The Tall Man
GenreWestern
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes75
Production
Executive producerNat Holt
Producers
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
  • Lincoln Country Production Company
  • Revue Studios
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 10, 1960 (1960-09-10) 
May 26, 1962 (1962-05-26)

The Tall Man is a half-hour American Western television series about Sheriff Pat Garrett and gunfighter Billy the Kid that aired on NBC from September 10, 1960, to September 1, 1962,[1] filmed by Revue Productions.[2]

Created and produced by Samuel Peeples,[3] the series is set in New Mexico in the late 1870s[1] and also depicts other figures of the period, such as John Tunstall and Lew Wallace.

Sponsors included Beech-Nut Life Savers.[4]

Synopsis

The real Pat Garrett

The Tall Man stars 6'3" Barry Sullivan as Sheriff Pat Garrett, and Clu Gulager as Billy the Kid.[1]

In the premiere episode, "Garrett and the Kid" (September 10, 1960), Garrett arrives in Lincoln, depicted in the series as a gold-mining boomtown, as the new deputy sheriff, only to learn that a crooked saloon owner, Paul Mason (Robert Middleton), dominates the community, including the marshal, Dave Leggert (Denver Pyle). When he sees his power threatened, Mason tries to hire Billy to kill Garrett, unaware that the two were then on friendly terms. Vaughn Taylor is cast in this episode as Judge Riley, and King Donovan appears as a Mason henchman.

Marianna Hill was cast in several episodes as one of Billy's girlfriends, Rita. In one episode, Robert Lansing played the frontier dentist, gambler, and gunfighter John H. "Doc" Holliday in the episode "Rovin' Gambler."

Cast

Andy Clyde was cast in five episodes as Pa McBeam; Judy Nugent plays McBean's daughter, June. Different actresses were cast as the other daughter, May. Olive Sturgess played the part of May in "McBean Rides Again" (Nº 13), "The Reluctant Bridegroom" (Nº 23), and "Millionaire McBean" (Nº 31). Andy Clyde also appeared at the time in the role of the neighboring farmer George MacMichael on ABC's The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan.

Other guest stars

In addition to the aforementioned, other actors appearing on The Tall Man in individual episodes include:

Critical response

Jack Gould, in a review in The New York Times, called the program "a characteristic item of uninventive tripe".[5] He described Sullivan's portrayal of Garrett as "an official who exudes sternness, physique, and no-think" and, comparing Gulager's Billy the Kid to Edd Byrnes's character on 77 Sunset Strip, as "made to resemble a Kookie of the sagebrush".[5]

