This is another good episode from this series, much like the others due to decent acting and a good story. To be fair, I qualify the acting as "decent" because I think it's really good for the time period it's from, and holds up well today. I won't give any spoilers here, the reason I felt like writing this review was to say one thing:Jack Lord can actually act! I admit I'd only seen him in Hawaii 5 0. He had the charisma of a dead moth in that series. Here he played a character with many dimensions and pulled it off. The other actors were good as well. If you're a fan of vintage television shows you should check out this series, it's very well made for its' era, and all of the episodes are in color which was not standard for the early 1960s, a sign that the network that originally aired it gave it full support. It also helps that many of the stories are quite good for an anthology series.
9 Reviews
Bad day at Black Bute
sol-kay31 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Coming to back to the little mining town of Black Bute from "Nam" to see his sister Dorothy, Lisabeath Hush, and her husband and his brother-in-law Paul Campbell, Jack Lord, US Army Ranger Chris Sandee, Andrew Prine,is shocked to find out that the couple are flat broke and deep in debt. Trying to strike it rich in an abundant gold mine Paul has just about run out of time money and luck in doing it. What's even more disturbing to Cris is that the person whom Paul is deeply in debt to general store owner "Pop" Tullett, Brodwrick Crawford, is making moves on his sister Dorothy who's, by needing him to help her and Paul out, in no position to rebuff them!
It's later when Paul strikes a mother load of gold in the abandoned gold mine that "Pop" drives up there and checks out the place finding out that Paul's state or claim at the mine is some 20 feet off the mark where the mine is. Seeing a "golden opportunity" to legally steal the gold mine from right under Paul and Chris, who's since become a partner with him, feet "Pop" jumps at it claiming it all for himself! This soon lead to both Chris and Paul confronting the overweight and elderly "Pop" who's old enough to be their grandfather which leads in "Pop" getting punched out and later falling through a bordered up mine shaft and ends up almost killing himself.
***SPOILERS*** It's the down and out as well as dirt poor Paul, not his hot headed brother-in-law Chris, who finally comes to his senses in realizing that "Pop" only took advantage of a mistake he made in miss-claiming the mine. Giving "Pop" ,who had since recovered from his injuries, the deed to the gold mine something happened that made all the pain and suffering that Paul went through all these year with him more then worth while. As it soon turned out there's indeed gold in the mine but it would take at least three times the money that it's worth to be able to dig it out!
It's later when Paul strikes a mother load of gold in the abandoned gold mine that "Pop" drives up there and checks out the place finding out that Paul's state or claim at the mine is some 20 feet off the mark where the mine is. Seeing a "golden opportunity" to legally steal the gold mine from right under Paul and Chris, who's since become a partner with him, feet "Pop" jumps at it claiming it all for himself! This soon lead to both Chris and Paul confronting the overweight and elderly "Pop" who's old enough to be their grandfather which leads in "Pop" getting punched out and later falling through a bordered up mine shaft and ends up almost killing himself.
***SPOILERS*** It's the down and out as well as dirt poor Paul, not his hot headed brother-in-law Chris, who finally comes to his senses in realizing that "Pop" only took advantage of a mistake he made in miss-claiming the mine. Giving "Pop" ,who had since recovered from his injuries, the deed to the gold mine something happened that made all the pain and suffering that Paul went through all these year with him more then worth while. As it soon turned out there's indeed gold in the mine but it would take at least three times the money that it's worth to be able to dig it out!
Worth a late night watch.
kholsgrove23 May 2009
This episode of Kraft Suspense Theater, an hour long mid-'60's TV dramatic series, has a solid cast including Oscar winner Broderick Crawford and a pre-Hawaii Five-0 Jack Lord. Look for well known character actors in lessor rolls. It also has a script with the usual 'Crisis' twist at the end, and a musical score by 5 time Oscar winner John Williams. Although not quite up to theoretical standards, most Suspense Theater episodes are decent productions and worth watching regardless of the fact it's a TV program from over 40 years ago. The video transfer is also decent, with good color and detail. See the synopsis for my take on the plot details, which include spoilers. As seen on Retro TV Network (RTN) May 2009.
