Incident of the Four Horsemen

I love the "Rawhide" series, but this has to be one of its worst episodes.

****spoilers**** The guest stars are stellar, like John Dehner, Claude Akins, Robert J. Wilke, Myron Healey and James Griffith. But the story is maddening ridiculous and inexplicable. For example: (1) The four horsemen of the title are no good mercenaries who befriend and betray both sides as they encourage a violent range war between Tom Galt and Frank Louden over the entire 100,000 acres there, a war that affects Favor's cattle herd. How the four can profit from this is a mystery to me. (2) Amy didn't grieve long enough (no more than a minute) over the shooting death of her brother, killed by her new husband. (3) I don't see why Favor had to unnecessarily antagonize Gault, the important landowner in the area, by refusing permission for him to search the drive for his missing daughter. After all, she wasn't there, so what is the harm? (4) I still don't see how a range war between the two groups, even with all the fighters involved, would be a threat to Favor's herd "caught in the middle." (5) At the end of the episode, I don't see why the Louden forces would want to prevent the herd from crossing the river. I don't see why anyone would suggest and allow a fight between Favor and one of Louden's mercenaries to determine who gets everything -- the 100,00 acres and Favor's herd.

For those of us that enjoy & appreciate the golden era of TV Westerns, this show contains a dream cast of the better known and most talented actors in the business. These folks appeared in Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Bonanza, Rawhide, and many other series.

The great John Dehner, an amazing actor who played every character in the book...and well! Durable Claude Akins, who seems to show up in more episodes of every series than anyone; usually as a heavy but sometimes a good guy (Bonanza, 'Sam Hill' season 2). Likeable Ron Hays, and perpetual bad guy Bob Wilke; a seaonsed and wonderful actor. Character actor James Griffth, a chameleon who nailed playing weird and creepy as required....and Jena Engstrom, a huge and underrated talent who left acting all too soon. Catch Jena as 'Milly,' Gunsmoke, season 7 and you'll agree. As a bonus James Griffith plays a very sleazy and interesting charcter in that same episode. Ed Faulkner is always steady as a heavy...all this episode is missing is Harry Swoger!