The Boys (26 May 1962)

The market for snake oil is on the decline, so a peddler and his sons expand their con game with murder.

Director:

Harry Harris

Writer:

John Meston

Stars:

James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Arness	...	Matt Dillon
Milburn Stone	...	Doc
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Professor Eliot
George Kennedy	...	Hug
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Nate (as Dean Stanton)
Harry Swoger	...	Hank Green
Gage Clarke	...	Mr. Botkin
Michael Parks	...	Park
Arthur Malet	...	Farnum
Dabbs Greer	...	Mr. Jonas
James Nusser	...	Louie Pheeters
William Newell	...	Conductor
Joe Devlin	...	Drummer
Hank Patterson	...	Hank

Storyline

"Professor" Eliot cows his three grown sons into submission while he peddles his patent medicine. Unlike most con men, however, these men also are killers. When, disguised as Indians, they attack a stagecoach, they arouse passions in the white settlers that may lead to yet more bloodshed.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1962 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arness Production Company, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Entertaining from beginning to end

This episode is star studded with the likes of George Kennedy, Dean Stanton and Michael Parks as each plays a brother of a roaming medicine salesman played by Malcolm Atterbury. Throw in Arthur Malet and you have a cast full of excellent entertainers.

Professor Eliot has three boys Hug, Nate and Park. By day they try selling some snake oil medicine and by night rob anything they can. The three boys first victim is the stagecoach leaving Dodge. On the stage is the driver and two passengers Mr Farner and his daughter Molly.

The boys, dressed like Indians, kill the driver and the young Molly but Farner survives the attack. Before the boys leave, Farner sees a scar on one of the Indian's hands before passing out. Later he sees the same scar on Hug Eliot at the Long Branch before again being knock on the head by the boys.

The townsfolk are so upset by the Indian attack that they pay the boys money to bring in three dead Indians. But it is not long before the train is robbed and a large case of gold stolen.

With Professor Eliot hiding the gold, suspicion is in the air. One of the boys believes the others are plotting against him while another is ready to give up the life of crime. Add the fact that the Professor is the only person that knows the location of the gold and it makes for a bad combination. Trouble is lurking.

A nice story with fine acting. A good western tale that was entertaining from beginning to end.