Law of the Plainsman

Law of the Plainsman

1959
Law of the Plainsman
Law of the Plainsman

Law of the Plainsman

8.2 | en | Western

Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes.

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Seasons & Episodes

1
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EP30  Trojan Horse
May. 05,1960
Trojan Horse

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EP29  Cavern Of The Wind
Apr. 21,1960
Cavern Of The Wind

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EP28  Jeb's Daughter
Apr. 14,1960
Jeb's Daughter

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EP27  Amnesty
Apr. 07,1960
Amnesty

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EP26  Stella
Mar. 31,1960
Stella

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EP25  Rabbit's Fang
Mar. 24,1960
Rabbit's Fang

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EP24  The Show-Off
Mar. 17,1960
The Show-Off

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EP23  Dangerous Barriers
Mar. 10,1960
Dangerous Barriers

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EP22  A Question Of Courage
Feb. 25,1960
A Question Of Courage

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EP21  The Matriarch
Feb. 18,1960
The Matriarch

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EP20  Common Ground
Feb. 11,1960
Common Ground

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EP19  The Imposter
Feb. 04,1960
The Imposter

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EP18  The Rawhiders
Jan. 28,1960
The Rawhiders

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EP17  The Comet
Jan. 21,1960
The Comet

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EP16  Endurance
Jan. 14,1960
Endurance

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EP15  Fear
Jan. 07,1960
Fear

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EP14  Calculated Risk
Dec. 31,1959
Calculated Risk

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EP13  Toll Road
Dec. 24,1959
Toll Road

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EP12  Clear Title
Dec. 17,1959
Clear Title

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EP11  The Innocents
Dec. 10,1959
The Innocents

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EP10  The Dude
Dec. 03,1959
The Dude

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EP9  The Gibbet
Nov. 26,1959
The Gibbet

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EP8  Appointment In Santa Fe
Nov. 19,1959
Appointment In Santa Fe

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EP7  Desperate Decision
Nov. 12,1959
Desperate Decision

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EP6  Blood Trails
Nov. 05,1959
Blood Trails

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EP5  Passenger To Mescalero
Oct. 29,1959
Passenger To Mescalero

Deputy Marshal Sam Buckhart is assigned to bring a dangerous outlaw to the prison at Mescalero. During the journey a band of outlaws ambush the stagecoach.

EP4  The Hostiles
Oct. 22,1959
The Hostiles

A man who lives in the mountains kills a young girl; Sam Buckhart is assigned to find the murderer.

EP3  A Matter Of Life And Death
Oct. 15,1959
A Matter Of Life And Death

Marshal Sam Buckhart, who has been searching for outlaw Charlie Slade for many years, finally locates his hideout. Before Buckhart can take the outlaw prisoner, Slade's henchmen overpower him.

EP2  Full Circle
Oct. 08,1959
Full Circle

For years Sam Buckhart has been looking for a bank robber. He is stunned to discover that the thief is Sheriff Max Chafee, who Sam believed to be honest and straightforward.

EP1  Prairie Incident
Oct. 01,1959
Prairie Incident

Patrolling the plains, Marshal Sam Buckhart discovers a wagon containing a murdered man and his eight-year-old daughter. The girl is able to give Buckhart a description of the killer.

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8.2 | en | Western | More Info
Released: 1959-10-01 | Released Producted By: Levy-Gardner-Laven , Four Stars Productions Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes.

