ADVENTURES OF RIN-TIN-TIN, THE: THE WHITE BUFFALO (TV)
Summary
One in this children's adventure series about an orphan and his dog who live in a U.S. Cavalry fort in the Old West.
A group of Apaches spot Rin-Tin-Tin and follow him back to Rusty and Rip. The leader, Komawi of the Chirakawa, is upset that Rip is intruding on their hunting ground, but Rip explains that they are enforcing a peace treaty with the Chirakawa, marking off territory that white hunters cannot enter. Komawi is satisfied with the explanation and invites Rip and his men to his home for a feast. Rusty asks to accompany Komawi on his buffalo hunt and Rip allows it, knowing that Komawi is honor-bound to protect Rusty. Rin-Tin-Tin joins them.
Komawi shows Rusty a buffalo herd and tells how their numbers have been greatly reduced due to over-hunting from white hunters. He explains that the buffalo is an essential resource for his people, and that their way of life would cease without it. Komawi kills a buffalo before the hunt is interrupted by a gang of white hunters on horseback. They threaten Komawi and make it clear they do not respect the treaty.
Rusty sends Rin-Tin-Tin back to get Rip. The leader of the hunters, Garth, stays behind to watch Komawi while his men herd the buffalo to the river. With Rusty's help, Komawi overpowers Garth and sends his braves to round up the white hunters. Rin-Tin-Tin returns with Rip and his men, and Garth realizes that Rip is on Komawi's side. At Rip's suggestion, Komawi frees Garth and his men after they promise not to return.
That night, Rusty, Rip, and his men join Komawi, his father Soccoro, and the Chirakawa for a feast. Garth looks on, still bent on revenge. The other hunters want no part of it and leave. Soccoro tells an old Apache legend about a white buffalo that appears in times of great need, sent by the Great Spirit. Rip then sings a song to Rusty about the white buffalo. During the feast, Garth fatally shoots Soccoro in the back before escaping. Rip calls for a search, ordering Rusty and Rin-Tin-Tin to stay behind. Before leaving, Rip convinces Komawi not to kill Garth.
Despite Rip's orders, Rusty and Rin-Tin-Tin search for Garth. They find him and Rusty holds him at gunpoint while Rin-Tin-Tin goes to fetch Rip. Garth tries to escape, but runs into a buffalo stampede and is trampled to death. Rusty is nearly trampled as well, but sees a vision of the white buffalo which stops the stampede and saves his life. Rip and Komawi arrive, mystified by Rusty's claims of seeing the white buffalo. Finally, Rip and Rusty wave to the Chirakawa as they ride off to continue their peace-keeping mission. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: October 14, 1955
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:34
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:57853
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1954-1959
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Herbert B. Leonard … Producer
- Douglas Heyes … Director, Writer
- Alan Bergman … Music by
- Lee Aaker … Cast, Rusty "B-Company"
- James Brown … Cast, Lt. Rip Masters
- Joe Sawyer … Cast, Sgt. Biff O'Hara
- Norman Fredric (See also: Dean Fredericks) … Cast, Komawi
- Hal Hopper … Cast, Corporal Clark
- Leo Gordon … Cast, Garth
- Richard Reeves … Cast, Keller
- Francis J. McDonald … Cast, Soccoro