Episode list

Season 1: 1960–61

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Garrett and the Kid"Herschel DaughertySamuel A. PeeplesSeptember 10, 1960 (1960-09-10)
22"Forty-Dollar Boots"Richard IrvingSamuel A. PeeplesSeptember 17, 1960 (1960-09-17)
33"Bad Company"Richard IrvingSamuel A. PeeplesSeptember 24, 1960 (1960-09-24)
44"The Shawl"Herschel DaughertyFrank PriceOctober 1, 1960 (1960-10-01)
55"The Lonely Star"Henry S. KeslerSamuel A. PeeplesOctober 8, 1960 (1960-10-08)
66"A Bounty for Billy"Franklin AdreonStory by: D. C. Fontana
Teleplay by: Martin Berkeley
October 15, 1960 (1960-10-15)
77"The Parson"Henry S. KeslerD.C. Fontana Frank PriceOctober 29, 1960 (1960-10-29)
88"Night Train to Tularosa"Franklin AdreonBarry ShipmanNovember 5, 1960 (1960-11-05)
99"Larceny and the Ladies"Herschel DaughertyFrank PriceNovember 12, 1960 (1960-11-12)
1010"Counterfeit Law"Franklin AdreonSamuel A. PeeplesNovember 19, 1960 (1960-11-19)
1111"And the Beast"Frank ArrigoFrank PriceNovember 26, 1960 (1960-11-26)
1212"Bitter Ashes"Richard IrvingSamual A. PeeplesDecember 3, 1960 (1960-12-03)
1313"McBean Rides Again"Frank ArrigoFrank PriceDecember 10, 1960 (1960-12-10)
1414"Tiger Eye"Franklin AdreonD.C. FontanaDecember 17, 1960 (1960-12-17)
1515"Billy's Baby"Franklin AdreonFrank PriceDecember 24, 1960 (1960-12-24)
1616"One of One Thousand"Franklin AdreonBorden ChaseDecember 31, 1960 (1960-12-31)
1717"First Blood"Franklin AdreonSamual A. PeeplesJanuary 7, 1961 (1961-01-07)
1818"A Gun is for Killing"Franlin AdreonSamual A. PeeplesJanuary 14, 1961 (1961-01-14)
1919"The Grudge Fight"Richard IrvingCyril HumeJanuary 21, 1961 (1961-01-21)
2020"The Best Policy"Franklin AdreonFrank PriceJanuary 28, 1961 (1961-01-28)
2121"The Reversed Blade"Franklin AdreonPeter BarryFebruary 4, 1961 (1961-02-04)
Murray Matheson portrays Billy's employer, John Tundall, though the name of the historical person is John Tunstall. Tundall grows indignant when the con-man Ben Webster (John Archer), who stole his wife and $10,000 eight years earlier, arrives in Lincoln. Jeanne Cooper plays Tundall's former wife, now Mrs. Elmira Webster. John Tunstall died at twenty-four, but Matheson was forty-nine when he assumed the role as Billy's employer.
2222"Dark Moment"William WitneySamuel A. PeeplesFebruary 11, 1961 (1961-02-11)
2323"The Reluctant Bridegroom"Lesley SelanderFrank PriceFebruary 18, 1961 (1961-02-18)
Ellen Corby is featured as Hannah Blossom, a potential mail order bride, for Pa McBeam. Hannah is lured to Lincoln through a fraudulent letter written by the McBeam daughters.
2424"Maria's Little Lamb"Frank ArrigoBarry ShipmanFebruary 25, 1961 (1961-02-25)
2525"Big Sam's Boy"Leslay SelanderTom SellerMarch 4, 1961 (1961-03-04)
2626"The Last Resource"Richard BartlettFrank PriceMarch 11, 1961 (1961-03-11)
2727"Rovin' Gambler"William WitneySamual A. PeeplesMarch 18, 1961 (1961-03-18)
2828"Hard Justice"William WitneySamuel A. PeeplesMarch 25, 1961 (1961-03-25)
2929"The Legend and the Gun"R.G. SpringsteenSamual A. PeeplesApril 1, 1961 (1961-04-01)
3030"A Kind of Courage"R.G. SpringsteenTom SellerApril 8, 1961 (1961-04-08)
3131"Millionaire McBean"William WitneyFrank PriceApril 15, 1961 (1961-04-15)
3232"A Scheme of Hearts"R.G. SpringsteenTom SellerApril 22, 1961 (1961-04-22)
3333"The Cloudbusters"R.G. SpringsteenD. C. FontanaApril 29, 1961 (1961-04-29)
Frank de Kova plays Mike Gray Eagle, who sells water to Lincoln residents at inflated prices during a drought, during which the only flowing stream is on the Apache reservation.
3434"Ransom of a Town"Franklin AdreonStory by: Mark Weingart
Teleplay by: Barry Shipman
May 6, 1961 (1961-05-06)
3535"Ladies of the Town"Richard BarlettSamual A. PeeplesMay 20, 1961 (1961-05-20)
3636"Death or Taxes"Frank ArrigoBarry ShipmanMay 27, 1961 (1961-05-27)
Garrett rides into a railroad company town that abuses its workers, runs illegal gambling halls, and refuses to pay its taxes. Character actor Will Wright plays Mayor Hackett in this episode, which features James Seay as Holman.
3737"The Great Western"Frank ArrigoMelton S. GelmanJune 3, 1961 (1961-06-03)
Frank Ferguson plays Wallace in a story about Big Mamacita (Connie Gilchrist), the owner of a rowdy cantina outside Lincoln and her grandson, who is a Wallace aide.

