Showdown at Eagle Gap (TV)

Showdown at Eagle Gap – English title

Quell and Co. – German title

Les Mercenaires attaquent – French title

Les Justiciers de San Pedro – French title

A 1981 U.S.A., German telelvision co-production

Producers: Felipe Mier, Berle Adams

Director: William Witney

Story: Berle Adams

Screenplay: Luke Hammer     

Cinematography: Gabriel Torres [CFI color]

Music: Neiman-Tillar Associates

Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:

Quell – Madison Mason

Enterprise Jackson – Rockne Tarkington

Paco Romero – Petrus Antonius

Alexander Kirk – Skip Homeier

Angela Richardson – Cherie Lunghi

Dr. Hedrick – Ulrich von Dobschütz

Birnham – Mike Moroff

C.C. Detweiler – Ken Smith

Nancy – Darrylle Hamilton

Soldado – Leopoldo Salazar

Ames – Roger Cudney

Señora Romero – Pilar Pellicer

Pilar Romero – Adriana Parra

Maria – Luz María Peña

Aspa – Tony Kahana

Sheriff – W.B. Witney (William Witney)

Stunt coordinator: Billy Lucas

In the wake of the Civil War, a ruthless landowner named Kirk employs devious business tactics that threaten the way of life of a group of Texas settlers. Quell organizes the settlers in order to stand up to Kirk.

Director William Witney's final feature echoes that of his first, The Three Mesquiteers outing “The Trigger Trio” (1937). Both feature three homesteading cowboys dragged into local criminality. Watching the tracking shot of horsemen in the 1982 feature is like entering a time machine into 1937. This was a made for TV pilot that was not picked up by the networks and was pigeon-holed for many years until finally released on DVD.

Side note: SHOWDOWN features a German doctor who liberates a woman from a rich psychotic land owner. And a black cowboy who puts Texas racists at heel. I'm pretty sure Tarantino saw it before making DJANGO UNCHAINED.

YouTube film clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCTqxnal0WQ