One of the things I like about The Virginian is that it never lets you forget that its characters actually make their living at ranching. Even if the plot of the episode doesn’t revolve around it, there’s always some herding of cattle or breaking of horses going on in the background, or at the very least some scraps of dialogue about the day’s work, reminding us that Shiloh Ranch is, in fact, a working ranch. That’s in contrast with other westerns like Bonanza, where I find it hard to summon a recollection of ever seeing a live cow. And the episode that I picked to spotlight for this year’s Favorite TV Episode Blogathon, season three’s “Old Cowboy,” may have more scenes of ranch work in it than all the Bonanza episodes I’ve seen combined.
The titular character of “Old Cowboy” is Murdock, played by guest star Franchot Tone, who’s utterly transformed here from the dapper, sophisticated leading-man roles he played in 1930s and ’40s films—a stooped, craggy-faced, gravelly-voiced, often touchy and boastful old man. Murdock is an elderly ex-cowboy, now reduced to tramping the roads on foot with his young grandson Willy (Billy Mumy). He clings to the glories of former days by telling stories of his exploits driving cattle up the Chisolm Trail in his youth, and won’t admit that he’s any less a top hand than he ever was—and though it’s plain from the first scene that Willy knows exactly what his grandfather is and is not capable of, he plays along with the elaborate pretense, echoing him and agreeing with him.
When Murdock—bluffing a little too much, as we will see is his habit—loses badly in a poker game with some Shiloh hands, Trampas (series regular Doug McClure) takes pity on him, and much to the dismay of Shiloh’s foreman, the Virginian (series regular James Drury), offers him a job at the ranch. Murdock, scorning the idea of helping out with chores around the barn and bunkhouse, insists on doing a full day’s work as a cowboy, though it’s plain to all that he is no longer up to it. His insistence on tackling jobs too hard for him and his bragging about his experience and skill as a cowboy cause one calamity after another, earning him the ridicule of the other ranch hands and starting trouble with a hot-tempered rancher neighbor who is not at all amused by a mix-up in the branding of calves.
Matters only grow worse when Murdock sees that Willy has taken a shine to Trampas, the real top hand on the ranch, and has begun to tag after him and imitate him as he used to do his grandfather. The old man’s jealousy spurs him to unreasoning resentment of Trampas and more foolhardy actions that even Willy can’t pretend to excuse—and which finally lead to a disastrous fire that threatens the livelihood of all the surrounding ranchers. Called on to help with the Virginian’s efforts to save their herds, Murdock is given one last chance to try and recapture some of his boasted prowess as a cowboy…but is it too late?
(Another thing I’ve noticed on The Virginian is that the stunt doubling is usually very good, and “Old Cowboy” is no exception—Franchot Tone’s double does an excellent imitation of Murdock’s stoop-shouldered, lumbering gait, even when wrestling with a calf or trying to hang onto a bucking horse.)
Written by Gabrielle Upton and directed by William Witney, veteran action director of a multitude of B-Westerns, this episode is really one that revolves entirely around ranch work: herding, roping and branding cattle, digging post-holes, barn chores…plus the hazards of fire, stampede, dust storms, and wolves. With plenty of other episodes about showdowns with outlaws and other extracurricular activities, it’s nice to see the Virginian, Trampas and the rest of the Shiloh crew (including regulars Randy Boone and L.Q. Jones, who both play nice supporting roles in “Old Cowboy”) given a plot that centers on what they’re supposed to be doing all along: being cowboys.
Great post! I haven't seen this one yet, but maybe I'll get a chance to when I'm visiting my folks next week.
Perhaps that's another reason I like The Big Valley better than Bonanza, come to think of it. The Barkleys actually do chores.
When I look back at my movie/tv viewing I believe that it was on shows like "The Virginian" that I was first introduced to actors like Franchot Tone. I think you have pinpointed one of the reasons "The Virginian" is such a special program. Shiloh was a co-star.
I just watched this show last weekend, and while it is not a top favorite, I did enjoy it. By the end of the show I found myself liking Trampas even better (not that I already didn't love his character!).
It is a more "real life" western story, something that could have easily happened out on a ranch in the real old west, not just in the legendary mythical west… The Virginian does have a lot more ranch work scenes than any other western TV show I can think of.
Great review!
Very funny post, I love how you mentioned that no one does any chores on Bonanza, I never noticed that but now that you mention it… 🙂 What the heck, Cartwrights? This one is getting added to my to watch list.
AAHH!!! This show is amazing and this episode is so good!!
Totally agree about the contrast to Bonanza and that's one of the reasons I love this show so much. It feels real. Like Shiloh is an actual working ranch with cowhand who actually work for a living.
And, it seems so few people have watched this who, it not being as popular as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and others from that time. So, it made incredibly happy to see this post :3
Great post! I love Bonanza, but it never was very realistic. I always come away from it with the impression that the Ponderosa is run by all of four men! You rarely see the bunk house or any ranch hands. That's quite a contrast to The Virginian where the bunk house appears regularly and practically every episode touches upon the actual operations of a ranch. Of course, one of other things I love about The Virginian is that it was in many ways a semi-anthology, so you get to see a lot of great guest stars. Franchot Tone was great in "Old Cowboy".
Anyway, thank you for participating in the blogathon!
Thank you, everyone! I'm glad you all enjoyed my post.
Caftan Woman – it's funny sometimes when my family watches episodes together: my parents recognize younger guest stars "before they were famous," and I recognize the older guest stars as veterans from the old movies. 🙂
Terence – I watched Bonanza a lot as a kid and enjoyed it, but looking back now I find the episodes I remember most fondly are the comedies—maybe because in those cases you don't have to give a hoot about the realism! (As a matter of fact, I can't even recall where the Ponderosa bunkhouse was, or if I ever saw it…)
Oh, I remember this episode now! Great post, and I agree, so refreshing to watch a show that at least tries for some realism. 🙂 On the one hand, I feel like The Virginian is almost a fairytale Western (I have never wanted to move to a fictional town so much!), but at the same time, the show is so great because it covers a wide range of topic matter from the era.
I just watched this episode, up to the fire. Them the cable cut out. How did grandpa redeem himself!?