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The Restless Gun
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| The Restless Gun | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Genre | Western |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | John Payne |
| Narrated by | John Payne |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 78 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | John Payne |
| Producers | |
| Production location | American Southwest |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | September 23, 1957 – June 22, 1959 |
| Related | |
The Restless Gun is an American Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is an idealistic person who prefers peaceful resolutions of conflict wherever possible. He is gregarious, intelligent, and public-spirited. The half-hour black-and-white program aired 78 episodes (including the pilot episode in which the John Payne character's name is Britt Ponsett, the name of James Stewart's character in the 1953-54 old-time radio series The Six Shooter, upon which The Restless Gun television series was originally based).
The Restless Gun theme song (officially titled "I Ride With the Wind") begins: "I ride with the wind, my eyes on the sun, and my hand on my restless gun..."
Episodes
[edit]Season 1: 1957–58
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | "Pilot ('Red Lawson's Revenge')" | Robert Florey | N.B. Stone Jr. | March 29, 1957 |
| 1 | 1 | "Duel at Lockwood" | Justus Addiss | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : David Dortort | September 23, 1957 |
| 2 | 2 | "Trail to Sunset" | Justus Addiss | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Herbert Little Jr. & David Victor | September 30, 1957 |
| 3 | 3 | "Revenge at Harness Creek" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Jack Jacobs & Malvin Wald | October 7, 1957 |
| 4 | 4 | "Rink" | James Neilson | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : David Dortort | October 14, 1957 |
| 5 | 5 | "Jenny" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Marion Hargrove | October 21, 1957 |
| 6 | 6 | "The Shooting of Jett King" | Justus Addiss | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : John Payne | October 28, 1957 |
| 7 | 7 | "Jody" | Allen H. Miner | Story by : H.A. De Russo Teleplay by : Gene L. Coon | November 4, 1957 |
| 8 | 8 | "General Gilford's Widow" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Halsey Malone | November 11, 1957 |
| 9 | 9 | "The New Sheriff" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Dean Riesner | November 18, 1957 |
| 10 | 10 | "Man and Boy" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : David Victor | November 25, 1957 |
| 11 | 11 | "Cheyenne Express" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Christopher Knopf | December 2, 1957 |
| 12 | 12 | "Thicker Than Water" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Kenneth Gamet | December 9, 1957 |
| 13 | 13 | "Silver Threads" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Marion Hargrove | December 16, 1957 |
| 14 | 14 | "The Child" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : John Payne Teleplay by : Herbert Little Jr. & David Victor | December 23, 1957 |
| 15 | 15 | "The Gold Buckle" | Justus Addiss | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Dan Mainwaring | December 30, 1957 |
| 16 | 16 | "The Coward" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Christopher Knopf | January 6, 1958 |
| 17 | 17 | "Friend in Need" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : William Tunberg | January 13, 1958 |
| 18 | 18 | "Strange Family in Town" | Earl Bellamy | Lawrence Goldman | January 20, 1958 |
| 19 | 19 | "Hang and Be Damned" | Earl Bellamy | Story by : Talmadge Powell Teleplay by : David Dortort | January 27, 1958 |
| 20 | 20 | "Quiet City" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Alvin Sapinsley | February 3, 1958 |
| 21 | 21 | "Hornitas Town" | Edward Ludwig | Jack Natteford & Luci Ward | February 10, 1958 |
| 22 | 22 | "Imposter for a Day" | Earl Bellamy | Jack Laird & Wilton Schiller | February 17, 1958 |
| 23 | 23 | "A Pressing Engagement" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Mary C McCall Jr. | February 24, 1958 |
| 24 | 24 | "Woman from Sacramento" | Edward Ludwig | Halsey Malone | March 3, 1958 |
| 25 | 25 | "Sheriff Billy" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Herbert Little Jr. & David Victor | March 10, 1958 |
| 26 | 26 | "The Hand Is Quicker" | Earl Bellamy | Arthur Weiss | March 17, 1958 |
| 27 | 27 | "The Suffragette" | Edward Ludwig | Charles B. Smith | March 24, 1958 |
| 28 | 28 | "The Whip" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Oliver Crawford | March 31, 1958 |
| 29 | 29 | "The Crisis at Easter Creek" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Jess Carneol & Kay Lenard | April 7, 1958 |
| 30 | 30 | "Aunt Emma" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Al Martin | April 14, 1958 |
