LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZLY ADAMS, THE: UNWELCOME NEIGHBOR (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas set in the American West in the late 1800s and focused on the life of James "Grizzly" Adams, a man falsely accused of a crime who found solace -- and liberty -- in the wilderness.
In this episode, Adams assists a fox injured by a hunter's rifle ball and decides to seek out the newcomer, realizing that he may have to move on to a new spot if the hunter's presence threatens his safety. Nakoma joins him and points out that the visitor has cut down and burnt many trees. Adams soon finds Mr. Cartman and his young son Robbie. Adams urges Cartman not to shoot a curious raccoon, but Cartman, explaining that he has moved his son to the mountains for a "new start," demonstrates his ignorance of nature as he complains about the forest's "pests," including the fox. He also sounds off against the Native American population. Adams tries to explain that "the mountains can be a friend" if treated properly, but Cartman tells his son to remain wary of all wild animals and people.
Ben the bear "plays" with an aggrieved mountain lion, while elsewhere stubborn "greenhorn" Cartman dismisses Adams' eccentric views, though Robbie seems intrigued by the outdoorsman's expertise. Adams enjoy dinner with Ben as the Cartmans are "smoked out" by their campfire, having ignored Adams' advice about positioning their lean-to in a different spot. Cartman later gets into more trouble when he tries to chop down another tree and ends up angering a nest of hornets. Robbie is stung multiple times, and a panicked Cartman runs off to find Adams, though he ends up collapsing from exhaustion.
A hawk leads Adams to Cartman's side, and Adams dispatches Ben to retrieve Nakoma; Adams then runs off to save Robbie. Nakoma creates a foul-tasting draught to leech the wasps' venom from their bodies, and though skeptical, Cartman drinks it, declaring that he and his son are returning to the city, having had enough of the unpredictable wilderness. Robbie bids a grateful good-bye to Adams and Nakoma. However, Cartman later reconsiders and tells Adams that they will stay and learn to work "with nature, not against it." He sincerely thanks both Adams and Nakoma for saving them. Adams agrees to teach an eager Robbie about the life of a "mountain man." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: June 24, 1977 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:46:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:02283
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Forests; Wilderness survival; Animals
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1977-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Charles E. Sellier Jr. … Executive Producer
- John Mahon … Associate Producer
- James L. Conway … Director
- Paul Hunter … Writer
- Larry Dobkin … Writer
- Bob Summers … Music by
- Thom Pace … Theme Music by
- Dan Haggerty … Cast, James 'Grizzly' Adams
- Don Shanks … Cast, Nakoma
- Ronny Cox … Cast, Mr. Cartman
- John Bishop … Cast, Robbie Cartman