'Two Graves for Swan Valley'

MGM's "this" shows "Bat Masterson" reruns at 4AM. I'm watching "Two Graves for Swan Valley" as I write. I was caught by the presence of Broderick Crawford, who's remembered these days more for "Highway Patrol" than "All the King's Men" or "Born Yesterday". (Crawford guested on many shows, including "Get Smart".)

What's surprising is not only seeing a Best Actor Oscar winner slumming -- the typeface for "Special Guest Star" is five times as large as that for the other actors) -- but the startlingly high quality of this episode. The direction (Walter Doniger) and photography (including real night shots) come closer to a theatrical film than a series episode.

The dialog also has its charms. When one of the bad'uns wants Bat to forgive and forget, Bat ways "I won't shake hands. I once caught a fungus." I also like the way "Two Graves" (and the following one now playing) portray Masterson as more of a money-hungry gambler than a roving Mary Worth.