THE PLOT THUS FAR
The year is 1888. The Cimarron Strip, the border region between Kansas and Indian Territory, is a land of infinite promise and ever present danger. Patrolling this vast, rugged frontier is Marshal Jim Crown (Stuart Whitman), the one and only man responsible for maintaining justice and enforcing the peace among cattlemen, settlers, outlaws, Indians and the U.S. Army.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Cimarron Strip” is such a standard western. Much like TV westerns in the late 1960s. It was show that existed as a blip on the front of a dying genre. It would be a few years before the Revisionist Western movement really took hold of the cinema. So, we’ve got a show about a guy keeping Indians in their place in the Wild West. There’s a lot rough about that without anyone ever providing a voice of dissent. Sure, it’s funny to watch Marshal Jim Crown adjust to the rugged frontier, but what of the people living there?
Stuart Whitman isn’t that great of a cowboy. The push to ditch an anthology theme and stick with two characters, put Whitman into that big of an acting strain. When you’re one of two faces seen in every episode, the strength of the guest stars can make you look like a chump. The first season alone boasted Robert Duvall, Warren Oates and Broderick Crawford stopping by to a pay a visit. How do you compete with that and come out looking like the star of your show? It’s a damn mess!
The DVD comes with a bonus interview with Stuart Whitman as the only special feature. The A/V Quality is sharp as hell for a show of its age. That being said, the mono track did drop dialogue from time to time. But, that was on par with the syndicated episodes that I used to see on TBS early weekday mornings. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!