| 31 | 31 | "The Outlander" | Edward Ludwig | Herbert Little Jr. & David Victor | April 21, 1958 |
| 32 | 32 | "The Battle of Tower Rock" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : Howard J. Green | April 28, 1958 |
| 33 | 33 | "The Torn Flag" | Edward Ludwig | Alvin Sapinsley | May 5, 1958 |
| 34 | 34 | "Hiram Grover's Strike" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : David Dortort | May 12, 1958 |
| 35 | 35 | "The Gold Star" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : John Payne Teleplay by : Alvin Sapinsley | May 19, 1958 |
| 36 | 36 | "More Than Kin" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : David Dortort | May 26, 1958 |
| 37 | 37 | "The Manhunters" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Richard J. Harper Teleplay by : Herbert Little Jr. & David Victor | June 2, 1958 |
| 38 | 38 | "The Peddler" | Edward Ludwig | John Tucker Battle | June 9, 1958 |
| 39 | 39 | "Gratitude" | Edward Ludwig | Arnold Belgard | June 16, 1958 |
Season 2: 1958–59
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1 | "Jebediah Bonner" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Will Cook Teleplay by : John Payne | September 22, 1958 |
| 41 | 2 | "Day of the Dragon" | Justus Addiss | John Tucker Battle | September 29, 1958 |
| 42 | 3 | "Mercyday" | Edward Ludwig | Charles B. Smith | October 6, 1958 |
| 43 | 4 | "Thunder Alley" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Hal G. Evarts Teleplay by : Hal G. Evarts | October 13, 1958 |
| 44 | 5 | "The Nowhere Kid" | Edward Ludwig | Mary C. McCall Jr. | October 20, 1958 |
| 45 | 6 | "Bonner's Squaw" | Edward Ludwig | Joel Kane & Lee Karson | November 3, 1958 |
| 46 | 7 | "Tomboy" | Edward Ludwig | Marion Hargrove | November 10, 1958 |
| 47 | 8 | "Remember the Dead" | Justus Addiss | Hendrik Vollaerts | November 17, 1958 |
| 48 | 9 | "No Way to Kill" | Edward Ludwig | John Falvo | November 24, 1958 |
| 49 | 10 | "Take Me Home" | Edward Ludwig | Newt Arnold & David Cross | December 1, 1958 |
| 50 | 11 | "Multiply One Boy" | Edward Ludwig | Lee Berg & Lawrence Menkin | December 8, 1958 |
| 51 | 12 | "Peligroso" | Justus Addiss | Thomas Thompson | December 15, 1958 |
| 52 | 13 | "A Bell for Santo Domingo" | Edward Ludwig | Richard Newman | December 22, 1958 |
| 53 | 14 | "The Way Back" | Edward Ludwig | Robert Leslie Bellem & Frank Bonham | December 29, 1958 |
| 54 | 15 | "The Painted Beauty" | Justus Addiss | Halsey Melone | January 5, 1959 |
| 55 | 16 | "Shadow of a Gunfighter" | Edward Ludwig | Herman J. Groves | January 12, 1959 |
| 56 | 17 | "The Lady and the Gun" | Edward Ludwig | Story by : Frank Burt Teleplay by : David Dortort | January 19, 1959 |
| 57 | 18 | "Blood of Courage" | Edward Ludwig | Ronald Bishop | February 2, 1959 |
| 58 | 19 | "Better Than a Cannon" | Edward Ludwig | John Tucker Battle | February 9, 1959 |
| 59 | 20 | "The Dead Ringer" | Edward Ludwig | John Tucker Battle | February 16, 1959 |
| 60 | 21 | "The Last Grey Man" | Justus Addiss | Richard Newman | February 23, 1959 |
| 61 | 22 | "Melany" | Justus Addiss | Herman J. Groves | March 2, 1959 |
| 62 | 23 | "Ricochet" | Justus Addiss | Fanya Lawrence & Ted Thomas | March 9, 1959 |
| 63 | 24 | "Dead Man's Hand" | Justus Addiss | Harry Kronman | March 16, 1959 |
| 64 | 25 | "The Sweet Sisters" | Sam Strangis | Joel Kane & Lee Karson | March 23, 1959 |
| 65 | 26 | "Incident at Bluefield" | Edward Ludwig | Herman J. Groves | March 30, 1959 |
| 66 | 27 | "The Pawn" | Edward Ludwig | Charles B. Smith | April 6, 1959 |
| 67 | 28 | "Four Lives" | Edward Ludwig | Thomas Thompson | April 13, 1959 |
| 68 | 29 | "One on the House" | Edward Ludwig | Norman Daniels | April 20, 1959 |
| 69 | 30 | "Code for a Killer" | Sam Strangis | Hal Fimberg & Frank Waldman | April 27, 1959 |
| 70 | 31 | "Mme. Brimstone" | Sam Strangis | Adele Buffington | May 4, 1959 |
| 71 | 32 | "Lady by Law" | Sam Strangis | Norman Daniels | May 11, 1959 |
| 72 | 33 | "Ride with the Devil" | Sam Strangis | Nat Tanchuck | May 18, 1959 |
| 73 | 34 | "A Trial for Jenny May" | Sam Strangis | John Tucker Battle | May 25, 1959 |
| 74 | 35 | "The Cavis Boy" | Sam Strangis | Ronald Bishop & Wells Root | June 1, 1959 |
| 75 | 36 | "The Englishman" | Sam Strangis | Story by : Lester Wm. Berke & Robert J. Black Jr. Teleplay by : Lester Wm. Berke, Robert J. Black Jr., & Richard Newman | June 8, 1959 |
| 76 | 37 | "A Very Special Investigator" | Edward Ludwig | Arnold Belgard | June 15, 1959 |
| 77 | 38 | "The Hill of Death" | Sam Strangis | Joe Stone | June 22, 1959 |
Selected guest stars
[edit]- Fred Aldrich
- Claude Akins
- Jimmy Baird
- Trevor Bardette
- Baynes Barron
- Jeanne Bates
- Bea Benaderet
- Robert Blake
- Dan Blocker
- Leslie Bradley
- Henry Brandon
- Edgar Buchanan
- Robert Burton
- Anthony Caruso
- Peggie Castle
- Andy Clyde
- James Coburn
- Iron Eyes Cody
- Johnny Crawford
- Royal Dano
- George Dolenz
- Jack Elam
- John Ericson
- Paul Fix
- James Gleason
- John Goddard
- Don Grady
- Tom Greenway
- Dabbs Greer
- Robert Griffin
- Herman Hack
- Alan Hale Jr.
