Jed Rescues Pearl

Holiday episode finds Jed, Granny, Elly and Jethro back in the Hills for a winter vacation? Two things; it's a lot colder than California and Cousin Pearl (Bea Benadaret) still has a thing for Mr. Brewster (Frank Wilcox), but that plan is gettin' kinda' cold too. Get it?

He's only interested in oil, NOT romance, and this gets Jed a-thinkin'... So not to embarrass Pearl in front of all her friends, why not stage a mock marriage proposal at the local theatre where she's playing the piano. To save her reputation, Brewster will "pretend" to propose to her, and she'll turn him down, after lots of rehearsing too. Sounds do-able, but will it go AS PLANNED?

I agree with the last reviewer, Bea Benadaret has never been better in this role, and the silent movie theatre gag is a real surprise. By the way, the movie being shown (and Pearl playing all the music) is THE EAGLE, starring Rudolph Valentino! Brewster hams it up, being a stage actor in his youth, but does he ham it up TOO MUCH? Frank Wilcox deserves a round of applause for silent screen dramatics 101.

A clever script by Paul Henning, who was assisted by Phil Shuken, who wrote for THE REAL MCCOYS. It made sense, considering the rural family theme.

Character actress Elvia Allman returns as snooty Elverna, who could spark up any scene. Look for distinguished Sam Harris in the theatre audience, one of the more popular bit and character actors on tv and movies. He held the record of appearing in five Oscar-winning films in his long career, also frequently cast on Lucille Ball's tv show in the 60s.

Aside from everything else, a deserved nod to the makeup crew, who did an outstanding job with Bea Benadaret, and Max Baer as Jethro's sister Jethrine.

Frances Sperry handled the hairstyling on the show for years, assisted by John Sylvester who headed wardrobe (and was creative!), previously working on Gale Storm's tv show.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 15 remastered black and white CBS dvd box set. Seasons 1 through 5 are on dvd, and seasons 6 through 9 are finally expected to be released on blu ray in 2027. Always thanks to METV for running these mini classics.

This is one of the 10 funniest episodes of the series! The Clampetts are back home in the Hills for the Holidays and have been watching with the rest of the local hillbillies Cousin Pearl's desperate attempts at getting oil magnet Mr. Brewster romantically interested in her. Since Pearl and her amazon daughter Jetherine will be moving to Los Angeles with the Clampetts, Jed is aware the local hill folks will be buzzing that Pearl left town in shame because she couldn't attract Mr. Brewster so he concocts a dramatic scenario for Mr. Brewster to propose to Pearl while she is playing piano at the local (silent) picture show and for Pearl to turn him down. Mr. Brewster, an actor in his youth, agrees to go along with it in part for a chance to act again. Jed tells Pearl his idea and gets her excited but informs her she is to turn Brewster down, to which Pearl replies "Only If I'm as Drunk as you are!" Finally at the movie theater, Brewster dramatically interrupts the screening of Valentino's THE EAGLE (seen in clips) with his hammy theatrics and purple lovemaking right out of an old time movie which has the captive audiences on his every word including an increasing vulnerable Pearl. This scene is a riot. This episode is one of the best performances the very talented Bea Benaderet ever gave and that's saying something. (Also of note is great character actress Elvia Allman was the venomous gossip Elverna Bradshaw, this was a one-shot appearance here but some six years later, Ms. Allman would revive Elverna when she became a semi-regular on the series for a period.)

The Clampetts are still in the mountains of Missouri post Christmas. Unlike Beverly Hills, it is freezing and the Clampetts feel it.

Mr Brewster is also cold but towards Cousin Pearl. He has no intentions of getting involved romantically with her. This could embarrass Cousin Pearl in front of the local community.

He has been lodging with her and everyone knows Cousin Pearl is fond of Mr Brewster.

So Jed comes up with a plan. In the showing of a silent film featuring Rudolph Valentino. Mr Brewster will publicly proposed to Cousin Pearl and she will turn him down. Thereby saving face.

Only Mr Brewster with his theatrical background hams it up and continues to propose to her.

It was fun but the plot is really stupid. Cousin pearl could simply had said yes to Mr Brewster's proposal in public. He would had been stuck.