Drago (22 Nov. 1971)

An aging mountain man reluctantly agrees to join the posse pursuing a murderous outlaw gang, but his real intent is exact a murderous vengeance on the men that murdered his female benefactor.

Director:

Paul Stanley

Writer:

Jim Byrnes

Stars:

James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake

Cast

Episode cast overview:
James Arness	...	Matt Dillon
Milburn Stone	...	Doc
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty
Ken Curtis	...	Festus
Buck Taylor	...	Newly
Buddy Ebsen	...	Drago
Ben Johnson	...	Hannon
Edward Faulkner	...	Trask
Del Monroe	...	Flagg
Richard Gates	...	Gillis (as Rick Gates)
Pat Hingle	...	Dr. Chapman
Tani Guthrie	...	Clara (as Tani Phelps Guthrie)
Jim Skaggs	...	Sheepherder
Larry Randles	...	Larry
Mitchell Silberman	...	Ruben

Storyline

An aging mountain man reluctantly agrees to join the posse pursuing a murderous outlaw gang, but his real intent is exact a murderous vengeance on the men that murdered his female benefactor.

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Plot Keywords:

outlaw gang | posse | bound and gagged | revenge | rottweiler | 

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1971 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Rottweilers (Drago's dog) weren't seen in the U.S. until after World War l (1919). The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1936. Rottweilers were primarily a European herding dog used as far back as Roman times. The breed was in decline until World War l, which led to American soldiers coming to know the dogs and bring them to America.

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Quotes

[last lines]
[referring to a young boy's miraculous recovery]
Drago: He looks fine.
Dr. John Chapman: He is. He just started gettin' well right after you talked to him. You know, Drago, as a doctor it might help me if I knew what you said to him.
Drago: I just told him there weren't no catfish in heaven.

User Reviews

Buddy Ebsen is terrific in this heartwarming tale

Here is an excellent heartwarming tale of an older man making his life meaningful again when he becomes the only family member to a young boy.

Drago (Buddy Ebsen) has been staying with a young woman and a small boy for a few weeks. When Drago and his dog go off to fish, four bandits come up to the house shoot and kill the woman and badly injure the small boy. Drago is able to see the men riding off as he tends to the small boy.

Later Matt and Doctor Chapman arrive with Matt setting up a posse to track the bandits down. With Drago being an old army scout, Matt deputizes him so he can ride as part of the posse headed up by Newly. Dr Chapman tends to the injured boy but things look bleak. Chapman advises the boy has no will to live since his mother and all he knows is dead. Drago goes in and tells the boy that he is part of his family now and needs to live.

But there is going to be a problem with Drago as part of the posse. It seems that Drago is more out for revenge than bringing the men to trial. This will set a conflict between Drago and Newly that will only end when Drago is willing.

A good script with some excellent acting by Mr Ebsen. The story was interesting and the plot entertaining. This is a nice story for any 'Gunsmoke' viewer. And one that is highly recommended.