Episode 72 - BROKEN BALLAD

[Episode Guide]

Date: October 29, 1961

Summary: Ed Payson, a former gunman, tries to buy supplies at the general store, Will Cass, the owner, refuses. The last victim of Ed’s gunplay was Cass’ son. Adam tries to help this reformed gunfighter, who wants only to live in peace and quiet. The situation quickly deteriorates despite Adam’s best efforts.

Written by: John T. Kelly
Directed by: Robert Butler
Guest Stars: Ed Payson...Robert Culp Billy Buckley...Ray Daley Sally Cass...Abigail Shelton Will Cass...Dabbs Greer Deputy Cahill...Robert Christopher Jamie...Richard Rosmini Cass' Attorney...John Graham Bartender…Cosmo Sardo Brunette Town Girl...Betty Endicott...(uncredited)


Slideshow image courtesy of Gillie

[Adamant]

It annoys me when Ed Payson allows Billy Buckley to kill him. Earlier in the episode, Ed tells Adam about why he left, about the whole family of a man he killed coming after him and he said that against odds like that, a man may as well stand on a stool (chair?) with a rope around and his neck and jump off. So why does he commit suicide by idiot here? I know it's about his not killing anyone else but I still find it absurd.

I also know that Adam liked to help out underdogs but this bromance between him and Ed just seems weird, especially when Ed tells Sally that Adam has him tied to the kitchen.

And I don't even want to get into the scene where Ben chastises Adam for telling Cass that the Ponderosa would take their business elsewhere. And who tattled? They must have ridden really quickly to get to the Ponderosa before Adam did.

And Robert Culp needed to wear jeans one size larger.

[desertgal]

It always annoys me when Ed Payson sings. No offense to Robert Culp. I'm always yelling at the tv at that point.

[Adamant]

It always annoys me when Ed Payson sings. No offense to Robert Culp. I'm always yelling at the tv at that point.

I know. Culp cannot sing and it's almost embarrassing to watch him struggle.

[daisy60]

It's not a favorite of mine but it's ok. I agree, Robert Culp isn't much of a singer, but I guess he did what the script and director told him to do. I did like the ending at the gravesite.

[ellen]

I like the friendship between Adam and Ed in this episode. One thing that bugs me is when Adam calls out Billy in the middle of the street. This is how innocent people get shot! But this happens a lot on westerns: spectators just standing around while two people are getting ready to shoot it out. I'd be running for cover!

Off-topic: I went to IBDB.com (the Broadway database) to see if Robert Culp had many credits. He only had two, but one was "A Clearing In The Woods", which also had PR in the cast.

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-productio ... gNightCast

Doing a little googling, I found a playbill from this show. According to the cast biographies, it was Culp's Broadway debut.

Here's the link for the play http://www.playbill.com/production/a-cl ... 0000010823

You can click on the playbill cover to see the pages; I clipped the PR and Culp bios:

Culp bio.jpg (34.7 KiB) Viewed 1137 times

PR bio.jpg (35.82 KiB) Viewed 1137 times