A sad piece of trivia. Theo Marcuse was killed in a car wreck during production of this episode on 11-29-67. It is obvious it a different actor in several scenes as a stand in Mr. Marcuse did not complete. A talented versatile actor. Everyone involved in episode does admirable job in their roles. Amazing to see similar sets used on several different westerns at the time. Gunsmoke, Big Valley, even Gilligans Island were all filmed on same lot. Dawn Wells proved she looked hot in anything she wore in any period piece. Could see the development of Conrad's talent during run of the series. He continued to improve as an actor. Ross Martin along with Martin Landau from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE were in my opinion the two best actors on television at the time.
The Wild Wild West (TV Series)
The Night of the Headless Woman (1968)
User Reviews
Review this title7 Reviews
See No Bow Weevels
DKosty12327 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is a pretty much formula episode of this series. There are some trade mark action sequences in it. Dawn Wells makes all too brief but a delightful guest shot as Betsy, daughter of the San Francisco harbor master. It is too brief because she is kidnapped during the second half hour and only a little is seen of Betsy after that.
For one of the few times in the series, Arte actually scouts out an area as himself before putting on a new disguise. An amusing part is Arte looking through his scrap book of disguises before devising a new one for this show.
The plot has to do with a plot to destroy the US Cotton Crop by planting Weevels in the fields. For some reason they are being transported from San Francisco bay in female mannequins by stage coach to their destination.
Veteran character actor Richard Anderson is Betsy's dad & the main focus of West & Artes investigation until he is eliminated from the picture. West meets & escapes from the head man early on in the episode. Overall a pretty good episode and the second one with a brief tie to Gilligan's Island. Think the one with Jim Backus & Alan Hale in season 4 is done better, but it is always a pleasure to see Mary Ann, hottest of the cast-a-ways.
For one of the few times in the series, Arte actually scouts out an area as himself before putting on a new disguise. An amusing part is Arte looking through his scrap book of disguises before devising a new one for this show.
The plot has to do with a plot to destroy the US Cotton Crop by planting Weevels in the fields. For some reason they are being transported from San Francisco bay in female mannequins by stage coach to their destination.
Veteran character actor Richard Anderson is Betsy's dad & the main focus of West & Artes investigation until he is eliminated from the picture. West meets & escapes from the head man early on in the episode. Overall a pretty good episode and the second one with a brief tie to Gilligan's Island. Think the one with Jim Backus & Alan Hale in season 4 is done better, but it is always a pleasure to see Mary Ann, hottest of the cast-a-ways.
More Important than You Think
aramis-112-8048809 February 2023
In the early 20th century cotton crops were devastated by the boll weevil (this was before synthtic fibers).
The boll weevil came to the U. S. after the time of this episode but that's the point. They're being smuggled in through San Francisco by people with an interest in drstroying American cotton to bolster crops grown abroad.
It's probably too subtle a point for viewers today, who don't know (or care) about history and no grounding in economics. However, the damsel in distress is Dawn Wells, Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island" and that makes this esoteric episode worth watching.
Wells is every bit as lovely as she is on the island, but here she delivers her lines fast. She takes her time on the island but she might have been directed in this role to go fast in the interest of time. Unfortunately, she has precious little to do.
She joins Alan Hale, Jr. And Jim Backus as island alumni who appeared on "The Wild Wild West," though the men came later.
The boll weevil came to the U. S. after the time of this episode but that's the point. They're being smuggled in through San Francisco by people with an interest in drstroying American cotton to bolster crops grown abroad.
It's probably too subtle a point for viewers today, who don't know (or care) about history and no grounding in economics. However, the damsel in distress is Dawn Wells, Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island" and that makes this esoteric episode worth watching.
Wells is every bit as lovely as she is on the island, but here she delivers her lines fast. She takes her time on the island but she might have been directed in this role to go fast in the interest of time. Unfortunately, she has precious little to do.
She joins Alan Hale, Jr. And Jim Backus as island alumni who appeared on "The Wild Wild West," though the men came later.
