There are a lot of things to appreciate about Lancer. When I think about the show, it's much more than plots or the guys' pretty faces that comes to me. I admire the costumes, Scott's suede-shouldered jacket, Johnny's buttery-soft calfskin jacket with the big stitches. The Hacienda with its grand feeling, the heavy, masculine furniture and the many period accessories. Those palm-tree-motif dining room chairs that have been spotted in movies made after Lancer was long over. Johnny's oiled chest in CAWH, the bathtub scene and any shot that showed off the guys' physiques, Scott's expression in Buscaderos when he was nearly executed, Johnny's look at Murdoch when his father was trying to get rid of him in CAWH. There are so many other scenes and details that one can remember...the favorite lines, the horses, the whole feeling that the Lancer show gave us- then and now.

 

CAWH is a favorite, topping the Lancer charts up with Warburton. The script has extra scenes that were either never filmed or deleted, in which Wes, Johnny's friend, has been killed. Johnny digs Wes's grave. Wes is described as - a drifting cowhand of about thirty. He says to Johnny, about fencing 'out' the whole ranch ,"Now that there could be a life's work for a willing young fella. . . " When he is in the saloon with johnny, he refers to 'just like old times'. And Johnny's written into a scene where he buries Wes himself. Did Johnny pull out his gun when Stryker and the boys wanted to take the horses right after Johnny got the stallion lassooed? In the script he did, but in the show, didn't Wes show up and diffuse the situation, casually pulling his own gun? And did Wes get fired by Murdoch in the filmed version? In the script he said he was let go, figured it was on account of the time they took off chasing them wild horses. Said it was worth it. When Johnny joins Wes and leaves the ranch, they let out yells as the ride down the road and Murdoch hears them. No mention of the water hole scene (which is missing off my taped version). You know, I read the descriptions in the script of emotions and can just SEE the actors. Very clever the way it was interpreted. Read this and see: Scott rises, extends hand. SCOTT: Nice to meet you brother. Johnny stares at extended hand, uncertain as to whether he's being put on. Awkwardly, he takes the hand and shakes it, uncomfortably aware of his own emotions but still grudgingly determined. Scott EXITS.

Johnny looks great in Lifeline, the last episode shown. This wasn't filmed last, however. In Lifeline, the plot brings up the question - What would happen if both Johnny and Murdoch died and Scott was the only survivor? There is a line in the show, spoken by Murdoch's old friend, who also happens to be the villain of the piece, where he surmises that Scott would pack up and return to Boston. Of course, many Lancer fans wouldn't agree with this.

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