Stagecoach West (TV Series) Object: Patrimony (1961) User Reviews

Object: Patrimony

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 27 September 2023]

Beaumont Butler Buell (Robert Vaughn) and his gang plan to steal $20,000 being carried by a man called Duncan. He was meant to ride on Luke Perry's stagecoach.

They take over a station stop but when Luke Perry arrives there is no Duncan. The stagecoach was for the exclusive use of Susan McLord who is eloping with her fiancé Lionel Chambers.

Buell is at a loss, his plans have gone awry. Unfortunately Susan and Lionel are as dumb as a sack of spuds. Instead of being quiet, they act like rich spoiled brats. Buell realises that Susan is the daughter of one of the richest cattle baron in America. They are going to hold her hostage for the ransom money.

Meanwhile Luke Perry remembers Buell as a fine soldier, now acting like a common criminal with his band of thugs. Luke knows that he and Susan need to escape as they will not leave them alive.

There was an interesting beginning with Vaughn and Warren Oates in the cast. It all becomes more formulaic, as Perry starts to pick off Buell's gang one by one. While the spoilt Susan becomes more useful and thaws a little.

Only I would have thought a more interestingly story would had been Susan's father sending the heavy brigade to deal with Buell.

Fast out of the box but fades faster

[pensman · 5/10 · 1 September 2016]

Station agent Steve Tinker (Wally Brown) is lying in the horse trough singing Shenandoah when Beaumont Butler Buell (Robert Vaughn) and his gang ride in. Buell compliments Tinker but when Tinker objects to the men going in to the station to get food, Buell has his men kill him where he is. The gang expects a man named Duncan to be on the stage carrying a bag with $20,000; but he is bumped off the stage when Susan McLord pays for the entire coach. She is eloping with her fiancé Lionel Chambers and doesn't like to associate with the lower classes. When Buell and his men discover Dunan isn't on-board, they get angry but Beull decides they can hold McLord for ransom; a ransom $50,000. Lionel offers to deliver the ransom message, much to the disappointment of McLord; but Buell shoots Lionel and places his body and message on the stage and sends it off as a clear message to McLord's father. Then they ride off to their encampment for better safety.

Buell's gang has some great character actors: Teacher (Dennis Patrick), Pasaquindice (Than Wyenn), and Billy Joe (Warren Oates). Vaughn here is perfect showing the insouciance that was his hallmark as Napoleon Solo.

McLord tries to drive a wedge between the members of the gang and is nonplussed that none of them respond to her offers. The episode goes off the rails when Perry manages to loosen the twelve by twelve support beam he is handcuffed to and slip off without anyone hearing the racket he made. Then McLord tempts Billy Joe into the cave where she and Perry are being held. Perry jumps Billy Joe killing him in the attack. They escape but Buell and Teacher are in pursuit. Now they are on horseback and have guns, but can't track Perry who leaves a trail a cub scout could follow. After all this, Susan McLord is having an epiphany(s) about herself and her spoiled ways. Is Perry able to defeat the remaining three gang members? Will McLord (now called Susan as a sign of her friendship and respect for Perry) help? Can she shoot? Will the gang members all be fooled into shooting one another? Will they fall for the old toss the rock to misdirect attention? Yeah, that's pretty much it.

At least the first ten minutes were great.