in black and white. The show's competition included My Three Sons and The Untouchables on ABC and The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show and Great Ghost Tales on NBC.
The trade publication Variety reported in March 1961, "... CBS is writing off 'Gunslinger' after half a season". It added that the show "hasn't made much of a rating impact and network officials aren't that high on the stanza as a qualitative entry anyway."
Critical response
A review of the premiere episode in The New York Times called Gunslinger "a crisp, slick Western fashioned in the professionally competent tradition of Hollywood." The review complimented the episode's writing, visual aspects, and acting and added, "the musical background and other production elements were skillfully employed."
References
External links
- Gunslinger at IMDb
