The Legend of Jud Starr

It's odd that the first and second episodes of "Cimarron Strip" had plots that were so similar. It's also odd that they would run the weaker of the two episodes as the premier episode!

Like episode one, this one involves a gang with a leader who is bigger than life. In the prior one, Henry Silva played a brutal guy who wasn't above killing a member of the gang when it suited his purposes. In this one, Jud (Darren McGavin) controls the gang not with brutality but promises that they'll share in a treasure he stole years ago. Because of this, like the prior episode, it involves a jail break (actually, right from the scaffold in this case) and the Sheriff (Stuart Whitman) chasing the criminals.

So why is this one better than the first episode? Well, it's the supporting characters....they aren't the annoying overactors they were in the first. Additionally, the Sheriff's friend, Magregor (Percy Herbert) has a more restrained performance as the Scotsman...and he STILL would have been better just playing an Englishman since that accent was more natureal for Herbert.

Overall, a very good and interesting show...but one that is odd to have immediately followed the first due to all the similarities.

Darren NcGavin plays a legendary outlaw who contributes mightily to his own legend by spinning many a tall tale right up to the point they're ready to hang him in Cimarron. But with the help of his gang he pulls off one spectacular escape to begin this episode.

Seeking even more allies he marries Barbara Luna a Cherokee princess and daughter of Ken Renard the Cherokee tribal president. He's promised to share $80,000.00 in loot from an army payroll he robbed many years ago. Of course he's also promised to share the same loot with the members of his current gang.

McGavin and the Cimarron Strip regulars get good support from such familiar folks as Roy Jenson, Percy Helton, and a young Beau Bridges.

Stuart Whitman has his hands full in this one.