Hotel de Paree
Hotel de Paree is a Western television series that aired on the CBS Friday schedule from October 2, 1959, until June 3, 1960, under the alternate sponsorship of Liggett & Myers and Kellogg's. The show starred Earl Holliman as Sundance, a gunfighter just released after seventeen years in prison. In the first episode, he is in Georgetown, Colorado, where he kills the town villain and is then urged by the citizens to become the marshal. He accepts the job and also becomes a part owner of the Hotel de Paree, owned by two French women, Annette Deveraux, played by Jeanette Nolan, and her niece, Monique, portrayed by Judi Meredith, relatives of the man whom he had earlier killed. Sundance wore a string of polished silver discs in the band of his black Stetson, which often blinded his adversaries. During the brief run of the series, Sundance dealt with assorted antagonists and maintained flirtations with both of the Deveraux women. Sundance also befriended a local shopkeeper, Aaron Donoger, played by veteran Western performer Strother Martin. The program was filmed at CBS Studio Center. Guest stars included Philip Abbott, Theodore Bikel, Sebastian Cabot, Russ Conway, Dennis Cross, Walter Coy, Royal Dano, King Donovan, Brian Donlevy, Jack Elam, Leif Erickson, Ron Hayes, Allyn Joslyn, Don Keefer, Nora Marlowe, Martin Milner, Read Morgan, Gregg Palmer, John M. Pickard, Judson Pratt, Darryl Richard, Peter Mark Richman, Vic Tayback, and Peter Whitney.
Insights
Plot Summary
The series is set in a hotel in the fictional Western town of Montecito. The story centers around the hotel's owner and staff as they navigate the lives and dramas of the town's residents and visitors. Each episode typically features a self-contained story involving guests, local conflicts, and moral dilemmas.
Critical Reception
Hotel de Paree was a short-lived series that aired on CBS. While it featured a prominent cast and an intriguing premise set in the Old West, it struggled to gain significant traction in a competitive television landscape. Critical reception was generally mixed, with some appreciating its dramatic elements and others finding it too slow-paced or derivative of other Westerns of the era.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its atmospheric setting and focus on character interactions.
- Criticized for its episodic nature and lack of strong overarching narrative.
- Noted for its performances, particularly Earl Holliman's portrayal.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this vintage series. Those who recall 'Hotel de Paree' often remember it fondly as a typical, albeit somewhat low-key, Western drama from its era. It's viewed as a competent but unremarkable entry in the genre that didn't leave a lasting cultural impact.
Fun Fact
The series was filmed in Hollywood, California, utilizing familiar sets and locations often seen in other Western productions of the time.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources