Universal put some production heft behind David Hartman's debut as jolly-greenhorn-giant David Sutton, including evocatively photographed landscapes and rowdy horse wrangling scenes. But the script feels compromised, fudging on its initially rigorous character development to become mushy and pat. The story's switch in tone mars a splendid performance by grand old pro Ralph Bellamy and makes hash of its heroine, played by pouty Quentin Dean. Hartman's square-peg presence doesn't fit either. He fares best in his fractious encounters with McClure, who among his other gifts was adept at comic exasperation. Anachronistic bit by The Irish Rovers adds unintentional humor.
2 Reviews
A cowhand from Pennsylvania
bkoganbing29 February 2020
Season 7 of The Virginian has David Hartman making his debut as a new cowhand who hails from the Welsh coal mining country in Pennsylvania. He's
kind of responsible for breaking Trampas's leg in a saloon accident where he was
working as a swamper, now they're called barbacks.
When he goes to work at Shiloh the hands don't make it easy on him especially Chris Robinson who has it in for him.
The Shiloh portion of the episode is fine. The other part of the story involving Hartman meeting teen waif Quentin Dean and having her leave her farm and her cruel father Ralph Bellamy is less so. Both Bellamy and Dean's characters are ill defined and the story loses coherence.
Still Hartman makes a strong debut.
When he goes to work at Shiloh the hands don't make it easy on him especially Chris Robinson who has it in for him.
The Shiloh portion of the episode is fine. The other part of the story involving Hartman meeting teen waif Quentin Dean and having her leave her farm and her cruel father Ralph Bellamy is less so. Both Bellamy and Dean's characters are ill defined and the story loses coherence.
Still Hartman makes a strong debut.
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