Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) The Black Wagon (1960) User Reviews

Actors make this normal script better for the viewers.

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 14 March 2016]

In this episode the beautiful Ester Williams is on a wagon trail with others on their trip to the west. Along the way they run into a cavalry unit that had been wipe out by the Indians. One of the men was alive enough to tell them that a known killer, that the unit was transporting, had escape during the attack plus they also had been carrying a wagon that contained cholera victims. And due to the sickness wagon, the Indians did not touch the wagon nor anyone in the wagon.

Nearly everyone on the trail wanted to leave the sick people behind. But the good-natured Sarah Harmon (Williams) refuses to leave the sick people behind. This all seems so helpful until they learn that one of the people in the sick wagon is the escaped killer.

This was a well performed show as the actors, Ms Williams and Larry Pennell, did a nice job with the script. It was nice to see Ester Williams light up the screen with her beauty and poise. The main plot was rather simple as the group has to find out who is the killer and who are the sick people. The story had enough interest to keep the viewer watching which always make for good time for anyone watching. Good watch.

Carrying Cholera

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 3 January 2017]

In one of her last roles on either the big screen or the small Esther Williams doesn't go near any water. Instead she takes responsibility for the care of some cholera victims who were left alive after Apaches massacred an army patrol of which this wagon was part. But also on that wagon is a killer they were taking to trial who took refuge in that wagon rising cholera over the hangman. The Apaches know the look of the disease and didn't get near the wagon.

Williams is a compassionate soul, but she's also driving wagonmaster Larry Pennell to distraction and alienating the other members of the train.

Of course it all works out right in the end. She might even forget that man she was going west to marry because Pennell is starting to look good to her.

You have to see how they identify the killer, an interesting trick.