I've been watching Wagon Train on the Encore Western channel for quite some time. While I admit I like the Ward Bond/Robert Horton shows better, I am a fan of John McIntire. This episode with Eddie Albert & Frances Reid was really good. Albert plays an immigrant blacksmith who has done quite a bit for the others without charging them a cent. Frances Reid is traveling with her brother & sister- in-law to California after her husband died. She has a well kept secret. Albert has a small dog that barks a lot. To make a long story short, Reid's secret is she hates all dogs because her husband had been bitten by one and died of rabies. Albert helps save her from a bull then from a runaway wagon. He has an accident and is paralyzed on his right side. He has to leave the train and Reid goes with him to take care of him with guilt. That's when the focus is on these 2 and the dog. Albert is frustrated with his condition and Reid shows compassion and perseverance. She also comes around and doesn't fear the dog anymore. Albert realizes her sacrifice and starts trying to help himself get stronger after the doctor had told him no cure. He continues and eventually gains some strength in his right hand then his leg. He has fallen in love with Reid and they rejoin the train a year later to start a new life in California. The interaction between these 2 and the dog is what is missed in today's television.
7 Reviews
Best
johnpmitten-492778 February 2021
Great little dog
LukeCoolHand5 February 2022
I enjoyed this episode. That little black and white Boston terrier stole the show in my opinion. Listening to Charlie Wooster talking about how great dogs were was a real hoot. Nice to see Eddie Albert of Green Acres fame and Francis Reid of Days of Our Lives fame.
Gretchen Gets It
jeffstonewords6 October 2023
Kurt Davos, an immigrant blacksmith, is traveling to California with Gretchen, a Boston Terrier. He quickly becomes well-liked, arguably the favorite member of the wagon train, because he helps people whenever possible without any expectation of recompense. Gretchen is also well-liked by seemingly all of the wagon train members except one.
That one member, Florence Hastings, doesn't merely dislike Gretchen. She has an acute phobia of dogs, which seems irrational until some of her tragic history is revealed late in the episode. That phobia apparently extends to all animals and manifests itself when a bull chases her and she becomes paralyzed with fear. Although Florence has nearly killed Gretchen on two separate occasions (once with a frying pan and once with a gun), Kurt rushes to her aid and wrestles with the bull until other men arrive on the scene to lasso the perturbed animal.
Kurt is there again when Florence, the last remaining passenger after the others have disembarked, gets trapped on a runaway wagon. Kurt manages to save Florence from any harm, but he is so gravely injured that he must depart the train. Wooster, who initially thought Gretchen was strange but gradually grew to love her, puts money in a hat and passes it around. Other members of the train give testimony about the help they received from Kurt, who always refused any sort of payment in return.
Despite her fear of Gretchen, Florence volunteers to care for a paralyzed Kurt and promises to never harm the little dog. Unfortunately and purely by accident, she is unable to keep her promise. But this is just one more wrinkle in an inspirational story that is centered on a dog and unexpected physical challenges but encompasses important truths about willpower and the capacity of the human spirit.
Wagon Train features many fine acting performances, but Eddie Albert as Kurt Davos is one of the best and Gretchen deserves a lot of credit. Those who love dogs will surely enjoy certain canine nuances throughout the episode, but anyone who has ever overcome tragedy or supported a person in any way who has overcome tragedy, etc. Can also find plenty to appreciate.
P. S. - My late dear friend, who died unexpectedly at a relatively young age, lived with Boston Terriers. Like Gretchen, they were divinely sweet yet there's little doubt they would've savagely protected my friend to their own deaths.
It's also interesting that Wooster paraphrases the inimitable Mark Twain in this episode, suggesting that a starving dog won't bite if you feed him and make him prosperous. However, that is just the first part of the quote. "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man."
