Jack Schaefer's 1949 novel led to a feature film adaptation 4 years later that became a iconic Western, thanks to its final scene. However, 13 years later, Shane would ride again.
Paramount sold the series to ABC, but Shane lasted just half a season due to low ratings and likely very stiff competition. It was the first starring vehicle for David Carradine, who assumed the role created on the big screen by Alan Ladd. Jill Ireland and Christopher Shea co-starred as Marian & Joey Starett, the widow & son of Joe Starrett, Shane's employer. Carradine, quiet & unassuming, didn't look like he fit the part.
Shea might be better known for something else in the 60's. He was the original voice of Linus in the Peanuts cartoons over on CBS, and to my knowledge, this was his only live-action gig. Carradine, of course, would rebound just a few years later, attaining iconic status for himself with Kung Fu.
More than 30 years after its run, Shane would resurface on cable's TV Land as part of its weekend Western block, and that's the last most of us have seen of it, unless the rights are currently held by the premium service, Encore Westerns.
No complete episodes are available on YouTube, so we'll settle for this 5:00+ clip from the episode, "Killer in the Valley":
Perhaps it wasn't a coincidence after all that the producers of another iconic ABC series, Batman, parodied Shane with the introduction of an outlaw named Shame (future Oscar winner Cliff Robertson) during seasons 2 & 3. Robertson played the outlaw as being almost punch-drunk.
Rating: B.
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