A deft blend of comedy and suspense, "Alias Joe Cartwright" affords series regular Michael Landon the opportunity to play a dual role: His usual characterization of Joe Cartwright, and murderous Army deserter Angus Borden. Mistaken for Borden, Joe is sentenced to a firing squad by martinet Captain Merced (Douglas Dick). But Sgt. O'Rourke (Keenan Wynn) suspects something is amiss, especially when Merced makes it clear that he knows Joe is innocent but is determined to go through with the execution anyway. Throughout the episode O'Rourke's favorite patsy, the hapless Private Peters (Joseph Turkel), runs himself ragged trying to find out if Joe is indeed who he claims to be. Also in the cast is familiar character actor Dave Willock, here seen as an overly unctuous hotel clerk. Originally telecast on January 26, 1964, "Alias Joe Cartwright" was written by Robert Vincent Wright.
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
