Kung Fu (TV Series) Empty Pages of a Dead Book (1974) User Reviews

Law & Order

[zsenorsock · 7/10 · 1 April 2007]

Robert Foxworth plays Clyde McNelly, the son of a famous (or notorious) Texas Ranger who had the reputation of shooting first and asking questions later. He comes to town in search of Bart Fisher (Slim Pickens) and his family. They were in his father's wanted book and McNelly is now a Texas Ranger himself and is determined to bring Fisher and the others in. Kane gets involved as a witness and later as a suspect when Joe Billy Fisher (Jim Storm, looking all the world like a young Keith Carradine--I was sure it was him!) is killed in a fight with McNelly.

Pretty good story about the difference between law and justice enhanced by the presence of Slim Pickens. He's great as the colorful Fisher (though kind of old to be brothers with Joe Billy and the other boys I think) and Foxworth also does a nice turn as he discovers what its like to be on the wrong side of the law. David Carridine's real life brother Robert plays the Sheriff in a rare appearance.

The difference between law and justice

[kevinolzak · 8/10 · 4 June 2024]

"Empty Pages of a Dead Book" opens with Caine befriending Bart Fisher (Slim Pickens), unaware that both are being stalked by Captain Clyde McNelly (Robert Foxworth), whose father was the nation's most feared Texas Ranger for the journal he kept of all the outlaws he'd pursued. Fisher and his three brothers knew that McNelly would come after them sooner or later, but after the passage of 8 years and taking up residence in another state assumed that they would be safe. The captain shoots Bart without provocation, in the knowledge that the former gunman used to keep a spare pistol in his saddle bag; for this the presiding judge (Nate Esformes) accepts Caine's word about what he saw and takes away the lawman's badge. This isn't enough for the four Fisher brothers, who proceed to taunt McNelly until Caine intervenes and takes on all four at once. Joe Billy (James Storm) tries to reach Clyde's gun but falls off the balcony, breaking his neck. The judge must follow the law and assume that Caine and Clyde are guilty of murder based on the Fishers' false testimony, and are sentenced to hang. In escaping and causing injury to the sheriff (Bruce Carradine), the duo are granted mercy in the act of saving his life, and McNelly decides the best course of action is to finally bury his father's journal and lead his own life. It's a small role for Bruce Carradine, David's half brother (same mother, different fathers), but the standouts are clearly Robert Foxworth as the conflicted lawman, and Slim Pickens as the outlaw gone straight. The flashbacks feature Philip Ahn's Master Kan demonstrating the difference between law and justice, both are based on assumptions often made without facts (the letter of the law may not be enough to offer justice).