That one member, Florence Hastings, doesn't merely dislike Gretchen. She has an acute phobia of dogs, which seems irrational until some of her tragic history is revealed late in the episode. That phobia apparently extends to all animals and manifests itself when a bull chases her and she becomes paralyzed with fear. Although Florence has nearly killed Gretchen on two separate occasions (once with a frying pan and once with a gun), Kurt rushes to her aid and wrestles with the bull until other men arrive on the scene to lasso the perturbed animal.
Kurt is there again when Florence, the last remaining passenger after the others have disembarked, gets trapped on a runaway wagon. Kurt manages to save Florence from any harm, but he is so gravely injured that he must depart the train. Wooster, who initially thought Gretchen was strange but gradually grew to love her, puts money in a hat and passes it around. Other members of the train give testimony about the help they received from Kurt, who always refused any sort of payment in return.
Despite her fear of Gretchen, Florence volunteers to care for a paralyzed Kurt and promises to never harm the little dog. Unfortunately and purely by accident, she is unable to keep her promise. But this is just one more wrinkle in an inspirational story that is centered on a dog and unexpected physical challenges but encompasses important truths about willpower and the capacity of the human spirit.
Wagon Train features many fine acting performances, but Eddie Albert as Kurt Davos is one of the best and Gretchen deserves a lot of credit. Those who love dogs will surely enjoy certain canine nuances throughout the episode, but anyone who has ever overcome tragedy or supported a person in any way who has overcome tragedy, etc. Can also find plenty to appreciate.
P. S. - My late dear friend, who died unexpectedly at a relatively young age, lived with Boston Terriers. Like Gretchen, they were divinely sweet yet there's little doubt they would've savagely protected my friend to their own deaths.
It's also interesting that Wooster paraphrases the inimitable Mark Twain in this episode, suggesting that a starving dog won't bite if you feed him and make him prosperous. However, that is just the first part of the quote. "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man."
Great cast, great episode
cpolster4 July 2022
The main cast for this episode, Eddie Albert as Kurt Dravos, Frances Reid as Florence Hastings and a Boston Terrier named Gretchen makes this a must watch story. Included in this episode you will see Amzie Strickland, Arthur Space and Karl Lukas as well as the most of the regular cast, John McIntire, Frank McGrath and Terry Wilson. Their parts are somewhat limited but, play a needed part for the story.
Obligations turn to love
bkoganbing12 February 2018
Eddie Albert and Frances Reid guest star in this Wagon Train story and the series
regulars take a back seat to these two who are the story. Albert is a Dutch immigrant blacksmith who is traveling west who provides his services to any and
all on the Wagon Train free of charge. He has a small dog who's a friendly little
creature.
Traveling west as well is Reid who is traveling with her brother Arthur Space and his wife Amzie Strickland. Reid's a fragile woman who never got over her husband's death.
One night the dog's barking sets off a panic in her and she grabs a gun and starts shooting wildly at the dog. Later on the dog and Eddie Albert save Reid from a wild bull. Albert sustains injuries and later has a stroke. With him paralyzed Reid and Albert leave the Wagon Train and settle in an abandoned house in the town while she nurses him back to health.
Albert who is never bad in anything gives a fine performance of a stroke victim. His affection for the dog is quite real as well. He and Reid do great as a 40 something couple in love.
We also see what is the cause of her aversion to dogs. It was quite a frightening experience she had because of a dog.
Traveling west as well is Reid who is traveling with her brother Arthur Space and his wife Amzie Strickland. Reid's a fragile woman who never got over her husband's death.
One night the dog's barking sets off a panic in her and she grabs a gun and starts shooting wildly at the dog. Later on the dog and Eddie Albert save Reid from a wild bull. Albert sustains injuries and later has a stroke. With him paralyzed Reid and Albert leave the Wagon Train and settle in an abandoned house in the town while she nurses him back to health.
Albert who is never bad in anything gives a fine performance of a stroke victim. His affection for the dog is quite real as well. He and Reid do great as a 40 something couple in love.
