This television film was one of two attempts by Dan Blocker to somehow get away from his public persona as "Hoss Cartwright" on BONANZA by playing a lead role. Ironically this television film and the comedy THE COCKEYED COWBOYS OF CALICO COUNTY were both still Western films, but Blocker was in the lead role - not one of several stars in a weekly series. As such he demonstrated that he could hold up a film by his own abilities. Unfortunately within four years of this film he was dead at far too young an age, by an aneurysm. A sad loss of well honed talent.
The story of SOMETHING FOR A LONELY MAN is about a man redeeming himself before his townspeople. Blocker played John Killibrew, a blacksmith who was trying to regain his self-respect and the friendship of the town that now despises him. He had influenced his neighbors to move to a location for a new town, saying that it was going to be a great success because he feels that the railroad is going to stop at that town. But it is bypassed by the railroad. The town still exists, as the others are not in a position to leave it, but everyone blames Killibrew for the failure of their lives' dreams.
He tries to improve himself by learning to read - going to the local schoolhouse where he is helped by the schoolteacher Mary Duren (Susan Clark). But while this helps him feel a little better about himself, he still can't avoid the anger of the other citizens.
Then one day he happens to see a crate fall off the train that bypassed the town - and fall into a deep nearby creek. Before it sinks the crate breaks, and reveals it contains a very powerful steam engine. The story is taking place in 1870 or so, so that the steam engine is the cutting edge of the modern technology of that age. If Killibrew can raise that steam engine, it can be of great use to the town.
But that requires the assistance of the other citizens, and anything that Killibrew is involved in is tainted by his involvement. He tries to get the town leaders to listen to him - in particular the town's banker Sam Ball (John Dehner). Ball quickly reiterates the common view of anything, idea or action, that Killibrew gets involved in. He would be a fool to get involved. But Duren sees the big fellow is sure this is a good idea - and encourages him to try to raise the engine. But when Killibrew decides to raise the engine by his own actions alone, he starts being noticed by the rest of the towns people. Now that he is determined to go it alone Ball begins reconsidering his viewpoint - though not his view of Killibrew as a stumble-bum. Maybe, thinks Ball, the engine can be salvaged without Killibrew's involvement.
The film showed Blocker to best advantage, not only with his reacting to the town's ostracism and dislike, but his decision to go it alone, and his gratitude (and growing affection) for Clark. There were also scenes that reminded us about how effective Blocker was in performing stunts, as he did several scenes under water in the creek where the engine had been sunk. Clark is good as Blocker's biggest booster and support. And Dehner gave one of his patented sleazy, intelligent villains - out to control the future of the town. For a television western it was pretty good, and certainly worth watching. It is not revived on television too frequently, which is too bad, for it does remind us how fine a performer Dan Blocker really was.
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