Law of the Plainsman

1 9 5 9 (USA)
30 x 30 minute episodes

When he was 14, Apache Sam Buckhart (Michael Ansara) had saved the life of a US Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam a great deal of money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University.

Wishing to help his people, Sam decided to become a law enforcement officer upon graduation and took the oath to become a Deputy Marshal in New Mexico.

Now based in Santa Fe, the young Apache had to overcome many obstacles to perform his job, especially the prejudices that existed between Indians and whites.

Seven-year-old Tess (Gina Gillespie) had been Sam’s ward since he rescued her from a wagon train massacre. Martha Commager (Nora Marlowe) ran the Santa Fe Boarding House and helped care for Tess.

Billy Lordan (Robert Harland) was Sam’s assistant, the Deputy Marshal of the nearby town of Glorieta. Andy Morrison (Dayton Lummis) was the sheriff of Santa Fe.

The pilot episode, ‘The Indian’ aired as an episode of The Rifleman in February 1959.

Deputy Marshal Sam Buckhart
Michael Ansara
Tess Wilkins
Gina Gillespie
Marshal Andy Morrison
Dayton Lummis
Martha Commager
Nora Marlowe
Deputy Billy Lordan
Robert Harland

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