Season 2: 1961–62

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
381"Full Payment"Lesley SelanderDavid LangSeptember 9, 1961 (1961-09-09)
392"The Liberty Belle"Tay GarnettLes CrutchfieldSeptember 16, 1961 (1961-09-16)
403"Where is Sylvia?"Sidney LandfieldRobert E. Thompson Frank PriceSeptember 23, 1961 (1961-09-23)
414"The Female Artillery"Lesley SelanderFrank PriceSeptember 30, 1961 (1961-09-30)
425"Shadow of the Past"Tay GarnettRichard FielderOctober 7, 1961 (1961-10-07)
Charles Aidman is cast as Ben Wiley, the father of Billy's newest girlfriend, Sue Wiley (Barbara Parkins). Sheriff Garrett recognizes Wiley as an informant who stopped Garrett from escaping from a Confederate prison during the American Civil War. Nancy Davis Reagan appears in this episode as Ben's wife, Sarah.
436"An Item for Auction"Sidney LandfieldArthur Browne Jr.October 14, 1961 (1961-10-14)
447"The Judas Palm"Sidney LanfieldDavid LangOctober 21, 1961 (1961-10-21)
458"The Woman"Ted PostArthur Browne, Jr.October 28, 1961 (1961-10-28)
469"Trial by Hanging"Sidney LanfieldArthur Browne, Jr.November 4, 1961 (1961-11-04)
4710"The Leopard's Spots"Richard DonnerTom SellerNovember 11, 1961 (1961-11-11)
4811"Petticoat Crusade"Richard DonnerFrank PriceNovember 18, 1961 (1961-11-18)
4912"Time of Foreshadowing"R.G. SpringsteenRobert E. ThompsonNovember 25, 1961 (1961-11-25)
5013"Fool's Play"Lesley SelanderDavid LangDecember 2, 1961 (1961-12-02)
5114"The Legend of Billy"Tay GarnettShimon WincelbergDecember 9, 1961 (1961-12-09)
5215"A Tombstone for Billy"Sidney LandfieldThomas ThompsonDecember 16, 1961 (1961-12-16)
5316"Sidekick"Ted PostLes CrutchfieldDecember 23, 1961 (1961-12-23)
5417"Apache Daughter"Tay GarnettRichard FielderDecember 30, 1961 (1961-12-30)
J. Pat O'Malley portrays Sam Bartlett, whose daughter, Sally (Sherry Jackson), is released from Apache captivity after nine years. However, Sally wants to return to her husband, Talano, (Anthony Hall, aka Sal Ponti) a Chiricahua warrior.
5518"Substitute Sheriff"Lesley SelanderFrank PriceJanuary 6, 1962 (1962-01-06)
The McBeam daughters enlist their father as an acting sheriff in a scheme to thwart the seizure of their property for right-of-way by the railroad. Bob Hastings appears in this episode as J. S. Chase.
5619"The Girl from Paradise"Edward MontagneRichard FielderJanuary 13, 1962 (1962-01-13)
Billy is framed for murder by his old nemesis, Rafe Tollinger (Kelly Thordsen), the sheriff of a neighboring county. He is sent to the gallows along with Anne Drake (Pippa Scott), a pretty young woman who is also framed for murder. The two are handcuffed together but manage to escape and then must flee from an approaching posse.
5720"St. Louis Woman"Sidney LanfieldArthur Browne, Jr.January 20, 1962 (1962-01-20)
Jan Clayton, formerly of CBS's Lassie, portrays Janet Harper, a widow engaged to marry Tom Davis (Russ Conway), a longtime friend of Sheriff Garrett. While Tom is away from Lincoln on a cattle drive, Janet begins to show a romantic interest in Garrett. Roger Mobley appears in this episode as David Harper, Janet's young son.
5821"The Hunt"Lesley SelanderPaul KingJanuary 27, 1962 (1962-01-27)
A wealthy young man, Edward Van Doren (Richard Ney) hires Billy to guide him into the wilderness to kill a mountain lion. However, Van Doren's real target is Billy himself. This episode presents details about the Colt Model 1877 .41 caliber, the gun used by Billy the Kid.
5922"The Impatient Brides"Edward MontagneFrank PriceFebruary 3, 1962 (1962-02-03)
6023"Rio Doloroso"Sydney PollackJoe Stone Paul KingFebruary 10, 1962 (1962-02-10)
6124"A Day to Kill"Frank McDonaldPaul KingFebruary 17, 1962 (1962-02-17)
6225"Property of the Crown"Frank McDonaldTom SellerFebruary 24, 1962 (1962-02-24)
6326"Night of the Hawk"Tay GarnettRichard FielderMarch 3, 1962 (1962-03-03)
6427"Three for All"Tay GarnettArthur Browne, Jr.March 10, 1962 (1962-03-10)
