Quicksand (3 Apr. 1956)

"Quicksand" demonstrates a laudable desire to move away from the standard B-movie plots. It's actually more of a character study in which a small group of people, trapped in hazardous circumstances, must individually examine both their past lives and their future hopes. It's all rather superficial, of course, since the restrictions of a limited running time don't allow for much depth, but the efforts are pleasing and they're helped by the presence of a better-than-average cast.

One of my fellow reviewers has mentioned the cast members, such as Dennis Hopper, who went on to bigger and better things. Also worth mentioning is Norman Frederic who plays the taunting Indian chief. Several years later, under the name Dean Fredericks and with bleached blond hair, he played the lead in the "Steve Canyon" TV series. He also starred in the cult sci-fi movie "Phantom Planet" in which he has an extended "beefcake" scene which shows off his hairy chest. To play the Indian chief in "Quicksand," however, he's shaved his chest smooth.

There's no such shaving for Clint Walker, however. His "beefcake" scene here -- perhaps the best of the show's first season -- displays his chest in all its hirsute glory. You can even see his navel, something not always visible in 1950s' "beefcake." The fact that he appears bare-chested during a scene in which he's at risk and facing danger only adds to the appeal.