Brute Angel

This episode of "Death Valley Days" provides us with out-of-the-box performances by two legendary character actors of the post-war era: Robert J. Wilke and Jim Davis. Another great character actor, Denver Pyle, best known as "Uncle Jesse" on "Dukes of Hazard" directed this episode. His experience in Westerns was obvious in the quality of this episode. Robert Wilke was one of the best at playing "bad guys", and Jim Davis played western characters on both sides of the law, ending his career as Jock Ewing in "Dallas". In "Brute Angel", we see a quiet, introspective Robert Wilke as "Sherrif Tom McBain". Wait until you see him flash an engaging smile in conversation with his wife! Even though his first grandchild will be born in his home, he is still determined to bring in young gunslinger Sam Bolt, played by Sherwood Price. When Sherrif McBain arrives in Durango, he meets up with Pony Cragin, the weak-minded sidekick of Sam Bolt. Played by Jim Davis. McBain had once saved Pony's life. Out of gratitude, he tries to discourage McBain from taking Bolt into custody, without success. That evening, Robert Wilke shows what a truly talented actor he was, as he reads from the Psalms and offers a prayer that he does not lose his life (so he can see the birth of his grandchild), and that he not be forced to take the life of Sam Bolt. The emotion in his eyes as he offers that prayer is extremely moving. In the morning, McBain confronts Bolt, and a rather intriguing conclusion to the story shows that our prayers may not always be answered in the ways that we expect. Wilke and Davis are outstanding in this episode, showing a range that they were offered on only rare occasions. Bob Wilke did get one role near the end of his career "The Farm Foreman" in Terrence Malick's "Days of Heaven", which again showed the extent of his acting talent. A truly great episode of a wonderful series of classic Western television.

Robert J. Wilke was a familiar presence in many western films and episodic western televison series. He most often played a very convincing villain in nearly all these roles, probably most famous as the belligerent cowhand in The Magnificent Seven, killed by a thrown knife in a stockyard duel with the character played by James Coburn.

In this Death Valley Days story, Wilke's character is an aging sheriff who accepts the responsibility of arresting a volatile gunman who may likely kill him when the confrontation arrives.

There is a very moving scene in the film when Wilke, alone in his hotel room late at night, reads from the bible and prays to a higher power for guidance in his difficult task.

His prayer is answered in an unforeseen but satisfying and remarkable way.

Robert J. Wilkie who graced many a western and a couple of films in other genres as one mean villain stars in this Death Valley Days story as a sheriff who might be getting on in years and slowing down a bit. A sheriff who has slowed down might not be the one to bring in young gunslinger Sherwood Price who shot and wounded one of the citizens in Wilkie's town for as Price saw it, dissing him.

As it turns out there are outstanding warrants on Price, but is Wilkie up to the job?

Let's day sometimes one can get help from an unexpected source and it could be a higher authority was looking out.