User Reviews

A most unusual episode for any TV series because it deals with failure for the hero/protagonist. Eric Fleming lost most of his herd over a cliff because of an error in judgment. He arrives at his rail head shipping post with only 9 steers and a horselaugh from the town.

And of course there's the rivalry between fellow trail boss Bill Williams whose herd Fleming was trying to beat into town. Then there's Royal Dano the big boss whom he drives for, a most humorless man.

This episode of Rawhide puts Eric Fleming's career in doubt. He's also got to dip into his own pocket to pay off his drovers. You have to see the outcome here.

Eric Fleming loses most of his herd due to a questionable decision. The town bank does not want to honor his check to pay the drovers, and they are angry, hungry, and broke. Fleming is going to have to pay all the costs out of his own pocket, since he did not deliver the herd. He starts drinking hard, staying in his room, waiting to meet the head of the Cattleman's Association, played by Royal Dano.

Royal Dano usually plays some kind of oddball character, but in this episode, he is deadly serious, and he does an amazing job playing a big money cattle owner who has a gunman for killing people that make mistakes.

Harry Townes plays the gunman, and he has a personal dislike for Gil Favor (Fleming) and tells him that he wants to kill him. Harry Townes usually plays a weak man, a wimp, or a weasel character. He is not very convincing as a gunman, but his sleazy style makes him sinister anyway. I imagined he would shoot Favor in the back, if necessary.

Bill Williams, the rival trail boss who succeeded in bringing his herd in ahead of Favor, plays an interesting role. His drovers are overjoyed at the tragic loss of Favor's herd, but Williams is supportive, and offers kind words about Favor when Dano meets with him to assess the blame for the lost herd.

Overall, this is a very interesting, well written, and well acted episode which features various views of a tragic event, and its aftermath.