Irene Tedrow portrays the fiery Maw Killgore, who breaks her sons out of the Lincoln jail, where they are being held for having vandalized a saloon. The Killgores then place Garrett in his own cell while they go on a crime spree. George Kennedy plays Hyram Killgore.
6528"Quarantine"Sidney LanfieldSamuel A. PeeplesMarch 17, 1962 (1962-03-17)
6629"The Four Queens"Sidney LanfieldTom SellerMarch 24, 1962 (1962-03-24)
6730"The Long Way Home"Tay GarnettD.D. BeauchampMarch 31, 1962 (1962-03-31)
6831"A Time to Run"Tay GarnettPaul KingApril 7, 1962 (1962-04-07)
6932"Trial by Fury"Edward MontagnePaul KingApril 14, 1962 (1962-04-14)
Billy receives a letter from a prospector, Johnny Red (Fuzzy Knight), informing him of the potential discovery of a lost Spanish mine near San Miguel, a ghost town, in southern New Mexico. James Griffith is cast in this episode as James Cutter and Robert Emhardt as Judge Oliver Cromwell.
7033"The Frame"Edward MontagneMargaret ArmenApril 21, 1962 (1962-04-21)
Harry Townes is cast as Henry Stewart, diagnosed with a fatal illness and jealous of his wife's former association with Sheriff Garrett. While mentally unbalanced from his illness, Stewart plots his own suicide and plans to frame his wife, Isobel (Lori March), for murder.
7134"The Runaway Groom"Edward MontagneFrank PriceApril 28, 1962 (1962-04-28)
The Tugwell Brothers seek the husband of their sister, Sally (Roberta Shore), who deserted his wife right after the marriage a year earlier. They believe Billy the Kid is the missing husband and father of Sally's baby, rather than Charlie Fox (Gary Vinson).
7235"The Black Robe"R.G. SpringsteenCyril HumeMay 5, 1962 (1962-05-05)
Robert Burton plays Governor Wallace. After the fall of Emperor Maximilian, a French foreign agent is supplying arms to the Mescalero Apaches in a murky plot to reoccupy Mexico. Chief Yowlachie is cast as "The Great Chief"; Slim Pickens as Starr, and Martin Landau as Father Gueschim, a Roman Catholic priest.
7336"The Woman in Black"Edward MontagneRichard FielderMay 12, 1962 (1962-05-12)
7437"Doctor on Horseback"Edward MontagneFrank PriceMay 19, 1962 (1962-05-19)
Dr. Wade Parsons (Ed Nelson), who has assumed the practice of a beloved doctor who retired, must attempt to save the life of a young pregnant woman after she attempts suicide when her husband deserts her.
7538"Phoebe"Sydney PollackDavid LangMay 26, 1962 (1962-05-26)
George Macready portrays Cyrus Canfield, a vengeful father searching for his runaway teenaged daughter, played by Floy Dean. When Canfield sees Billy with a necklace owned by Phoebe, he suspects that the young gunfighter may have killed his daughter. Billy, however, explains that Phoebe gave him the necklace as a gift after he rescued her in a rockslide.

Release

Home Media

On October 30, 2007, Timeless Media Group released fifteen episodes of the series on a Region 1 three-DVD set in the United States.

On December 6, 2011, Timeless Media Group released The Tall Man- The Complete TV Series on DVD in Region 1.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 1004. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  2. "Criterion to Handle Revue TV Themes" (PDF). Billboard. January 6, 1962. p. 12. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  3. McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 817. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  4. "Assorted flavors" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 19, 1960. p. 50. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Gould, Jack (September 12, 1960). "TV: Contrast in Westerns: 'Tall Man' Bows Uninventively; 'Have Gun, Will Travel' in Charming Return". The New York Times. p. 59. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  6. "The Tall Man DVD news: Announcement for the Tall Man - the Complete TV Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
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