Hunt the Man Down

In preparing to teach my upcoming course examining the television series "Have Gun - Will Travel," I chose 5 with (a) the least violence (b) the most touching, unforgettable stories (c) the best writing and acting (d) a balance including great acting by women and minorities (often when the script did not necessarily call for a specific gender or race).

I considered "Hunt the Man Down" many times, but, in the end, rejected it for inclusion into my course. It is a bit too real, especially considering how graphically the Human Condition is depicted in its scenes. I wanted stories with powerful life lessons, ones that can be applied to our own lives, proactively. The harsh lessons of "Hunt the Man Down" reverberate quite somberly making it quite clear how absurd and damaging revenge can be, how pernicious and permanently devastating the hatred coursing through a personal vendetta can truly be.