- Chick Hannan
- Carol Henry
- Bern Hoffman
- Clark Howat
- I. Stanford Jolley
- Don Kennedy
- Ethan Laidlaw
- Charles Lane
- Rusty Lane
- Ruta Lee
- Herbert Lytton
- Ted Mapes
- Rod McGaughy
- Joyce Meadows
- Ewing Mitchell
- Read Morgan
- J. Carrol Naish
- James Nolan
- Gregg Palmer
- Hank Patterson
- William Phipps
- Joe Ploski
- Denver Pyle
- Anthony Ray
- Roy Roberts
- Irene Ryan
- Frank J. Scannell
- George Selk
- Fred Sherman
- Olan Soule
- Onslow Stevens
- Boyd Stockman
- Glenn Strange
- Brick Sullivan
- Guy Teague
- Robert Tetrick
- Regis Toomey
- Rip Torn
- Lurene Tuttle
- Charles Wagenheim
- James Westmoreland
- Guinn Williams
Home media
[edit]On March 1, 2010, Timeless Media Group released a three-disc best-of set featuring 24 episodes from the series.[1]
On April 23, 2013, Timeless Media released Restless Gun: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.[2] The 9-disc set features all 78 episodes of the series.
References
[edit]- ^ "Restless Gun". Amazon. March 2010.
- ^ "The Restless Gun DVD news: Announcement for the Restless Gun - the Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
External links
[edit]The Restless Gun
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The Restless Gun is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from September 23, 1957, to June 22, 1959.[1] Starring John Payne as the titular character, Vint Bonner—a skilled but reluctant gunslinger wandering the post-Civil War American frontier—the show follows his episodic adventures in various towns, where he often intervenes in moral conflicts, outlaws' schemes, and personal vendettas while seeking a place to settle.[2][3] Created by Frank Burt and produced by Revue Studios, the black-and-white half-hour program ran for two seasons comprising 77 episodes.[4][2]
The series originated from a pilot episode titled "The Restless Gun," which aired on March 29, 1957, as part of the anthology Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, written by N.B. Stone Jr. (teleplay) and Frank Burt (story).[5] In the pilot, Payne's character was initially named Britt Ponsett, drawing inspiration from the NBC radio series The Six Shooter (1953–1954), which starred James Stewart as a similar drifter.[6][7] Adapted for television by Burt, the show emphasized themes of justice, redemption, and the fading frontier, airing Mondays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.[4]
Notable for its strong ensemble of guest stars, many of whom later achieved fame, The Restless Gun featured appearances by Dan Blocker (in his pre-Bonanza role), Claude Akins, James Coburn, Chuck Connors, Angie Dickinson, Jack Elam, Robert Fuller, and Henry Hull, among others.[4][8] Produced during the peak of the Western genre's popularity on 1950s television, it reflected the era's interest in morally complex anti-heroes and contributed to Payne's career resurgence after earlier film roles.[6] The series received a 7.4/10 rating on IMDb based on viewer reviews, praised for its tight storytelling and Payne's charismatic performance.[2]
Overview
Premise
The Restless Gun centers on Vint Bonner, a skilled gunfighter wandering the American Southwest in the years following the American Civil War. As a post-war itinerant, Bonner travels from town to town, employing his expertise to mediate disputes and aid those in need, favoring non-violent solutions whenever feasible while drawing his weapon only when unavoidable.[6][9] The series explores themes of moral justice and public service, portraying Bonner as a reluctant hero driven by a strong ethical code that emphasizes protecting the innocent and avoiding needless bloodshed. His aversion to killing underscores a broader narrative of redemption and restraint in a lawless frontier, with Bonner occasionally narrating his experiences to provide insight into his principled worldview.[6][2] Set in the late 19th-century American West, the show highlights Bonner's nomadic existence amid the era's turbulent social dynamics, including feuds, outlaws, and community struggles. This episodic format delivers self-contained stories in each installment, typically unfolding in a different locale to reflect the vast, unforgiving landscape and the challenges of frontier life.[9][10] The premise draws inspiration from radio Westerns, particularly the style of the 1953–1954 NBC series The Six Shooter, created by Frank Burt, which featured a similar wandering gunslinger archetype—though The Restless Gun is not a direct adaptation, several of its scripts were adapted from the radio program's episodes.[6][7]Cast and characters