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Cast

Michael Ansara

Director

Jules V. Levy

Producted By

Levy-Gardner-Laven , Four Stars Productions

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Reviews

rcj5365 The 1959-1960 season may have been the year in television in which more than one-half of the prime time schedule was taken up by Westerns. Most of the Westerns that premiered on the schedule were your average standard fare,which the exception of "Wagon Train",and "Gunsmoke" being in the top ten of the Nielsens. The only exception that in which most of the Westerns were in classic black and white,only one newcomer to the bunch that came out of gate for the 1959-1960 series when "Bonanza" premiered that year as one of the first Westerns to be presented in color.One of the new shows for the 1959-1960 season was totally different from the rest of the pack. One it have a gimmick that was the sales pitch for the series. "Law Of The Plainsman" was one of the new TV-Westerns that was distinctive from the rest. It was one of the few television programs,and the first to featured a Native American as the lead character who was the Deputy Marshal who maintained law and order in the Old West. The series starred Michael Ansara(who was of Syriana descent playing an Native American character) as Sam Buckhart. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series "Broken Arrow" having portrayed the Apache chief. Ansara before this series was introduced in two episodes that were shown in season one of the ABC-TV series "The Rifleman",which was hugely popular in the Nielsens top ten. Ansara portrayed U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart in Season 1,Episode 27 of "The Indian"(February 17,1959). Another appearance as a renegade Apache who kidnaps Lucas McCain's son Mark and holds him hostage in hills was in Season 1,episode 37 of "The Raid"(June 9,1959). "Law of the Plainsman" was one of the few spinoffs that came from "The Rifleman" TV-series that was suppose to be a new series for ABC. However,ABC rejected it and from there ended up on NBC's prime-time schedule for the 1959-1960 season."Law Of The Plainsman" stars Michael Ansara as Sam Buckhart,who was an Apache Indian who saves the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died,he left Sam money that was to be used for an education at a private school,so Sam applied took his money and applied himself for a education at Harvard University,from which is graduated with honors. After graduation from Harvard,he returned to the badlands of New Mexico where he became a Deputy working for Marshal Andy Morrison(Dayton Lummis),and later on worked his way up to the title of U.S. Marshal. Living in a boarding house run by Martha Commager(Nora Marlowe),and was under the supervision of an 8-year old orphan girl Tess Logan(Gina Gillespie). Each week Buckhart maintain the law in the Old West taken on the baddies and lowlifes who were the enemies of Buckhart who upheld the badge of justice and maintain the security of the town."Law Of The Plainsman" was produced by the same people who were behind the television series "The Rifleman",and was under the executive producers of Arthur Gardner,Arnold Laven and Jules V. Levy along with associate producer Arthur H. Nadel,along with stunning musical composition by Leonard Rosenman. In fact,"Law Of The Plainsman" lasted a full season,producing 30 episodes all in classic black and white that ran on NBC-TV from October 1, 1959 until May 5, 1960. The series was produced by Four Star Television,the same company that produced "The Rifleman",and countless other TV-westerns from "Black Saddle",and "Wanted:Dead or Alive",to "Johnny Ringo",and later on the company's first-ever color western "The Big Valley". The series lasted one season on NBC. Repeated episodes ran on ABC from 1960-1962.
P Jarzabek The Score for Law of the Plainsman was composed by Leonard Rosenman (also composed theme). This information comes from a classic TV Western web site. This show was a fun show to watch and my first exposure to Michael Ansara as a performer and actor. The character originality and plots using a native American character in this show were to me the first sign that the 1960's and the decades following were not going to be just, Old Anglo Saxon knockoffs with guns, on the little or big screen any more. Typically Hollywood: a Syrian, playing a native American. The opening screen of the main character riding across the western plains on a pure white horse still holds my imagination.
jwarthen-3 1959-60 may have been the TV year in which more than one-half of the prime team schedule was taken-up by Westerns. I can't swear to the virtues of this series-- was only 10 at the time-- but two things have stuck in my mind that recommend it. The first, its narrative gimmick: a lawman who was also Native American. Michael Ansara had charisma to burn. The idea deserved good scripts. The chief tug on my memory all these years was its theme-music-- what I remember is distinctive and beautiful-- a stirring anthem, probably not :45 seconds long. After scanning all the retro-recordings of TV music, hoping against all odds that someone would preserve it, I am resigned to whistling from memory. I wonder who composed it?