Banjo Hackett (Don Meredith), an internationally traveling horse trader, receives word that his sister has passed away and left behind her nine-year-old son Jubal Winner and an Arabian mare known as Dido’s Lament as part of her estate. Along their journey across the sloppy West they discover courage, family bonds, and bonds across time along the way.
Don Meredith
Don Meredith was an iconic figure to a generation of football fans. As quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys during their inaugural winning seasons, his grit and toughness was unrivalled within the NFL. Additionally, Don was an accomplished broadcaster and actor. Following retirement from Monday Night Football after many seasons as host, Don went on to serve as television spokesman for Lipton Teas before passing away at age seventy-two in Santa Fe New Mexico in 2010.
Don Meredith was raised in Mount Vernon, Texas and began working for his family’s dry goods store as a teenager. From an important lesson taught by his father – that everyone entering Meredith’s should be addressed by name even if it’s just their pet dog – Meredith took this advice to heart throughout his life.
Meredith made his mark as a sportscaster and fan alike during his long run as color commentator for Monday Night Football alongside Howard Cosell in the early 1970s, using his signature call to sing Willie Nelson’s “Turn Out the Lights” when a game had come to a conclusion.
Meredith achieved great success following his football career by turning to acting and television spokesmaning work for Lipton teas. He appeared on many series such as Police Story and The Odd Couple; also stage productions. Later in life he donated generously to Alzheimer’s research as well as Jeff and Hazel Meredith Scholarship Fund for football players; becoming a member of NFL’s Ring of Honor upon passing away in 2010 at Mount Vernon City Cemetery.
Ike Eisenmann
Ike Eisenmann was a versatile character actor who appeared in several of the most beloved television series from the 70s-80s, such as CHiPs, Emergency!, The Jeffersons, Mannix, Little House on the Prairie and Wonder Woman. Additionally he frequently guest starred on Gunsmoke as a regular guest star; later making an impactful cult classic out of The Fantastic Journey on NBC; provided voices for movies Devil Dog: Hound of Hell Terror Out of the Sky Dreams Don’t Die and was also voiced over Green Giant commercials commercials!
Banjo Hackett, played by Morgan Freeman, is an ambitious horse trader who employs any means necessary to come out ahead in deals or bets. After receiving a letter from his sister who was dying, Banjo heads straight for her hometown only to discover she has passed on and her nine-year-old son Jubal Winner has been placed into an orphanage and their prize Arabian mare Dido’s Lament has been stolen by a bounty hunter.
Director Andrew V. McLaglen takes advantage of Eisenmann’s natural charm to craft an entertaining Western, with Anne Francis playing Flora Dobbs, the widow who hires unscrupulous Sam Ivory to retrieve her horse, while Jennifer Warren played Mollie Brannen, Banjo’s long-suffering girlfriend enduring Banjo’s wanderlust and long distance relationship. Other familiar supporting players included Chuck Connors as sheriff and Dan O’Herlihy playing a livery stable owner – shot entirely in California but featuring horse riding and mountain climbing scenes!
Chuck Connors
Connors had begun his NBA career with the Boston Celtics before landing the role of Lucas McCain on The Rifleman series. His 6-foot-5 frame and rugged features proved ideal for portraying a powerful father figure; additionally, he learned to shoot and perform his own stunts as preparation.
Banjo Hackett takes on his nephew Jubal Winner (Ike Eisenmann). A railroad magnate named Tip Conaker wants Dido’s Lament from Jubal so as to breed an Arabian foal; therefore he hires unsavory bounty hunter Sam Ivory to track down and find her. But Banjo quickly realizes they must save Dido and her foal before Sam Ivory arrives – leaving Banjo only an hour to save both from Sam Ivory before it’s too late!
Banjo (Jennifer Warren) finds himself falling for Molly (also played by Warren). But as they traverse across the untamed West together, both Ivory and Banjo vie for Molly’s affection, while trying to establish themselves.
Ken Trevey wisely kept the dialogue light and the story humorous, rather than allowing it to devolve into melodrama. It’s refreshing that Ken Trevey didn’t shy away from exploring a complex relationship between fathers and teenage sons on television. And even with all his fame as righteous Lucas McCain on The Rifleman, Chuck Connors was clearly comfortable playing this lighthearted family Western lead role despite playing Lucas on The Rifleman; at his memorial service his warm friendship was evident between co-star Nash Crawford and himself; which we all remember him fondly as Lucas McCain on The Rifleman! Connors died from heart disease at age 71 after an illness related to heart issues in 1992; his warm connection with fellow co-star Nash Crawford was evident at his memorial service where we saw an expression of their mutual affection between their respective roles on The Rifleman was evident at his memorial service where his warm bond with co-star Nash Crawford being honored by both individuals being honored together by one last tribute from Nash Crawford at that same service!
Jennifer Warren
Jennifer Warren is an American actress, director, and producer who has been a member of “The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences” since 1985. She serves on the Alliance of Women Directors board and has taught at Wesleyan University, Johns Hopkins University, UCLA Extension and University of Tel Aviv. Graduate of the Directing Workshop for Women at the American Film Institute, she directed “Point of Departure”, winning Cine Golden Eagle at Aspen Film Festival; feature film “The Beans of Egypt, Maine” earned Best Pick status at Seattle and Boston Film Festivals before airing on PBS as part of American Playhouse series; she also produced documentary “You Don’t Have to Die”.
Warren was best known for her roles in films like Night Moves and Fatal Beauty; however she also had an outstanding theatre career that saw her appear both on Broadway and regional theater productions. In 1972 she won a Theater World Award for her performance in 6 Rms Riv Vu on Broadway before going on to star in over twenty network movies.
She has long championed gender equality in Hollywood and served on the Alliance of Women Directors board for over two decades. Additionally, she frequently speaks at conferences and college campuses about her experience working in Hollywood.
Warren believes the future is bright for women directors today more than ever before. She’s particularly thrilled about Netflix’s Marvel superhero show Jessica Jones, which has already pledged to hire female directors for each episode of its 13-episode run.
Anne Francis
Anne Francis rose to stardom with her sensuous screen persona and role as female detective Honey West. Born in 1930 in Ossining, New York and making her Broadway debut aged just 11 in Ossining; Francis first worked on radio soap operas before signing with MGM and making her cinematic debut as part of Gertrude Lawrence’s Lady in the Dark (1940).
Banjo Hackett receives word that his sister has succumbed to illness, her nine-year-old son Jubal Winner has been sent away, and her prize Arabian mare Dido’s Lament has been stolen by bounty hunter Sam Ivory (Chuck Connors). Banjo vows to retrieve Dido’s Lament before it’s too late.
Francis shines in this lively Western even though she does not share many similarities with its protagonist. With her striking figure and sensuous beauty, Francis is ideal as the leading lady.
Francis was always an absolute joy to watch on-screen, particularly when she’s being playful or flirtatious with her fellow actors. Yet she managed to pull off more serious moments effortlessly – her performance as the wife of a humane doctor in The Rack was remarkable, while when opportunities for motion picture work dried up during the 1950s, Francis turned to television guest roles, appearing on various series such as Jess-Belle & After Hours from Twilight Zone as well as several episodes from Virginian.