Branded
Branded told the tale of Captain Jason McCord, a Civil
War officer who is the only white survivor of the Battle Of Bitter
Creek, a Little Big Horn-like massacre. It is (falsely) alleged
that McCord’s survival was due to cowardice, and after a court-
martial, he is stripped of his rank and forced to leave the army.
This is explained in the series' theme song which accompanied a
scene of McCord being dishonourably discharged - including having
his epaulettes ripped off and his sword snapped in two.
Exiled from the fort (and the army) McCord wanders the west,
moving from job to job, while running from his undeserved
reputation as a coward. Wherever he goes, however, it seems that
his reputation has preceded him
All but one man died
there at Bitter Creek
and they say he ran away
Branded - marked with a cowards' shame
what do you do when you're branded?
well you fight for your name.
Over the course of this NBC series, many who start out hating
McCord end up admiring him, or at least giving him the benefit of
the doubt. This is primarily as a result of his frequently
demonstrated courage and determination in the face of taunts and
more deadly threats.
A former friend and colleague, Colonel Snow, refuses to believe
the accusations surrounding Bitter Creek and often engages McCord
to perform covert activities for President Ulysses S. Grant.
Branded premiered on US television in January 1965.
|