John Payne portrayed Vint Bonner, the central character of The Restless Gun, a wandering cowboy and skilled gunfighter navigating the American West in the post-Civil War era.[7] Bonner is depicted as a retired gunfighter and restless drifter in search of a place to settle down, often becoming involved in local conflicts despite his nomadic lifestyle.[6][11] Payne's interpretation of Bonner emphasized the character's charismatic and gregarious nature, making him approachable and intelligent in social interactions across various towns.[12] Central to Bonner's persona is his strong ethical code as an idealistic figure who prioritizes peaceful resolutions to conflicts whenever possible, reflecting a reluctance to resort to violence despite his proficiency with a gun.[12] The series featured no fixed supporting cast, with each episode introducing new townspeople, villains, and temporary allies to underscore Bonner's solitary, itinerant existence and the transient relationships he forms.[10] Bonner is depicted with a strong aversion to gunplay, grappling with the moral weight of his past and aligning with the show's themes of redemption and restraint.[7] In the pilot episode, Payne played Britt Ponset—a character adapted from the radio series The Six Shooter—with the name changed to Vint Bonner for the ongoing series.[5][13]Production
Development
The Restless Gun was created by Frank Burt, based on his NBC radio series The Six Shooter (1953–1954) starring James Stewart. Actor John Payne established Window Glen Productions to develop the series and served as executive producer, owning a significant stake in the project—marking one of the early instances of a star securing such a vanity credit in television—while Revue Studios, a subsidiary of MCA (later part of Universal), handled the overall production. Payne, leveraging his experience from film Westerns, helped shape the series around the vision of a post-Civil War drifter, drawing from radio precedents to appeal to audiences seeking moral complexity in the genre.[14][10][6] The concept was first tested through a pilot episode titled "The Restless Gun," which aired on March 29, 1957, as part of NBC's anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. Written by N.B. Stone Jr. (teleplay), based on a story by Les Crutchfield adapted from a radio episode of The Six Shooter, the pilot featured Payne as Britt Ponset, a wandering gunman resolving conflicts through intellect rather than violence, and successfully demonstrated the format's viability, leading NBC to greenlight the full series just six months later. This anthology slot provided a low-risk proving ground, adapting elements from radio Westerns to television while refining the lead character's ethical framework of avoiding unnecessary gunplay.[15][7][5][16] The writing team, supervised by producer David Dortort, built on characters created by Frank Burt. Scripts drew from short stories and adapted radio influences, with contributors like Frank Bonham providing episodes that emphasized moral dilemmas and frontier justice, transitioning the nomadic protagonist's tales from audio anthologies to a cohesive television narrative. This approach prioritized standalone stories with recurring themes of redemption, influencing the series' tone amid the Western boom.[10][17][6] NBC committed to 77 half-hour black-and-white episodes across two seasons, premiering on September 23, 1957, in the Monday 8:00 p.m. ET slot to capitalize on the prime-time Western surge. The decision to evolve from the pilot's anthology roots to a format centered on a consistent lead—renaming the character Vint Bonner for the series—aimed to foster viewer loyalty through ongoing character development, positioning it against established hits in the competitive landscape. This structure allowed for 39 episodes in the first season and 38 in the second, balancing episodic adventures with subtle arcs to sustain appeal without demanding serialized commitment.[10][6][7][9][18]Filming
The Restless Gun was primarily filmed at Revue Studios in Hollywood, California, serving as the main hub for interior scenes and backlot work. Occasional location shoots occurred at Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, to capture the rugged, authentic Western landscapes essential to the series' post-Civil War setting. These California sites in the American Southwest provided the dramatic rocky terrain and open spaces depicted in outdoor sequences.[10][2] Episodes were produced in standard 30-minute format, shot in black-and-white on 35mm film stock, which allowed for the crisp visuals typical of mid-1950s network television. The production relied on practical effects, including staged gunfights with blank ammunition and choreographed horse chases, to maintain realism within the constraints of live-action filming. This approach emphasized on-set action over elaborate special effects, aligning with the era's efficient television workflows.