Have Gun Will Travel Season 1 Episode 33
Have Gun Will Travel is an American Western series that aired on CBS from 1957 to 1963. Richard Boone plays the lead role of Paladin in the series. Season 1 Episode 33, titled “Death of a Gunfighter,” aired on May 10, 1958. In this episode, Paladin is hired to protect a gunfighter who is about to be hanged for killing a man. The gunfighter, Frank Rolf (played by James Coburn), believes that he was justified in killing the man and has no regrets about it.
The Plot
The episode begins with Paladin receiving a telegram from a woman named Lila Conway (played by Joanna Moore) who wants him to come to the town of Clayton. Lila is the sister of Frank Rolf, a gunfighter who is about to be hanged for killing a man named Ben Thacker. Lila hires Paladin to protect Frank from the angry townsfolk who want to hang him.
Paladin arrives in Clayton and meets with Lila. She tells him that her brother is locked up in the town jail and that a lynch mob is gathering outside. Paladin goes to the jail and meets with Frank. Frank is a proud, stubborn man who refuses to apologize for killing Ben Thacker. He tells Paladin that he was protecting a woman from Thacker's advances and that he had no choice but to kill him.
Paladin decides to help Frank and tries to convince the townsfolk that Frank deserves a fair trial. However, the townsfolk are too angry and want to take matters into their own hands. Paladin and Frank are forced to take refuge in a hotel room where they wait for the lynch mob to disperse.
As they wait, Paladin and Frank have several conversations about life, death, and morality. Frank is resigned to his fate and tells Paladin that he has no regrets about killing Thacker. Paladin tries to convince Frank to apologize for his actions and ask for forgiveness, but Frank refuses.
The Characters
Richard Boone plays the lead role of Paladin in the series. Paladin is a gunfighter who works as a freelance knight-for-hire. He is a cultured and educated man who values honor and justice above all else. He is also a skilled fighter and is not afraid to use violence to achieve his goals.
James Coburn plays the role of Frank Rolf, the gunfighter who is about to be hanged. Coburn is known for his tough-guy roles in Westerns such as The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape. In this episode, he portrays Frank as a proud, stubborn man who believes that he did the right thing by killing Thacker.
Joanna Moore plays the role of Lila Conway, Frank's sister. Moore is best known for her role in the film Touch of Evil. In this episode, she is a concerned sister who hires Paladin to protect her brother from the angry townsfolk.
The Themes
The episode explores several themes such as morality, justice, and forgiveness. Frank believes that he was justified in killing Thacker and has no regrets about it. Paladin, on the other hand, believes that every life is valuable and that killing another person should not be taken lightly. He tries to convince Frank to apologize for his actions and ask for forgiveness, but Frank refuses.
The episode also explores the theme of vigilantism. The townsfolk are angry and want to take matters into their own hands by lynching Frank. Paladin tries to convince them to give Frank a fair trial, but they are too blinded by their anger to listen. The episode shows how dangerous vigilantism can be and how it can lead to the loss of innocent lives.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, Have Gun Will Travel Season 1 Episode 33 is a thought-provoking episode that explores several themes such as morality, justice, and vigilantism. Richard Boone gives a powerful performance as Paladin and James Coburn is excellent as Frank Rolf. The episode is well-written and well-directed and is a must-watch for fans of Westerns.