I'd love to hear about the production of this episode
essay-witty22 July 2020
This episode has guest stars pre-Six Million Dollar Man Richard Anderson and Dawn Wells, borrowed from Gilligan's Island. It has another guest star die while in production. The McGuffin was boll weevils of all things (who thinks of that?!) stashed in mannequins. Incredible.
One of the funniest lines ever in WWW, but also one of the worst endings.
FloridaFred2 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A great episode of Wild Wild West! Guest stars include Dawn Wells (Gilligan's Island) and Richard Anderson (The Six Million Dollar Man).
Probably the greatest comic line in the entire run of The Wild Wild West is uttered by Artemus Gordon, at the waterfront. Watch for the scene where Artie is playing a crusty old sailor, and the bad guy tells him to leave. When the bad guy says, "I am going to count to three!" listen for Artie's reply. It is absolutely classic, we split our sides laughing. And it must have been ad libbed by Ross Martin, because the bad guy breaks into a smile.
When this show was aired, "Gilligan's Island" had run its final episode about a year earlier. Fans were thrilled to see "Mary Ann" appearing on TV. The only problem, she doesn't get enough lines. And, she doesn't wind up as a dinner date with James West (the producers probably thought that would be in poor taste or something, having "Mary Ann" hit it off with James West). After the climactic scene, she is supposedly dropped off at her aunt's house, and that is the last we hear of Dawn Wells.
Unfortunately, this episode has the worst ending of any Wild Wild West show ever. Not the story itself, but the epilogue. As usual, James West and Artemus Gordon conclude the show by entertaining two beautiful ladies in their railroad car. But this scene is beyond stupid. The writers obviously thought it was funny, but the scene is crass, vulgar, and sophomoric. Not characteristic of the usual classy scenes of WWW.
Artie's joke at the waterfront gets a 10. But the lousy ending makes me drop the show's rating to an 8.
Probably the greatest comic line in the entire run of The Wild Wild West is uttered by Artemus Gordon, at the waterfront. Watch for the scene where Artie is playing a crusty old sailor, and the bad guy tells him to leave. When the bad guy says, "I am going to count to three!" listen for Artie's reply. It is absolutely classic, we split our sides laughing. And it must have been ad libbed by Ross Martin, because the bad guy breaks into a smile.
When this show was aired, "Gilligan's Island" had run its final episode about a year earlier. Fans were thrilled to see "Mary Ann" appearing on TV. The only problem, she doesn't get enough lines. And, she doesn't wind up as a dinner date with James West (the producers probably thought that would be in poor taste or something, having "Mary Ann" hit it off with James West). After the climactic scene, she is supposedly dropped off at her aunt's house, and that is the last we hear of Dawn Wells.
Unfortunately, this episode has the worst ending of any Wild Wild West show ever. Not the story itself, but the epilogue. As usual, James West and Artemus Gordon conclude the show by entertaining two beautiful ladies in their railroad car. But this scene is beyond stupid. The writers obviously thought it was funny, but the scene is crass, vulgar, and sophomoric. Not characteristic of the usual classy scenes of WWW.
Artie's joke at the waterfront gets a 10. But the lousy ending makes me drop the show's rating to an 8.
The ending of this one proves James West is a total arse.
DriftedSnowWhite18 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Arab guy plans to take over the world by destroying food sources through the introduction of boll weevils, but he has one pair up his sleeve, as yet unleashed. The final scene has Mr. Testosterone No Brains West allowing the even more devastating weevils to mate - on the dinner table no less, while he, and the idiot women present, watch on in disgusting, perverse, salacious intrigue.
Now, once this mating is complete, these weevils can fulfill the villain's goal, without his lifting a finger - and there is no closure to what, in fact, has happened to the villain. But who needs a villain when you have the genital-head of James West. And worse, the real man of the series, Artie, doesn't take the weevils and cover them with ice from the champagne bucket, which would have effectively killed them.
