Bonanza (TV Series) Any Friend of Walter's (1963) User Reviews

The star is Walter

[LukeCoolHand · 8/10 · 6 March 2022]

I enjoyed this episode very much on 1st run when I was 12 years old. Through the years I still like it but have found some complaints. The scene with Hoss acting way over the top while eating the way too spicy beans is absurd and strictly catered to the kids. The crooks are absurd too, even though this was strictly a comedy. This is the same dog who has been on Gunsmoke, The Andy Griffith Show, and many others. A very well trained dog who is the highlight of this episode.

A dog and a poke

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 May 2019]

While just minding his own business Hoss Cartwright happens to ride into three outlaws James Luisi, Vic Werber and Steve Brodie who are keeping old prospector Arthur Hunnicutt and his old hound dog Walter pinned down in his cabin with a rather large poke from months of prospecting.

Hunnicutt ain't worried about a thing because his dog Walter is taking a rather complacent view of the situation. In fact he's most communicative to Hunnicutt and after a while Dan Blocker gets the dog's drift.

The three crooks are pretty lame excuses for same. As John Wayne said in The Shootist,"this line of work don't fit your pistol".

This is one pretty funny episode.

rarecomedic success

[rekcilorf · 8/10 · 22 January 2018]

Most attempts at comedy on this show have been, to be frank, kind of silly. Witness Hoss and the leprecans and Hoss as the Easter bunny. But this one, and a later "Walter" follow-up are exceptions. Of course, part of Walter's success is that he is facing three of the most inept criminals who ever lived. Walter does seem to possess show strange powers, but that is allpart of the fun. A truly delightful pair of episodes.

One of the Top 10 Episodes

[c382000 · 10/10 · 18 February 2008]

As a testament to the earlier comments, I can still remember seeing this Bonanza episode from its original airing in 1963 (when I was 15).

"AFoW" features two of the best character actors in TV: Dan Blocker and Arthur Hunnicutt. Then there's "Walter" - clearly a "Dog For All The Ages." Robbers are trying to steal Obie's (Hunnicutt's) gold. Hoss is attacked as he rides by, and takes refuge in the miner's cabin. Ready for a Fight To The Death, Hoss is not reassured by Obie's demeanor. Obie does not appear to be troubled by the criminals' attacks at all. But this is with good reason: the attackers discover (to their distress) the dead-falls and (YIKES) hidden dynamite left by Obie outside the cabin. Finally, Hoss and Obie lure the robbers into the cabin - and BEAT THE TAR OUT OF THEM. The thugs are *more than ready* to surrender to *anybody.* But when the Sheriff shows up, who is it that has all the bruises? - So Hoss and Obie are arrested, but Have No Fear: Walter will Figure Out Something to get them all out of jail!

I have looked for this episode on every Bonanza collection to date. It is HILARIOUS in its understated humor.

Jan 2009 Update: AFoW is now available on "Best of Bonanza Vol. 1". And I've already ordered my copy. (And after watching it, the episode is as smart - and funny - as ever. What has happened to "modern" TV, that so witty a show could not be made now?)

One of the best episodes ever of Bonanza!!!

[paulw-18 · 10/10 · 18 July 2006]

I've been a huge Bonanza fan since the 1960s and this is definitely one of the 10 best episodes from the series (Along with most of the Ben wife flashbacks, the episode "Hayburner", and a few others). In this classic comedy tale, character actor Arthur Hunnicutt (who basically, always played himself) has a lazy hound dog named Walter. The dog barely moves throughout the entire story yet Hunnicutt will spout off lines like "I haven't seen Walter this excited since he was a pup." The story is also one of the classic Bonanza themes of Hoss having that innocent trust of others that gets him sucked into something he shouldn't because of it (Little Joe, of course, certainly knew how to use this against him and it's one of the reasons everyone loved Dan Blocker as Hoss). At first, Hoss doesn't understand the so-called feedback that Hunnicutt gets from the always inanimate Walter, but by the end of the story, Hoss has become a Walter interpreter, too -- to the amazement of the rest of the Cartrights. This episode even inspired a sequel that was almost as good as this original.

Personal note: My live-in girlfriend in 1980 had a small female puppy for awhile. I don't remember the dog's actual name but I always called her Walter (in honor of this episode).

Cool dog

[greggaver · 10/10 · 10 March 2020]

Here is another show with Arthur Hunnicutt in it, El Dorado & even the Andy Griffith show he was a great actor. The dog Walter in this Bonanza Episode I think is the same dog used in Season5, Episode 6 of Andy Griffith & Barney called him Blue. Both shows the dog seems to be out of it & not much good to Barney or Obie so close to Opie. Both Episodes are worth the watch & make you laugh which is a good thing. Shame a lot the the good actors are gone but the old shows keep them alive in our hearts.

Comedic Episode Falls Flat

[OneView · 6/10 · 17 March 2021]

Bonanza had more than its share of comedic themed episodes with the writers often willing to put the characters (notably Hoss) in embarrassing scenarios. On paper this script probably looked hilarious with an aged prospector (played by Arthur Hunnicutt) holed up with Hoss and a dog named Walter. The latter is a non-descript hound that barely moves or even opens his eyes but to whom Hunnicutt ascribes accountability for creating great escape plans and ideas for the protection of his little shack.

It is intended to be hilarious as Hunnicutt describes some major achievement of Walter's and the camera cuts to the immobile animal. Unfortunately this gag is played out time and again to the point of tedium.

What does work is the storyline of the inept thieves seeking to ransack Hunnicutt's hut for a stash of gold. As their failures mount up and they acquire more and more injuries they become figures of both humour and despair. The final scenes acquire a degree of poignancy as we witness the true assignment of guilt are genuinely amusing.

Hunnicutt and Dan Blocker have an engaging presence but the episode does not quite work as well as some of the more serious installments. I understand there is a sequel to this episode which I have not seen at the time of writing.