An old prospector marries a saloon girl, who like others wants to know where his gold from his prospecting days is hidden.An old prospector marries a saloon girl, who like others wants to know where his gold from his prospecting days is hidden.An old prospector marries a saloon girl, who like others wants to know where his gold from his prospecting days is hidden.
- Director
- Writers
- Charles Marquis Warren(uncredited)
- John Meston(uncredited)
- Norman MacDonnell(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaElla flatters Obie, calling him "a young man". He replies, "I ain't so young no more, not pushing fifty I ain't." Ella: "Fifty? I don't believe it. You look more like 35 to me." Royal Dano, the actor playing Obie, was not quite 33 at the time.
- GoofsAs the story opens Obie is seen filing on a plough. Unfortunately Obie should stay with prospecting/mining as he knows nothing about farming. Obie is filing on the mouldboard which rides in the bottom of the furrow and provides no cutting of any kind. It therefore requires no sharpening. The Foreshare and mainshare provide the cutting and require sharpening.
- Quotes
Matt Dillon: [scouring Dodge for the outlaws who dragged Obie] Let's try the Long Branch.
Obie Tater: What are you gonna do if you find them, Marshal? Put them in jail?
Matt Dillon: If there's enough left when I get through.
Featured review
Blinded by Love
Obie Tater lives alone on a farm near Dodge City. Tater settled there after spending some time prospecting in California. A rumor has spread that Obie found gold in California and is a wealthy man, but he denies such claims.
Two men arrive at Obie's farm with plans to steal his fortune. When he denies having any gold, they lasso him and drag him as a form of torture. Through it all, Tater continues to deny he has any gold.
Later, Obie visits Dodge and meets Ella Mills, a new employee working with Kitty Russell at the Long Branch Saloon. Obie is immediately love struck when he is introduced to Ella, and Ella is a willing participant in a one-sided romance because of the rumors about Obie's wealth. Obie realizes the woman is probably not in love with him, but he loves her. They soon marry, despite reservations expressed by Obie's friends.
Matt Dillon is suspicious of Ella's motives and the coincidence of her arrival in Dodge at the same time as the two men who assaulted Obie. When Matt shares his suspicions with Obie, Obie refuses to accept Matt's assertions and becomes angry with the Marshal.
Versatile actor Royal Dano portrays Obie Tater in this story. Anyone who has watched any television from the 1950s through the 1980s is likely familiar with Dano's extensive work. He was immensely talented and could play the most sinister villain as well as silly, comedic roles. Including this appearance, Dano participated in thirteen different Gunsmoke episodes, and those roles ran the gamut of his acting range.
Kathy Adams fills the role of Ella Mills. Adams was an aspiring actress when this episode was produced, but she met and married author Louis L'Amour which led to her quitting acting. This appearance is one of her only two acting credits.
The two would-be thieves are played by Jon Shepodd and Pat Conway. This episode is Shepodd's only Gunsmoke appearance. His biggest role during his short acting career was as the character Paul Martin for one season of the series Lassie. He was replaced the following season by actor Hugh Reilly.
Pat Conway plays the man named Quade. He appeared in four Gunsmoke episodes. Conway would soon begin starring as Sheriff Clay Hollister in the series Tombstone Territory, which originally aired on ABC, although a third season aired in syndication.
This is a profoundly sad episode, particularly because Obie Tater is such a naïve, trusting, almost childlike character. When Quade and Mitch ride into Tater's farm with intentions of stealing his gold, Obie is friendly and accommodating. When he meets Ella, he refuses to listen to anyone expressing caution. He only wants to think of her as a kind, loving person. He wants to believe the best about everyone.
Dano plays the Obie Tater role perfectly. His wry smile, piercing eyes, and lanky frame combined with the "aw shucks" demeanor Dano uses are quite convincing.
Variations of this theme of a man so trusting that others deceive and use him would be repeated in future episodes of Gunsmoke, as well as a plethora of other series, some which were not westerns. The story also explores the human longing for love, and its ability to diminish material desires, which is a timeless notion.
Two men arrive at Obie's farm with plans to steal his fortune. When he denies having any gold, they lasso him and drag him as a form of torture. Through it all, Tater continues to deny he has any gold.
Later, Obie visits Dodge and meets Ella Mills, a new employee working with Kitty Russell at the Long Branch Saloon. Obie is immediately love struck when he is introduced to Ella, and Ella is a willing participant in a one-sided romance because of the rumors about Obie's wealth. Obie realizes the woman is probably not in love with him, but he loves her. They soon marry, despite reservations expressed by Obie's friends.
Matt Dillon is suspicious of Ella's motives and the coincidence of her arrival in Dodge at the same time as the two men who assaulted Obie. When Matt shares his suspicions with Obie, Obie refuses to accept Matt's assertions and becomes angry with the Marshal.
Versatile actor Royal Dano portrays Obie Tater in this story. Anyone who has watched any television from the 1950s through the 1980s is likely familiar with Dano's extensive work. He was immensely talented and could play the most sinister villain as well as silly, comedic roles. Including this appearance, Dano participated in thirteen different Gunsmoke episodes, and those roles ran the gamut of his acting range.
Kathy Adams fills the role of Ella Mills. Adams was an aspiring actress when this episode was produced, but she met and married author Louis L'Amour which led to her quitting acting. This appearance is one of her only two acting credits.
The two would-be thieves are played by Jon Shepodd and Pat Conway. This episode is Shepodd's only Gunsmoke appearance. His biggest role during his short acting career was as the character Paul Martin for one season of the series Lassie. He was replaced the following season by actor Hugh Reilly.
Pat Conway plays the man named Quade. He appeared in four Gunsmoke episodes. Conway would soon begin starring as Sheriff Clay Hollister in the series Tombstone Territory, which originally aired on ABC, although a third season aired in syndication.
This is a profoundly sad episode, particularly because Obie Tater is such a naïve, trusting, almost childlike character. When Quade and Mitch ride into Tater's farm with intentions of stealing his gold, Obie is friendly and accommodating. When he meets Ella, he refuses to listen to anyone expressing caution. He only wants to think of her as a kind, loving person. He wants to believe the best about everyone.
Dano plays the Obie Tater role perfectly. His wry smile, piercing eyes, and lanky frame combined with the "aw shucks" demeanor Dano uses are quite convincing.
Variations of this theme of a man so trusting that others deceive and use him would be repeated in future episodes of Gunsmoke, as well as a plethora of other series, some which were not westerns. The story also explores the human longing for love, and its ability to diminish material desires, which is a timeless notion.
helpful•70
- wdavidreynolds
- Nov 24, 2021
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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