Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) Vengeance Canyon (1956) User Reviews

Walter Brennan - Always Fascinating

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 6 June 2010]

As is often the case in these stories, there is a major subplot in them, almost making them two stories-in-one. Here, it's (1) a small group of cowboys figuring out how to survive a probable Commanche attack and (2) a young man filled with hatred trying to find this father, so that he can kill him.

This is storytelling of a different kind. Maybe Zane Grey didn't write these screenplays, but the writers do the famous western writer justice with some good dialog and the program always offered excellent acting. Case in point here is the veteran Walter Brennan, someone I always found fascinating no matter who he played in movies or on TV. He's the same here, riveting as simply, "Joe."

Young Ben Cooper ("Clint Harding") plays opposite him here, the young hot-head filled with hatred for a father he hasn't seen in 13 years. He accidentally joins up with this gang of thieves and warns them about the Commanches. They don't believe him at first, but are soon convinced......at least most of the small group. Sheb Wooley is good, too, in a supporting role as "Brock," one of the gang members.

Anyway, it's obvious from the get-go that "Joe" is the kid's dad, but how will that play out....and will the Commanches get one or both of them?

The Comanches toy and spring like cats

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 13 January 2017]

This Zane Grey Theater episode tells the story of three outlaws, Sheb Woolley, Dick Killian, and Walter Brennan on the run from a bank robbery where a child was killed caught in crossfire. But they have more than a posse to worry about. They've stumbled into Comanche territory. And the Comanches are in no hurry, they're like cats toying with a mouse.

A fourth man has joined them, young Ben Cooper whose on a mission, looking for a long lost father. I think you have an idea where this one is going.

Half hour teleplays like those done on Zane Grey Theater stories have a big responsibility to get as much said as they can with little time for character development. Working with minimal dialog both Brennan and Cooper get a lot characterization in per word.

You want to see a reason why Walter Brennan won three Oscars in his career, look at this Zane Grey Theater story.

Sounds familiar to me

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8/10 · 3 October 2018]

This topic, especially the ending, reminds me strongly another episode from this series: DEATH WATCH, starring Lee J cobb. Look for it and check yourself. Especially the ending.

Vengeance Canyon

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 11 January 2024]

Clint Harding (Ben Cooper) is the young angry cowboy looking for vengeance. He comes across a gang of outlaws who are soon to be coming under Comanche attack.

The outlaws do not want him. Joe (Walter Brennan) a kindly old man who is part of the gang wants Clint to stay. Others like Brock are hostile to the newcomer.

Joe knows their attention should be focussed towards the Comanches.

As Joe talks to Clint, he realises the simmering anger inside the young man. Clint is looking for someone, a man who killed his mother and disappeared. That man was his father.

Clint wants to find him and kill his father. Soon clint learns that Joe seems to know a lot about his father but their situation with the Comanches is grave.

There are two stories going on here and it is clear that the old man might have to sacrifice his life to save the young kid from the Comanches. Brennan is in his element as the kindly old timer with a dark secret. It just did not grab me as much as Dick Powell's introduction.