The Raiders is a 1963 American Western film directed by Herschel Daugherty and written by Gene L. Coon. The film stars Brian Keith, Robert Culp, Judi Meredith, Jim McMullan, Alfred Ryder and Simon Oakland. The film's working title was "The Plainsman," and it was apparently intended as a spin-off of that 1936 classic.
The film was produced as a one-hour pilot by Universal's television arm, Revue Studios. When it failed to sell, an additional 25 minutes were shot and it was given a modest second-feature release in December 1963 by Universal Pictures. Although it was filmed in the TV aspect ratio of 1.37:1, theatres ran it in the then-standard flat ratio of 1.85:1, causing some cropping of the image, including the opening credits.
Plot Shortly after the American Civil War, poverty-stricken Texas cattle-men are confronted by a gun-slinger who has been hired by the US government and a buffalo hunter after they use desperate measures to try and get their grievances addressed by the railroad company.
Cast Robert Culp as James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok Brian Keith as John G. McElroy/Narrator Judi Meredith as Martha 'Calamity Jane' Canary Jim McMullan as William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody Alfred Ryder as Capt. Benton Simon Oakland as Sgt. Austin Tremaine Ben Cooper as Tom King Trevor Bardette as 'Uncle Otto' Strassner Harry Carey, Jr. as Jellicoe Richard H. Cutting as Jack Goodnight Addison Richards as Huntington Lawford Cliff Osmond as Private Jean Duchamps Paul Birch as Paul King Richard Deacon as Commissioner Mailer Michael Burns as Jimmy McElroy
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