Law of the Plainsman
Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes.
Cast (158)
Directors
Paul Landres
Director
Ages 47
John Peyser
Director
Ages 43
William F. Claxton
Director
Ages 44-45
Paul Wendkos
Director
Ages 34
Richard Whorf
Director
Ages 53
Robert Gordon
Director
Ages 46
Ted Post
Director
Ages 41-42
James Neilson
Director
Ages 50
Don Medford
Director
Ages 41-42
Arthur Hilton
Director
Ages 62-63
David Lowell Rich
Director
Ages 39
John Rich
Director
Ages 34
James Sheldon
Director
Ages 38-39
Jerry Hopper
Director
Ages 52
Douglas Heyes
Director
Ages 40
Writers
Arthur Browne Jr.
Writer
Ages 35-36
Cyril Hume
Writer
Ages 59-60
David Lang
Writer
Ages 45-46
Calvin Clements Sr.
Writer
Ages 44-45
Bob Barbash
Writer
Ages 40
Jay Simms
Writer
Harry Kronman
Writer
Ages 58
Teddi Sherman
Writer
Ages 38-39
Donn Mullally
Writer
Pat Fielder
Writer
Lee Berg
Writer
Palmer Thompson
Writer
Ages 41-42
John Dunkel
Writer
Ages 44-45
David P. Harmon
Writer
Ages 41
Richard Fielder
Writer
Ages 34-35
Howard Dimsdale
Writer
Ages 45-46
James Edwards
Writer
Ages 41-42
Producers
Cinematographers
Howard Schwartz
Director of Photography
Glen MacWilliams
Director of Photography
Guy Roe
Director of Photography
Ages 56-57
Charles Burke
Director of Photography
Floyd Crosby
Director of Photography
Ages 59-60
Harry J. Wild
Director of Photography
Ages 58
Gordon Avil
Director of Photography
Lucien Ballard
Director of Photography
Editors
Jerry Young
Editor
Milton Shifman
Editor
Thomas Neff
Editor
Sherman A. Rose
Editor
Ages 44
Fred MacDowell
Editor
Thomas Scott
Editor
Harry Marker
Editor
Sherman Todd
Editor
Robert Belcher
Editor
Lester Orlebeck
Editor
Lyle Boyer
Editor
Frank Sullivan
Editor
Desmond Marquette
Editor
Arthur Hilton
Editor
Ages 62-63
Marsh Hendry
Editor
Ages 39-40
Original Language
en
Spoken Languages
English
Production Companies
Levy-Gardner-Laven, Cardiff Giant Productions, Four Stars Productions