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RAWHIDE: GOLD FEVER (TV)

Summary

One in this western series about the adventures of cattlemen driving herds along the Sedalia Trail, from Texas to Kansas.

In this episode, the gang explores the "graveyard" town of Lost Mountain, almost entirely abandoned after the gold ran out. They soon meet elderly prospector Hosea Brewer, however, and they are all surprised when he buys Wishbone's shovel and pick from him at a high price, suggesting that there is still gold to be found nearby. Back at home, Hosea tries to give his eldest daughter Pricilla her late mother's gold-nugget necklace, but she confides in her younger sister Jessica about her desperate desire to leave the empty town, sure that there are no suitors or futures for them there. Gil is soon annoyed to find that Clay and several others have abruptly departed the camp, having apparently caught "gold fever." He sends Rowdy to Dutch Flats to hire several replacement drovers. Clay, Hank, and three others arrive at the Brewers' and happily accept the attractive young women's dinner invitation, though Rowdy soon arrives as well in the hopes of "talking some sense" into the men. They are unconcerned at the idea of losing their jobs, however, and Rowdy agrees to stay for dinner as well, as Dutch Flats is several hours' ride away.

Clay strikes up a flirtation with Pricilla, though Hank overindulges and nearly starts a fight with Rowdy. While chatting with Jessica about the gold, Rowdy informs Clay that he has not developed the "fever" at all. Hosea privately conspires with his youngest daughter Meg, and Clay begs Rowdy to stay for a single day only, promising to leave the area if no gold is found. Elsewhere, Clay orders the men's gear left behind, refusing to wait for them to catch up. The men are elated when they quickly find gold and immediately begin fighting over it. Hosea hints that it is only fool's gold and informs Clay and Rowdy that he is allowing them to stay because of his daughters' interest in them. He adds that they must make an official claim in town if they want to keep the gold. Rowdy begins to worry that he has let Gil down. When Les and the others prepare to file a claim on the same spot, they exchange gunfire as they race toward town.

Rowdy brawls with Les on the steps of the assay office; when he wins the fight and reveals that he has found gold on Lost Mountain, the townsfolk immediately sprint off to find their own fortunes. Back at the Brewer home, Jessica asks to wear her mother's necklace, and Hosea is forced to admit that he "seeded" the boys' claims by planting the necklace in the ground and allowing them to believe that they had found new gold. Jessica is shocked at his deception, but Hosea explains that he is determined to keep the men in town for the girls' sake. When Rowdy and Clay return in search of supplies, Hosea promises to talk to Les and the others to settle the disagreement. Jessica pointedly states that the fight is "for nothing." Meg then overhears Hosea describing how he tricked them, and Jessica soon spills the beans to Rowdy and Clay. When the rest of the townsfolk arrive, Rowdy and Clay quickly "rescue" Hosea, aware that he will be in danger if his lie is revealed. Later, Jessica thanks Rowdy for saving their father despite his trick. Clay gently tells a hopeful Pricilla that a drover's life is no place for a lady. The Brewer family prepares to finally depart Lost Mountain. Though Hosea hears a rumor of gold on the other side of the mountain, he declares that he is through with gold for good, having seen what it can do to otherwise honorable men. Rowdy and Clay return to Gil, who gruffly accepts the "new recruits" onto his team. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: May 4, 1962 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:57:32
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: B:50937
  • GENRE: Drama, western
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western; Drama, action/adventure
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1959-1966
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Ban deodorant
    • TV - Commercials - Coca-Cola soft drinks
    • TV - Commercials - Colgate toothpaste
    • TV - Commercials - Marlboro cigarettes
    • TV - Commercials - Nabisco products
    • TV - Commercials - Vanish toilet bowl cleaner
    • TV - Commercials - Wildroot cream oil hair product
    • TV - Promos - "Rawhide" upcoming episode

CREDITS

  • Endre Bohem … Producer
  • Mel Epstein … Associate Producer
  • James P. Yarbrough … Director
  • J.E. Selby (see also: Robert Lees) … Writer
  • Sid Harris … Writer
  • Dimitri Tiomkin … Theme Music by
  • Ned Washington … Theme Music by
  • Frankie Laine … Theme Music by
  • Eric Fleming … Cast, Gil Favor
  • Clint Eastwood … Cast, Rowdy Yates
  • Paul Brinegar … Cast, Wishbone
  • Charles Gray … Cast, Clay Forrester
  • James Murdock … Cast, Mushy
  • Steve Raines … Cast, Quince
  • Rocky Shahan … Cast, Joe Scarlet
  • Robert Cabal … Cast, Hey Soos
  • Victor Jory … Cast, Hosea Brewer
  • Karen Sharpe … Cast, Jessica Brewer
  • Adam Williams … Cast, Hank Kale
  • Marion Ross … Cast, Pricilla Brewer
  • Davey Davison … Cast, Meg Brewer
  • Logan Field … Cast, Les
  • Charles Tannen … Cast, Nelson
  • Quentin Sondergaard … Cast, Morse
  • Glen Gordon … Cast, Mr. Clark
  • Ted Stanhope … Cast, Bartender
  • Curt Barrett … Cast, Clerk
  • Ron Brogan … Cast, Man #2