Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series) Unforgiving Minute (1963) User Reviews

Kiss of the Spider Woman

[cougarannie · 7/10 · 1 February 2016]

Another head-scratcher of an episode title here. Most people will automatically think of Rudyard Kipling who maintained, in his celebrated poem "If", that living "the unforgiving (as in irretrievable) minute" to its fullest was the key to a truly rich life. And certainly Paladin exemplifies Kipling's philosophical point.

But what about poor Machado, a meek, easy-going peasant who worships a wife "with the face of a Madonna and the claws of a cat"? And what about the wife, Sabrina, who dreams about a life that is the polar opposite of the dreary one she leads with the gentle Machado?

After Paladin, fleeing a gang of bandits that include the ex- partners of a man whose gem he agreed to sell collapses literally at their feet, Machado sees him only as a stranger in need of help. To Sabrina however Paladin is the bearer of her one-way ticket to the comforts she longs for and the excitement she craves.

When the bandits re-appear seeking to avenge their recently-slain comrades only Machado and Paladin are on hand to drive them off. Once again, Paladin makes a shocking discovery. It's hard to decide which is more starting: the change that at last comes over Machado, or the fact that -- unless I really missed something -- not once in this episode does Paladin display that famous "card"!

Stay away from temptation

[pensman · 7/10 · 26 July 2016]

Because of the various "channels" now rebroadcasting the shows of my youth—and I thank them for that—not only do we see some of our favorite actors like Richard Boone, we also see some future recognizable character actors and actors. In this case we see Al Ruscio as Machado before his long career as a character actor. Here he is a simple potter who married the wrong woman: Patricia Medina as Sabina. At this time Medina's career was winding down and she was about to marry her second husband, Joseph Cotton, and retire from acting.

Paladin stumbles across the husband and wife; and Sabina sees a jewel Paladin is taking to its owner as a way for her to have the life she wanted. Paladin is fleeing bandits; and Machado sees he is obliged to assist Paladin. Sabina steals the jewel and goes off to the bandits with it hoping to strike a bargain. She does not receive what she hoped for, but Machado does not want to accept that his dead wife tried to betray both him and Paladin. Paladin tells Machado that perhaps it is best for now keep the dream of his wife rather than her reality.

Dreamer and the Dried-Up Hussie

[Johnny_West · 3/10 · 15 December 2023]

Machado, the naive farmer who picked Sabina up from the old saloon gal junk heap has dreams of Sabina falling in love with him. Sabina is just looking for a better meal ticket, and she thinks it is Paladin. In 1963, when this was filmed, Patricia Medina (Sabina) was 44 years old and looked like she lived every unforgiving minute of it. She had a witch face that was perfect for her role.

While Paladin is sleeping she steals priceless jewel from him, and takes off to the hills to meet the bandits. She thinks that they will appreciate her for taking them the jewel and her own valuable bracelet. Paladin thinks they will kill her and keep her goodies.

Later the next day, the bandits show up to attack, and Paladin manages to kill a few of them, including the leader. There he finds the jewel and Sabina's bracelet. Paladin thinks she is dead, but her goofy husband Machado tells him that he will always dream that she is out there, and someday he will find her again and earn her love. Very sweet, but she did not deserve so much dedication.