[2][19] Key directors such as Edward Ludwig, who helmed 15 episodes, Justus Addiss with 12 episodes, and Earl Bellamy, who directed multiple installments, focused on streamlined shooting schedules to meet the demanding output of 39 episodes in the first season and 38 in the second. Their efficient methods, often completing episodes in a week or less, enabled the series to maintain a consistent broadcast pace on NBC. Under the overall production oversight by David Dortort and John Payne, these directors balanced narrative pacing with logistical demands.[17][20][17] Crew contributions were pivotal to the series' visual and auditory style, with cinematographers like Archie R. Dalzell handling outdoor sequences to enhance the expansive feel of the Western vistas. Music composer William Lava provided the theme and incidental scores, using orchestral arrangements to build atmospheric tension during tense confrontations and travels. Paul Dunlap also contributed to the primary theme composition, reinforcing the restless, wandering tone of Vint Bonner's adventures.[17][21][22] Budget constraints inherent to 1950s half-hour television series led to extensive use of studio-bound sets for interiors at Revue and reliance on stock footage for certain exterior establishing shots, optimizing costs while preserving the production's weekly rhythm.[23]Episodes
Season 1: 1957–58
The first season of The Restless Gun premiered on NBC on September 23, 1957, and ran through June 16, 1958, comprising 39 half-hour black-and-white episodes produced by Revue Studios. It established lead character Vint Bonner (John Payne) as a nomadic gunfighter traversing the post-Civil War American West, intervening in community disputes with a preference for diplomacy over gunplay, while confronting ethical challenges about the cost of violence and the rule of law. The season's narrative arc emphasized Bonner's consistent portrayal as a principled troubleshooter, evolving from introductory standalone tales of personal redemption to more layered explorations of frontier justice, such as family loyalties and vigilante excesses. Notable for its adaptation of radio drama elements, the season integrated the pilot episode early on, fostering character depth through recurring motifs of reluctant heroism. Many episodes, particularly the first six of Season 1, were adaptations of stories from the radio series The Six Shooter.[15] Production highlights included the incorporation of the pilot episode "The Restless Gun" (aka "Red Lawson's Revenge"), originally aired March 29, 1957, on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and adapted for television from a 1953 radio story by Les Crutchfield, with teleplay by N.B. Stone Jr. and story by Frank Burt.[24] Directors like Edward Ludwig and Justus Addiss helmed multiple episodes, emphasizing atmospheric outdoor filming in California locales to evoke the vast Western landscape. Writers such as David Victor and Herbert Little Jr. contributed teleplays that balanced action with dialogue-driven dilemmas. The season's ratings built steadily, reflecting strong viewer interest in the Western genre; The Restless Gun averaged 13,162,880 viewers, ranking 8th overall in the 1957–58 Nielsen standings and securing a second season.[24][25][26] The episodes are listed below, with original air dates and concise plot summaries focusing on Bonner's role in resolving local conflicts.| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duel at Lockwood | Sep 23, 1957 | Vint Bonner faces a young gunfighter Wes Singer in Lockwood, teaching him the perils of reckless gunplay, while aiding an elderly woman whose grandson targets him as a victim. Directed by Justus Addiss; teleplay by David Dortort.[26] |
| 2 | Trail to Sunset | Sep 30, 1957 | Bonner encounters five men, including a doctor, who offer to escort his wounded prisoner to trial but reveal their involvement in a recent lynching, forcing him to protect the innocent outlaw. Directed by Justus Addiss; writers David Victor and Herbert Little Jr.[26][27] |
| 3 | Revenge at Harness Creek | Oct 07, 1957 | Bonner worries that a sheriff friend will seek personal vengeance rather than justice while pursuing the killer of his brother.[28] |
| 4 | Rink | Oct 14, 1957 | Bonner aids a teenager bent on avenging his father's murder, uncovering deeper family tensions in the process.[26] |
| 5 | Jenny | Oct 21, 1957 | Bonner joins a posse hunting an outlaw and discovers the fugitive hiding at a ranch run by a lone woman, testing his commitment to the law.[26] |
| 6 | The Shooting of Jett King | Oct 28, 1957 | In the pilot integration, a town credits Bonner with killing notorious gunman Jett King, but the true shooter—a bank teller—hides the fact to safeguard his reputation, drawing Bonner into a web of deception.[26][24] |
| 7 | Jody | Nov 04, 1957 | Bonner intervenes when the hotheaded son of a friend accidentally kills a rancher's son, navigating the fallout of unintended violence. |
