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Directed by David Lowell Rich Cast Martin Milner as Clendon MacMillan Cliff Osmond as Running Antelope Dub Taylor as Marshall Denny Moran Shelly Morrison as Linda Little Trees Marianne Gordon as The Lady Bill Walker as Ulmer Applin Sam Edwards as Sammy John Mitchum as George John Cliff as. Leo X Brands as Blue Dog William Vaughn as Clyde |
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New Hampshire deputy constable Clendon MacMillan comes to Laredo to apply his sophisticated law enforcement techniques and methods to the most primitive law enforcement organization in the country — the Texas Rangers. He is sent out with Chad, Joe & Reese to find Running Antelope & his gang who are burning and looting Texas towns. MacMillan angers Reese with his contemptuous attitude toward the Rangers. Chad & Joe irritate Reese by pretending to be in awe of MacMillan’s tracking skills, as well as his daily bathing. MacMillan is captured by Running Antelope after being duped by Linda Littletrees into freeing her from jail so he can help bring peace with the Indians. |
Martin Milner Shelley Morrison |
| MacMillan tries to escape using Running Antelope as a shield. He's shocked the gang has no qualms about shooting right through their leader after which they are gunned down by the Rangers. |
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In the end, Macmillan “regretfully” turns down a new Ranger assignment. He decides he’s needed back in New Hampshire and leaves Laredo on the first stage |
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| The Indians of Laredo:
The manner in which Indians were portrayed on Laredo was not one of its strong suits, despite the fact that Ranger Joe Riley was raised by Indians after his parents were killed. (In one episode Joe claims he can tell when Indians are close because his toes curl.) Political correctness aside, Indians seemed unduly one dimensional for a series made in the second half of the 1960’s. As a series slanted toward the lighter side, Laredo was not strong on character development in general. However, Indians fared worse than Mexicans, low-life whites and other villains. James Michener’s fact-based novel “Texas” provides some insight into the relationship between the Texas Rangers and several Indian tribes the Rangers helped exterminate in Texas. The murderous, licorice-eating Linda Littletrees made three additional appearances in Laredo. When she returned, the attractive X-Brands had been replaced by Joe Pesci-type Ralph Manza as Blue Dog, now Littletrees' comical, frustrated suitor. Drunken thug Running Antelope was killed in this episode but actor Cliff Osmond returned in the 2nd season as the educated, well dressed Midas Mantee. |
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NiteOwl Review: Another of our top ten favorites. Martin Milner did an admirable job of playing off against the Rangers and it was fun watching Chad and Joe rile Reese with their false admiration for the new Ranger from New Hampshire. This series had a number of top notch guest stars in the first episodes.
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(& a little Peter Brown trivia too) |
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contact us at: laredofans@williamsmith.org