Unguessable plot twists
lor_23 March 2024
I really enjoyed this Kraft Suspense Theatre segment -taking a familiar story as old as Von Stroheim's classic silent movie "Greed" and putting some very clever changes on it. I would definitely peg this one into the Sleeper category.
Both Jack Lord and Broderick Crawford are cast against type, with Andrew Prine effectively filling out the starring roles. Prine is a young Vietnam Vet back from the war (which is treated quite differently than usual, probably because it was made just before the war escalated so drastically).
Jack plays a flawed character bui not the commanding hero he usually essayed, while Crawford is far more subtle than usual. Lisabeth Hush is a forgotten actress of the period who unfortunately has an underwritten role as Lord's wife who he neglects while big old Brod clearly lusts after her. But as prospectors with vain hopes of striking it rich in ancient gold mines supposedly harboring a rich strike just waiting to be discovered, the story fooled me repeatedly en route to a quite surprising ending.
Both Jack Lord and Broderick Crawford are cast against type, with Andrew Prine effectively filling out the starring roles. Prine is a young Vietnam Vet back from the war (which is treated quite differently than usual, probably because it was made just before the war escalated so drastically).
Jack plays a flawed character bui not the commanding hero he usually essayed, while Crawford is far more subtle than usual. Lisabeth Hush is a forgotten actress of the period who unfortunately has an underwritten role as Lord's wife who he neglects while big old Brod clearly lusts after her. But as prospectors with vain hopes of striking it rich in ancient gold mines supposedly harboring a rich strike just waiting to be discovered, the story fooled me repeatedly en route to a quite surprising ending.
Pans Out In The End
telegonus19 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The Kraft episode The Long Ravine, which concerns a hard luck guy digging for gold in the modern west isn't nearly in the same league as the John Huston classic Treasure Of the Sierra Madre, but on its own modest terms it works well, thanks to some good actors and credible character development. Jack Lord plays the lead and he gives the best performance in the show as a man desperate to strike it rich, get out of his rut, who, though in more ways than not essentially gambling with a pick and shovel, has a solid work ethic as well. One can't help but feel for him. There's also an underlying, too eager volatility to the guy that makes him feel like a loose cannon.
Broderick Crawford plays the less than scrupulous Pop, the owner of the general store, he allows Lord to buy on credit despite his being flat broke. He also puts the move on Lord's wife. Not a nice guy, Pop; yet he has a generous streak. Or does he? Andrew Prine plays Lord's brother-in-law, and he gets sucked into Lord's get rich quick vortex as well. As things turn out, Lord does strike gold,--but there's a hitch. How his is resolved comes as somewhat of a surprise, and I didn't see coming and found it satisfactory. The Kraft series often featured ironic endings, and this one is no exception. This entry works as much for Lord's at times near manic performance as the desperate prospector as anything else, a reminder that Lord was a first rate actor, capable of better things that headlining a cop series set in Hawaii.
Broderick Crawford plays the less than scrupulous Pop, the owner of the general store, he allows Lord to buy on credit despite his being flat broke. He also puts the move on Lord's wife. Not a nice guy, Pop; yet he has a generous streak. Or does he? Andrew Prine plays Lord's brother-in-law, and he gets sucked into Lord's get rich quick vortex as well. As things turn out, Lord does strike gold,--but there's a hitch. How his is resolved comes as somewhat of a surprise, and I didn't see coming and found it satisfactory. The Kraft series often featured ironic endings, and this one is no exception. This entry works as much for Lord's at times near manic performance as the desperate prospector as anything else, a reminder that Lord was a first rate actor, capable of better things that headlining a cop series set in Hawaii.
Worth seeing in order to see Jack Lord in his pre-Five-O days.
planktonrules4 October 2015
Throughout much of this episode, Paul Campbell (Jack Lord) has been breaking his back prospecting in an old mine...looking for gold. In order to make ends meet, he's had to borrow quite a bit of money from a nasty old shop keeper named Pop (Broderick Crawford) and it seems that everyone except Paul realizes that Pop is no good. When Paul's brother arrives to help, he sure sees Pop for what he is! And, after Paul does strike it rich, it's time for Pop to show his true colors. What's next? Watch the show. Just rest assured that Paul's brother isn't going to just give up!
