Stagecoach West (TV Series) Never Walk Alone (1961) User Reviews

With such great actors, the story never seemed to flow.

[kfo9494 · 6/10 · 8 August 2016]

Cole Eldridge (William Campbell) has just been pardon by the Territorial Governor and on his way by train to see his girl, Ruby Walker. But on the train is a man, Lin Hyatt (Lee Van Cleef) that does not take too kindly on Cole's release. So Hyatt has a plan where he will rob the train and make Cole the escape goat for the killing and theft. And sure enough, it works to perfection and the innocent Cole is wanted for murder.

Now here is where the story gets a little weird. It seems Luke is a friend of Cole's and is on his way to a small town to see him. When he is not at the location, Luke teams up with Cole's girlfriend and rides a long way south where Cole is staying. Cole is held-up in a town called Deep Well where criminals go when they have no where else to lay their head. But it is not long before Hyatt and his three friends on are the path to Deep Water to hang the man they framed.

The acting was excellent. William Campbell and Lee Van Cleef were on top of their game. Campbell made the wanted man so friendly, he felt like part of the family. While Cleef plays the villain so well, he makes it look easy. Where the episode is lacking is in the story. Was not sure why Luke Perry was so passionate for Cole to come work for the Stagecoach. Cole had always been trouble and this is not someone that you want carrying payroll money nor the US mail. And the fact that Luke, on two occasions, referred to being a Deputy US Marshal but only takes it serious when the script dictates such a move. The story never seem to flow and got bogged down on matters that had nothing to do with the plot.

Never Walk Alone

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 8 March 2024]

Before he died I once saw an interview by Lee Van Cleef where he stated that he played bad guys but he would never hit a woman or be cruel to one.

Well he knocks about a woman here. Of course this was a time when Van Cleef was still a jobbing actor doing episodic television and bit parts in movies.

Lee Van Cleef plays Lin Hyatt, who is planning a train robbery with a cohort and pin it on old pal Cole Eldredge. He has just been pardoned for a crime that he was framed by Hyatt some years earlier.

Only Hyatt plans to do it again, rob the train they are both on. Only Cole escapes from the train. Even then the robbery and the death of a man is blamed on him.

Luke Perry arrives in a town looking for him after the had received a telegram from Eldredge. He does not get a warm welcome when he tells the hotel clerk that he is a friend of Eldredge.

Later he saves a woman getting knocked around by Hyatt, she turns out to be Eldredge's fiancee. Both go looking for Eldredge but she is not too pleased to find that Luke is also a US Marshall.

It turns out that Hyatt is also a lawman and he has deputised a few people to take Eldredge dead or alive. Preferably dead for the ransom and to make sure he never talks.

Reaching the end of the series, this was a flimsy story that did not make much sense. A town full of outlaws but no one came to Eldredge's aid but happy to down the drinks he paid for.

Neither Luke Perry or Cole Eldredge watched their backs when having a morning wash!