We also see what is the cause of her aversion to dogs. It was quite a frightening experience she had because of a dog.
Nice But Out of the Wagon Train Realm
richard.fuller118 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Apparently Wagon Train went thru the same thing Gunsmoke would do toward the end; ran out of stories for the regulars, so they had to bring in all these guest stars and let them do the show.
Wagon Train, as it was, was limited to the wagons, so that is why so many of these latter episodes seem to look like they could simply be placed in any situation.
In this episode, we are given the truly peculiar setup of a woman who is afraid of ALL dogs because her husband was bitten by a dog and died of rabies. Frances Reid (Days of our Lives) has this role and there is that one moment in which she is delivering her soliliquy.
Eddie Albert is the immigrant blacksmith who has the small dog whose barking frightens this woman to the point where she grabs a gun and begins shooting erratically. The dog had gotten into the cottage cheese it seems. She thought it was foaming at the mouth.
Later, she will throw a frying pan at the dog.
But the crucial moment comes when she is wandering alone and a stray bull (?) comes along. Albert and his beloved dog, Gretchen, come to her rescue and Albert is badly injured. He can no longer speak and is partially paralyzed.
he must leave the wagon train. Out of all kinds of guilt, the woman volunteers to stay with him to care for him, as no one else is there for him. She now must contend with the dog she fears as well.
There are several pieced-together moments, such as she is bringing in wood and the dog barks, frightening her into dropping the wood, and Albert thinks she hit the dog with a stick, but what can he do? He must rely on her to help.
Eventually she learns to care for the dog (the dog mimics her and brings in firewood as well) and then that axe head comes off the handle.
Of course this then turns into the setting for any other western. We do see the wagon train folks again toward the end, but surely those aren't the same paying customers on the wagon train. Why do they all gather around? Undeniably the big aspect of this episode has got to be the opening shot of Albert without his shirt on. Oliver Wendell Douglas was built! i was looking for CGI, to see if his head was put on another body! Then watch carefully for Albert's sharing of his coffee with the horse. If that wasn't ad-libbed, i don't know what was, but its hilarious to see.
Wagon Train, as it was, was limited to the wagons, so that is why so many of these latter episodes seem to look like they could simply be placed in any situation.
In this episode, we are given the truly peculiar setup of a woman who is afraid of ALL dogs because her husband was bitten by a dog and died of rabies. Frances Reid (Days of our Lives) has this role and there is that one moment in which she is delivering her soliliquy.
Eddie Albert is the immigrant blacksmith who has the small dog whose barking frightens this woman to the point where she grabs a gun and begins shooting erratically. The dog had gotten into the cottage cheese it seems. She thought it was foaming at the mouth.
Later, she will throw a frying pan at the dog.
But the crucial moment comes when she is wandering alone and a stray bull (?) comes along. Albert and his beloved dog, Gretchen, come to her rescue and Albert is badly injured. He can no longer speak and is partially paralyzed.
he must leave the wagon train. Out of all kinds of guilt, the woman volunteers to stay with him to care for him, as no one else is there for him. She now must contend with the dog she fears as well.
There are several pieced-together moments, such as she is bringing in wood and the dog barks, frightening her into dropping the wood, and Albert thinks she hit the dog with a stick, but what can he do? He must rely on her to help.
Eventually she learns to care for the dog (the dog mimics her and brings in firewood as well) and then that axe head comes off the handle.
Of course this then turns into the setting for any other western. We do see the wagon train folks again toward the end, but surely those aren't the same paying customers on the wagon train. Why do they all gather around? Undeniably the big aspect of this episode has got to be the opening shot of Albert without his shirt on. Oliver Wendell Douglas was built! i was looking for CGI, to see if his head was put on another body! Then watch carefully for Albert's sharing of his coffee with the horse. If that wasn't ad-libbed, i don't know what was, but its hilarious to see.
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