Like many episodes of "Kraft Suspense Theatre", this is available to watch on YouTube. However, it's also among the least interesting of the episodes I've seen. Now I am not saying it's bad...just not all that interesting.
Like many episodes of "Kraft Suspense Theatre", this is available to watch on YouTube. However, it's also among the least interesting of the episodes I've seen. Now I am not saying it's bad...just not all that interesting.
OK but little suspense
ctomvelu117 March 2013
Jack Lord and Andrew Prine are brothers in law with gold fever working an abandoned mine. The local general store owner (Broderick Crawford), who has extended them plenty of credit, becomes interested when they manage to dig out several hundred dollars worth of ore. He jumps their claim, and trouble beckons. Not much else really happens. The ending contains a minor twist. Lord, who played the most boring cop on TV a few years later, here gets to act up a storm as a giddy prospector. Unfortunately, he never made it as a movie actor. Should you decide to watch this episode, watch it for the acting, not the script. WAIT UNTIL YOU see Crawford, hugely overweight and way past his prime, putting the moves on the lovely Lisabeth Hush, who plays Lord's wife. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The hardships of prospecting and Ha Ha Ha
drystyx22 April 2024
Jack Lord (Hawaii 5-0, God's Little Acre) plays a 20th century prospector in a gritty and realistic story about a man up against the elements and rivals.
He makes a partner of his wife's brother, played by Andre Prine, and they have high hopes. The elements have already beaten down Lord a bit, and he puts up with a lot of disrespect from their landlord so that he can have a last "Ha ha ha" on him.
They are given a hard time by their landlord, played by Broderick Crawford (Highway Patrol, Last of the Comanches), who shows the hard working prospectors no respect, and makes a move on Lord's wife, but doesn't push it.
The prospectors finally find something good, and an assayer tells them it's good. They make the mistake of telling their landlord.
Of course the landlord will do some conniving claim jump, and do it legally.
It's the characters and the drama that follow that makes this perhaps the best and most credible story ever on any anthology series. The story combines action with drama with theatrics with reality that is very unusual, althugh it was more usual in this era before about 1970.
This isn't one for the Beavis crowd, but it is a superior story for the more mature viewer.
He makes a partner of his wife's brother, played by Andre Prine, and they have high hopes. The elements have already beaten down Lord a bit, and he puts up with a lot of disrespect from their landlord so that he can have a last "Ha ha ha" on him.
They are given a hard time by their landlord, played by Broderick Crawford (Highway Patrol, Last of the Comanches), who shows the hard working prospectors no respect, and makes a move on Lord's wife, but doesn't push it.
The prospectors finally find something good, and an assayer tells them it's good. They make the mistake of telling their landlord.
Of course the landlord will do some conniving claim jump, and do it legally.
It's the characters and the drama that follow that makes this perhaps the best and most credible story ever on any anthology series. The story combines action with drama with theatrics with reality that is very unusual, althugh it was more usual in this era before about 1970.
This isn't one for the Beavis crowd, but it is a superior story for the more mature viewer.
This will be erased from your memory in five seconds
searchanddestroy-118 May 2021
Yes this is MISSION IMPOSSIBLE to memorize anything from this forgettable topic, the common oater, unworthy at the most to belong to a TV show, a TV show where audiences could expect something exceptional, that you could not find in a long length movie for the big screen. Audiences in their coaches may wait for something else, in the line of an authentic anthology TV show: AH PRESENTS, TWILIGHT ZONE, THRILLER, OUTER LIMITS.... In this KRAFT THEATER there have been good stuff, unusual, as also in ZANE GREY THEATER. But this one, oh my God, is so boring and flat, uninteersting and lousy. I guess the producers of the show had to fill up the number of episodes for which they signed a contract, so without inspiration, they wrote the first story available and maybe for the lesser cost. Only to fill up the plan, reach the goal, no matter the quality. Other quality episodes besides this will compensate the low rate of this one. The same with publishers who authorize some craps to be released because there is some best sellers novels for the same publisher, also to compensate the lousy stuff....we have to be careful of what we watch in this series.
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