The Grainger family takes in a young man who has been shot and stables his weary stallion. Before they learn the stranger is a famous outlaw, he subtly tests each member of the Grainger family for vulnerability as he pretends to be harmless and likeable. He finds his mark in the Grainger’s niece, who believes he is a good man, despite her uncle’s misgivings and plan to take the outlaw to the sheriff in town.
wonderful actor
Great episode love it
Wonderful performance by Pete Duel
Without a long explanation, I’ll simply say I waited over two years to see this episode of The Virginian. I already knew the synopsis of the story before I’d seen it but nothing compared to watching Peter’s charismatic performance as a beguiling outlaw cleverly manipulating the Grangers. He drew on so many of his strong qualities as an actor to make this character all at once sympathetic, intriguing, charming and deceitful. Just like Elizabeth, I found it easy to fall for Jim Dewey even when we learn he’s wanted by the law. But is he entirely a bad man with no redeeming qualities or more a victim of circumstance? Thanks to Peter’s multilayered performance I couldn’t help but care for him and be as devastated by his end as she was. There are many fine actors who can play light and dark characters well. But the true barometer of great acting is to play both characteristics at the same time.
I think maybe Johnny Depp could be a modern day contemporary. He may have studied Pete Duel at one time or another and appreciated his talent for playing the dark and light side, as Depp had done in “The Secret Window”
As a 9 year old in England, Alias Smith & Jones was a must see favourite in our family. I absolutely loved Peter, He & Ben adorned my bedroom wall for years in the form of a large poster. His death was the first time I’d been aware of suicide, it was a devastating loss of a lovely man. I could see that at 9 years old. I’ve recently discovered your website after uk tv reran alias Smith & Jones. I hadn’t really seen any of Peter’s other work, but after seeing his appearances on this site & youtube I’m hooked. There is nothing he isn’t good in. It is heartbreaking that he did what he did.