| 8 | General Gilford's Widow | Nov 11, 1957 | Bonner helps a widow who insists her Civil War general husband survived a massacre, against a rancher's efforts to declare her incompetent and seize her land. |
| 9 | The New Sheriff | Nov 18, 1957 | Acting as temporary sheriff in Harmony, Bonner confronts the Cotton brothers and gunman Tracer Givens plotting to rig a town election. Directed by Edward Ludwig; teleplay by Dean Riesner.[26] |
| 10 | Man and Boy | Nov 25, 1957 | Bonner assists a sheriff tracking a killer, suspecting the lawman's own son may be involved, highlighting paternal blind spots. Directed by Edward Ludwig; teleplay by David Victor.[26] |
| 11 | Cheyenne Express | Dec 02, 1957 | A cowardly gunman who betrayed his gang leader seeks Bonner's protection on a perilous stagecoach journey.[26] |
| 12 | Thicker Than Water | Dec 09, 1957 | A gambler accused of cheating returns to claim his son after his wife's death, but Bonner advises keeping the boy's belief that his father is dead intact. Directed by Edward Ludwig; teleplay by Kenneth Gamet.[26] |
| 13 | Silver Threads | Dec 16, 1957 | Bonner suspects a guitar-playing stranger singing "Silver Threads Among the Gold" is linked to a recent robbery. |
| 14 | The Child | Dec 23, 1957 | On Christmas Eve, Bonner and a marshal shelter with a mute giant prisoner at a mission from the man's childhood, revealing his innocence in a murder charge. Directed by Edward Ludwig; teleplay by Herbert Little Jr. and David Victor; story by John Payne.[26] |
| 15 | The Gold Buckle | Dec 30, 1957 | Bonner encounters brothers posing as posse members who are actually the stagecoach robbers he seeks. |
| 16 | The Coward | Jan 06, 1958 | Bonner turns down a job from rancher George Temple pressuring a neighbor to sell land, uncovering the man's traumatic past that prevents him from fighting back. |
| 17 | Friend in Need | Jan 13, 1958 | Bonner probes a murder accusation between two estranged friends, Art Hemper and George Willis, one of whom killed the other's brother.[26] |
| 18 | Strange Family in Town | Jan 20, 1958 | A pacifist Quaker family endures prejudice in a rough territory, with Bonner mediating tensions including a rancher's scorn.[26] |
| 19 | Hang and Be Damned | Jan 27, 1958 | Escorting a condemned killer through Apache lands, Bonner faces complications from the prisoner's vengeful girlfriend and drunken tribesmen.[26] |
| 20 | Quiet City | Feb 03, 1958 | In a tamed frontier town, an aging sheriff yearns for old days; after a shooting, he hallucinates a lynch mob, prompting Bonner to urge his retirement. Directed by Edward Ludwig; teleplay by Alvin Sapinsley.[26] |
| 21 | Hornitas Town | Feb 10, 1958 | Bonner uncovers corruption in Hornitas, including a extortionate sheriff and cheating gambler, allied only with a religious woman who opposes gun violence. Directed by Edward Ludwig; writers Jack Natteford and Luci Ward.[26] |
| 22 | Imposter for a Day | Feb 17, 1958 | Bonner tracks an imposter using his name to kill for hire, racing to restore his reputation before a bounty hunter catches up. |
| 23 | A Pressing Engagement | Feb 24, 1958 | To Bonner's surprise, an entire town congratulates him on a fabricated marriage to Helen Rockwood, complicating his friendship with her suitor. |
| 24 | The Woman from Sacramento | Mar 03, 1958 | A wealthy dying rancher doubts the identity of his returning daughter, accompanied by a suspicious outlaw, leaving Bonner to verify the claim. |
| 25 | Sheriff Billy | Mar 10, 1958 | Bonner connects a drunken escaped convict to a young sheriff searching for his missing father, unraveling a tale of abandonment. |
| 26 | The Hand Is Quicker | Mar 17, 1958 | Bonner trains a young man in gunfighting for self-defense, only to face him later in a deadly confrontation that questions his mentorship. Directed by Earl Bellamy; writer Arthur Weiss.[26] |
| 27 | The Suffragette | Mar 24, 1958 | Bonner mediates a town divided by suffragette leader Emma Birch's push for women's rights, clashing with resistant menfolk. |
| 28 | The Whip | Mar 31, 1958 | Bonner supports a rancher's shunned daughter married to a wanted outlaw, striving to avert bloodshed in her defense. Directed by Edward Ludwig; writer Oliver Crawford.[26] |
| 29 | The Crisis at Easter Creek | Apr 07, 1958 | Bonner navigates a territorial crisis involving a sheriff, preacher, and outlaws threatening a community gathering. |
| 30 | Aunt Emma | Apr 14, 1958 | Wounded while pursuing bank robbers, Bonner is nursed by his Aunt Emma, who demands he abandon the chase despite the thieves planning another holdup.[26] |
| 31 | The Outlander | Apr 21, 1958 | Visiting a friend's daughter in Prairie City, Bonner encounters a Confederate colonel and European count amid post-war animosities. Directed by Edward Ludwig; writers David Victor and Herbert Little Jr.[26] |