This series has the worst follow-through on plots of any I have ever seen, and there is no character that is as stupid as James West. There just isn't.
Now, once this mating is complete, these weevils can fulfill the villain's goal, without his lifting a finger - and there is no closure to what, in fact, has happened to the villain. But who needs a villain when you have the genital-head of James West. And worse, the real man of the series, Artie, doesn't take the weevils and cover them with ice from the champagne bucket, which would have effectively killed them.
This series has the worst follow-through on plots of any I have ever seen, and there is no character that is as stupid as James West. There just isn't.
A weak dramatic plot device.
oscar-3515 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
*Spoiler/plot-TNOT Headless Woman, 68. This TV show takes you on death-defying top-secret assignments that push your imagination to the limit. Take an unforgettable journey in a private train(The Wanderer) in the old It takes you alongside the USA's best secret agents, men who lay their lives on the line to protect the security of President Grant and the U.S. from all manner of threats and by any means necessary. Take a ride alongside the USA's best secret agents, men who lay their lives on the line to protect the security of President Grant and the U.S. from all manner of threats and by any means necessary. Take aim on crime with two-fisted action man ladies' man- James T. West and his partner, the multi-talented master of disguise & weapons- Artemus Gordon. Join them as they ride from coast to coast in a customized for their work railroad car that contains high-tech weapons and inventive gadgets, called 'The Wanderer'. Go along with these agents when they overturn insane plots devised by subversives, revolutionaries, evil geniuses, international criminals, and criminal masterminds. Our agents foil an insane plan of using a hybrid boll weevil designed to destroy the world's cotton and food supply so that a crime syndicate can control prices globally.
*Special Stars- Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Theodore Marcuse, Richard Anderson, Dawn Wells, Harry Lauter
*Theme- Once the Secret Service is involved in an investigation, they get their man.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Air date 1-5-68. Takes place in San Francisco Harbor. Those are not boll weevils in the glass jars, merely pet store grub worms used for fish bait. R.I.P.- very recognizable character actor, Theodore Marcuse. Watch for Gordon showing off his disguise book in this episode. Another CBS studio lot actress from Gilligans' Island, Dawn Wells appears. Mr. Conrad's short stature/height for a leading man (5'7") was compensated for with shoe 'lifts' in his boots, casting short stunt people, and short leading ladies. In fact his show was known for needing so many short stature love-interest roles for women among females actresses, it became a staple for actresses in Hollywood.
*Emotion- I was not impressed by the 'boll weevil' scenario plot line. The guest star lead villain's performance was somewhat unforgettable.....many time villain roles fail to deliver enough 'gravitas' to balance with the strong leads of Conrad and Martin. The inclusion of M.r Martin's many alter egos in disguises spiced-up the drama. This is not vintage W3 due to a weak dramatic plot device.
*Special Stars- Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Theodore Marcuse, Richard Anderson, Dawn Wells, Harry Lauter
*Theme- Once the Secret Service is involved in an investigation, they get their man.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Air date 1-5-68. Takes place in San Francisco Harbor. Those are not boll weevils in the glass jars, merely pet store grub worms used for fish bait. R.I.P.- very recognizable character actor, Theodore Marcuse. Watch for Gordon showing off his disguise book in this episode. Another CBS studio lot actress from Gilligans' Island, Dawn Wells appears. Mr. Conrad's short stature/height for a leading man (5'7") was compensated for with shoe 'lifts' in his boots, casting short stunt people, and short leading ladies. In fact his show was known for needing so many short stature love-interest roles for women among females actresses, it became a staple for actresses in Hollywood.
*Emotion- I was not impressed by the 'boll weevil' scenario plot line. The guest star lead villain's performance was somewhat unforgettable.....many time villain roles fail to deliver enough 'gravitas' to balance with the strong leads of Conrad and Martin. The inclusion of M.r Martin's many alter egos in disguises spiced-up the drama. This is not vintage W3 due to a weak dramatic plot device.
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