African-American escaped slave Rawls (Rafer Johnson) robs a trapper's camp of its fur catch, but for good reason - he is trying to purchase passage back to Africa. Daniel sets off in pursuit, but runs into the outlaws who have been fencing Rawls' loot.
Not really a mini-epic, but a higher-end outlaw chase with racial elements added on. The athletic Johnson provides a future taste of what Roosevelt Grier will add to late series episodes; like Johnson had a storied sports career. A UCLA basketball standout, he medaled at the silver and gold levels as an Olympic decathlete, was a founder of the Special Olympics, worked as sportscaster and also found time to turn in substantial film and TV roles. Plus, in an eery prelude for any 21st century of this episode, he aided later DB regular Grier in catching and restraining RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel in 1968. He does a workmanlike job here ushering DB into grappling with the currents of the Civil Rights era.
Also along for the ride is outlaw leader Michael Conrad, better known for his late-life role as Desk Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on "Hill Street Blues," and as his henchman Lawrence Montaigne, Spock's romantic rival Stonn in "Amok Time" on " Star Trek: The Original Series.
One can sense the writers moving into experimental territory here. They want to do right by Johnson's character, but the role and 45 minutes of screen time is not sufficient for a comprehensive view of slavery in colonial America plus fully rounded character development even with the best of intentions. The noble effort is made, however, with a Dan-Mingo-Rawls campfire dialogue. It would fall to Don Pedro Colley and Grier to do more over multi-episode appearances. Jemima gets abducted, always a good trigger for Fess Parker's inner grizzly. And, using the Dan-Mingo team usually signals that good action sequences are en route. Surprise, there is a cave scene - always a DB favorite - and some more exterior shots of the Kanab, Utah fort set.
Historic logic dissipates quickly, however, given Rawls' plan to buy passage at a colonial port to Africa; the only outbound vessels to the continent would be slave ships, and he would have most likely fallen back into captivity at the docks or at best impressed into a ship crew and sold elsewhere.
Casts of mixed race were still a novelty in 1965, so kudos to NBC for probably showing some backbone to its southern affiliates and proceeding on. And what was slightly daring in 1965 remains an engaging hour in 2024.
Not really a mini-epic, but a higher-end outlaw chase with racial elements added on. The athletic Johnson provides a future taste of what Roosevelt Grier will add to late series episodes; like Johnson had a storied sports career. A UCLA basketball standout, he medaled at the silver and gold levels as an Olympic decathlete, was a founder of the Special Olympics, worked as sportscaster and also found time to turn in substantial film and TV roles. Plus, in an eery prelude for any 21st century of this episode, he aided later DB regular Grier in catching and restraining RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel in 1968. He does a workmanlike job here ushering DB into grappling with the currents of the Civil Rights era.
Also along for the ride is outlaw leader Michael Conrad, better known for his late-life role as Desk Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on "Hill Street Blues," and as his henchman Lawrence Montaigne, Spock's romantic rival Stonn in "Amok Time" on " Star Trek: The Original Series.
One can sense the writers moving into experimental territory here. They want to do right by Johnson's character, but the role and 45 minutes of screen time is not sufficient for a comprehensive view of slavery in colonial America plus fully rounded character development even with the best of intentions. The noble effort is made, however, with a Dan-Mingo-Rawls campfire dialogue. It would fall to Don Pedro Colley and Grier to do more over multi-episode appearances. Jemima gets abducted, always a good trigger for Fess Parker's inner grizzly. And, using the Dan-Mingo team usually signals that good action sequences are en route. Surprise, there is a cave scene - always a DB favorite - and some more exterior shots of the Kanab, Utah fort set.
Historic logic dissipates quickly, however, given Rawls' plan to buy passage at a colonial port to Africa; the only outbound vessels to the continent would be slave ships, and he would have most likely fallen back into captivity at the docks or at best impressed into a ship crew and sold elsewhere.
Casts of mixed race were still a novelty in 1965, so kudos to NBC for probably showing some backbone to its southern affiliates and proceeding on. And what was slightly daring in 1965 remains an engaging hour in 2024.