| 32 | The Battle of Tower Rock | Apr 28, 1958 | Bonner quells a feud between rival families over water rights at Tower Rock, exposing hidden alliances. |
| 33 | The Torn Flag | May 05, 1958 | Bonner investigates sabotage linked to a town's divided loyalties, symbolized by a desecrated American flag. |
| 34 | Hiram Grover's Strike | May 12, 1958 | Bonner mediates a miners' strike led by Hiram Grover against exploitative owners, balancing labor rights and order. |
| 35 | The Gold Star | May 19, 1958 | During a sheriff's retirement celebration, Bonner thwarts a bank robbery that threatens the honored lawman's legacy. Directed by Edward Ludwig; teleplay by Alvin Sapinsley from a story by John Payne.[26] |
| 36 | More Than Kin | May 26, 1958 | Bonner uncovers familial betrayals when a drifter claims kinship to swindle a vulnerable relative. |
| 37 | The Manhunters | Jun 02, 1958 | Bonner halts Ben Cotterman's vengeful manhunt for his brother's killers, emphasizing due process over retaliation.[26] |
| 38 | The Peddler | Jun 09, 1958 | A traveling peddler draws Bonner into a dispute over stolen goods and hidden motives in a suspicious town. |
| 39 | Gratitude | Jun 16, 1958 | In the season finale, Bonner reflects on past interventions when an old beneficiary repays a debt with unexpected peril. |
Season 2: 1958–59
The second season of The Restless Gun aired on NBC from September 22, 1958, to June 22, 1959, marking the final installment of the series with 38 half-hour episodes broadcast on Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.[29] Building on the first season's foundation, the episodes continued to emphasize Vint Bonner's moral code against unnecessary violence, often delving into themes of redemption, family ties, and community justice, as seen in stories like "The Pawn," where Bonner devises a strategic plan to shield a vulnerable girl from outlaws.[29] Guest appearances by established actors such as James Coburn and Dan Blocker added depth to ensemble-driven conflicts, reflecting the series' evolution toward more layered interpersonal dynamics.[29] The season's episodes are detailed below, including original air dates, key production credits where documented, and concise plot summaries.| Episode # | Title | Air Date | Director | Writer(s) | Guest Stars | Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | Jebediah Bonner | Sep 22, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | John Payne, Will Cook | Dennis Holmes, James Best, Carlyle Mitchell | Vint recounts his grandfather Jebediah’s confrontation with a gunslinger to illustrate his no-kill philosophy to a young boy.[29] |
| 2.02 | Day of the Dragon | Sep 29, 1958 | Justus Addiss | John Tucker Battle | Allen Breneman, Frank De Kova | A boy vows revenge against Indians for his parents' murder, but Vint intervenes to prevent further bloodshed.[29] |
| 2.03 | Mercyday | Oct 6, 1958 | Gloria Talbott, Veda Ann Borg, Dean Stockwell, Dan Blocker | Vint promises a dying mountaineer to civilize his wild daughter and find her a proper suitor.[29] | ||
| 2.04 | Thunder Valley | Oct 13, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | Hal G. Evarts | John Larch, Robert Blake | Vint assists a marshal in tracking Mexican outlaws who stole horses from a rancher.[29] |
| 2.05 | The Nowhere Kid | Oct 20, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | Mary McCall Jr. | Steven Terrell, Luana Patten | Vint aids a boastful young drifter accused of robbery in proving his innocence to a smitten girl.[29] |
| 2.06 | Bonner's Squaw | Nov 3, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | Joel Kane, Lee Karson | Daria Massey, Joe Vitale | To avert an Indian attack on settlers, Vint agrees to marry the chief's daughter.[29] |
| 2.07 | Tomboy | Nov 10, 1958 | Judi Meredith, Don C. Harvey | Vint encounters a tough young female outlaw during a stagecoach robbery.[29] | ||
| 2.08 | Remember the Dead | Nov 17, 1958 | Justus Addiss | Rik Vollaerts | Frank Ferguson, Bartlett Robinson | Arriving too late to save a friend from hanging, Vint hunts the true murderer.[29] |
| 2.09 | No Way to Kill | Nov 24, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | John Falvo | Henry Corden, Jeanne Bates | Vint leads a posse after an escaped convict seeking vengeance for his crippling injury.[29] |
| 2.10 | Take Me Home | Dec 1, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | Newt Arnold, David Cross | Mala Powers, Peter Breck | Vint helps a saloon singer reunite with her disapproving Quaker family.[29] |
| 2.11 | Multiply One Boy | Dec 8, 1958 | Jimmy Baird, Kay Stewart | Vint escorts a Civil War orphan to his Northern relatives amid lingering sectional tensions.[29] | ||
