Ep 1. Mountain Fortress

Cheyenne (1955) is a western drama television series that tells the story of Cheyenne Bodie, a former confederate soldier who wanders the American West in search of adventure and justice. The show was first broadcasted on September 20, 1955, and ran for seven seasons on ABC until December 27, 1962.

The first episode of season one is titled "Mountain Fortress," and it sets the tone for the series. The episode begins with Cheyenne Bodie (played by Clint Walker) riding on horseback through a rugged mountain terrain. He stumbles upon a wagon train that has been ambushed by a group of bandits and left to die.

Cheyenne takes it upon himself to help the survivors and brings them to a nearby town. There, he meets a group of settlers who are being terrorized by a gang of outlaws led by a man named Jack Sinclair (played by Jack Elam). Sinclair has taken over a nearby mountain fortress and is using it as a base to launch attacks on the settlers.

Cheyenne is hired by the settlers to help rid them of Sinclair and his gang. He teams up with a local lawman named Sheriff Bodine (played by Frank Wilcox) and a beautiful saloon singer named Laurie Smith (played by Dorothy Provine). Together, they hatch a plan to take out Sinclair and his men.

The episode is full of action, gunfights, and horseback riding through gorgeous landscape, all trademarks of the western genre. However, what sets Cheyenne apart from other western shows of the time is the character of Cheyenne himself.

Unlike other western heroes who are often depicted as overly macho and invincible, Cheyenne is a vulnerable and complex character. He is haunted by his past as a confederate soldier and struggles to find his place in the world. He is also deeply compassionate and protective of those he cares about, and is willing to risk his own life to help others.

As the episode progresses, we see Cheyenne use his wit and cunning to outsmart Sinclair and his men. He also puts his own life on the line to save Sheriff Bodine and Laurie Smith from the clutches of the outlaws.

The episode ends with Cheyenne successfully defeating Sinclair and his gang, and the settlers are free to live without fear. Cheyenne, however, is left wandering once again, searching for his next adventure.

Overall, "Mountain Fortress" is an entertaining and engaging introduction to the world of Cheyenne. It showcases the exciting action and adventure that the western genre is known for, while also introducing a complex and fascinating protagonist. It's no wonder that the show was a hit during its original run and remains a classic of the genre to this day.