Shotgun Slade "The Missing Train" #1.1 (1959)

Strange little show, 3 October 2017

A private detective named Shotgun Slade (Scott Brady) is hired to locate a missing train car holding $! million in gold coins.

The first episode in the series, The Missing Train, is appropriately enough my introduction to the series. Overall, I wasn't overly impressed. Part of the problem comes from the "feel" of the show. Why make it a Western? With the silly soundtrack, it has more of a 50s crime feel to it than a Western. You could change everyone's costumes, take away the horses and hats, and the story would have been right at home in the time period it was made. My second problem is with the character played by Allison Hayes. She is described as a real tough woman with a dangerous streak. That's not what I saw. She too easily turned on her partners and gave Slade information that wasn't in her best interest. Not the cool, shrewd woman her reputation suggested. I suppose she couldn't resist Brady's charm (I say with as much sarcasm as I can muster). What woman could resist those gangly arms and legs and that head full of Brylcreem?

Anyway, at less than 30 minutes, I didn't waste too much time. And despite the faults, I found The Missing Train and Shotgun Slade oddly intriguing. I'll probably check out more episodes.

4/10