| 2.12 | Peligroso | Dec 15, 1958 | Justus Addiss | Thomas Tompson | Marcia Henderson, Trevor Bardette | Vint goes undercover to expose a rancher hiring gunmen to eliminate him.[29] |
| 2.13 | A Bell for Santo Domingo | Dec 22, 1958 | John Litel, Arline Sax | Vint guides a priest and nuns through dangerous Apache territory to deliver a church bell.[29] | ||
| 2.14 | The Way Back | Dec 29, 1958 | Edward Ludwig | Frank Bonham, Robert Leslie Bellem | James Coburn, Dan Blocker | Vint safeguards a naive rancher from con artists eager to swindle his savings.[29] |
| 2.15 | The Painted Beauty | Jan 5, 1959 | Justus Addiss | Halsey Melone | Ruta Lee, Charles Cooper | Tensions rise when an artist's portrait of a saloon girl offends her possessive boss.[29] |
| 2.16 | Shadow of a Gunfighter | Jan 12, 1959 | Christian Nyby | Herman J. Groves | Robert Fuller, Douglas Kennedy | Vint confronts the father of a boy he accidentally killed in self-defense.[29] |
| 2.17 | The Lady and the Gun | Jan 19, 1959 | Mala Powers, Lloyd Corrigan | Vint pursues a woman who stole his horse, unaware of her desperate circumstances.[29] | ||
| 2.18 | Blood of Courage | Feb 2, 1959 | Edward Ludwig | Ronald Bishop | Lee Farr, J. Carrol Naish | On a troubled ranch, Vint uncovers a foreman's scheme to seize control using the owner's hidden shame.[29] |
| 2.19 | Better Than a Cannon | Feb 9, 1959 | Herbert C. Lytton, Bern Hoffman | Vint outsmarts a tyrannical landowner after being imprisoned over a disputed cannon.[29] | ||
| 2.20 | The Dead Ringer | Feb 16, 1959 | Edward Ludwig | John Tucker Battle | Walter Coy, Richard Cutting | Vint is pursued as a bank robber due to his striking resemblance to the real culprit.[29] |
| 2.21 | The Last Grey Man | Feb 23, 1959 | Henry Hull, Robert H. Barrat | Vint tracks a rogue Confederate soldier hoarding stolen gold for a hopeless cause.[29] | ||
| 2.22 | Melany | Mar 2, 1959 | Justus Addiss | Herman J. Groves | Claude Akins, Marya Stevens | Visiting an old flame whose husband is injured, Vint hunts a killer terrorizing the town.[29] |
| 2.23 | Ricochet | Mar 9, 1959 | Robert H. Harris, John Lupton | Vint warns a woman that her husband is plotting a bank heist with dangerous accomplices.[29] | ||
| 2.24 | Dead Man's Hand | Mar 16, 1959 | Henry Hull, Charles Cooper | Vint intervenes in a poker game where a desperate man risks everything on a fatal bluff.[29] | ||
| 2.25 | The Sweet Sisters | Mar 23, 1959 | Edith Evanson, Jeanette Nolan | Vint stays with pacifist sisters while investigating nearby cattle rustling.[29] | ||
| 2.26 | Incident at Bluefield | Mar 30, 1959 | Edward Ludwig | Herman J. Groves | Alan Hale Jr., Morgan Woodward | Vint probes the murder of a friend linked to a powerful town's intimidation tactics.[29] |
| 2.27 | The Pawn | Apr 6, 1959 | Edward Ludwig | Charles B. Smith | James Coburn, Julie Payne | Vint employs clever tactics to protect a jailed friend's deaf-mute daughter from rustlers.[29] |
| 2.28 | Four Lives | Apr 13, 1959 | John Ericson, Mary Murphy | Vint searches for a young killer he once mentored, evading a vengeful posse.[29] | ||
| 2.29 | One on the House | Apr 20, 1959 | Henry Hull, Whitney Blake | An exonerated prisoner rejects payout and demands justice through exposing a robbery plot.[29] | ||
| 2.30 | Code for a Killer | Apr 27, 1959 | Sam Strangis | Hal Fimberg, Frank Waldman | Floyd Simmons, Lane Bradford | Vint deciphers clues to prove a gunman innocent of murdering a sheriff.[29] |
| 2.31 | Madame Brimstone | May 4, 1959 | Bea Benaderet, Don Grady | Vint clashes with a boy's snobbish grandmother over his rough frontier upbringing.[29] | ||
| 2.32 | Lady by Law | May 11, 1959 | Sam Strangis | Norman Daniels | Peggy Castle, Douglas Kennedy | Vint must transform a rough saloon owner into a refined lady or serve jail time for her.[29] |
| 2.33 | Ride with the Devil | May 18, 1959 | Sam Strangis | Nat Tanchuck | Jan Arvan, Rafael Campos | Vint ventures into Mexico to rescue a friend's son from a ruthless bandit gang.[29] |
| 2.34 | A Trial for Jenny May | May 25, 1959 | Edward Ludwig | Ronald Bishop | Kasey Rogers, Ellen Corby | Vint aids a shunned widow in a custody battle against prejudiced townsfolk.[29] |
| 2.35 | The Cavis Boy | Jun 1, 1959 | Sam Strangis | Ronald Bishop, Wells Root | Don Grady, Wilton Graff | With a boy's help, Vint gathers evidence to overturn a sham trial convicting the child's father.[29] |
| 2.36 | The Englishman | Jun 8, 1959 | Lyle Talbot, Lester Fletcher | An Englishman's elaborate prank on Vint spirals into real danger from outlaws.[29] | ||
| 2.37 | A Very Special Investigator | Jun 15, 1959 | Edward Ludwig | Arnold Belgard | Andy Clyde, Reed Hadley | Vint supports a newspaper editor battling corruption and a hired gunman.[29] |
| 2.38 | The Hill of Death | Jun 22, 1959 | Regis Toomey, John Dehner | Vint and a doctor expose a fanatical preacher behind a boy's brutal beating.[29] |