WHEN ONE THINKS of great actors of the 20th century stage and screen, we often find that although we know the face, the name never seems to attach itself to our consciousness. So it is with one Ernest Truex (1889-1973). He was a supporting player-extraordinaire, who always played meek, brainy bosses, intellectuals and annoying twits.
HE HAD EMPLOYED his considerable talent and 5'3" frame to many of such roles in film from the early 1930's up until the 70's. There are two such portrayals for which we do remember him well. One was a TWILIGHT ZONE Episode, What You Need (1959) and ,perhaps his most visible and prominent role as milquetoast reporter, Bensinger, in HIS GIRL Friday (Columbia, 1940).
AS FAR AS today's subject, BONANZA: Square Deal Sam (1964), it presents the now venerable actor's comic abilities on display for the TV generation. Being a standard sort of comic relief episode; it is essentially a reworking of the old "Con Man With A Heart of Gold" plot that had been kicking around for years. It was the stuff that W.C. Fields had gotten so much mileage out of in the '30's and '40's.
IN THE PROVERBIAL "nutshell", Samuel & Martha Washburn (Truex & Martha Westman) arrive via stagecoach in Virginia City, Nevada and are befriended by Hoss Cartwright, after poor-mouthing him with stories of lost fortunes and unrealized expectations at this their new "home." What follows is a series of increasingly lucrative cons, which are artfully dodged by grafter Washburn. Even when discovered, his apology and explanation always leads to greater scams.
FINALLY THIS STORY ends up with the conman once again looking like a a blue collar champion of the people. He escapes prosecution successfully by claiming his shady financial dealings were meant to be a means of raising the needed funds that the City needed to found and construct a Needy Children's Home; a charitable pursuit alluded to early in the episode.
THIS WIND-UP IS both a violation of the age old axiom about "The End Never Justifies The Means." But, this was, of course, the "Dawning of the Age of Aquarius" and the 1960's marked what was just the beginnings of such warped ways of viewing things.
AS MUCH AS one may well find this BONANZA Installment to be somewhat trite, unoriginal and unremarkable, we did enjoy it very much; especially when contrasted with some of the other episodes that were being turned out during that period.
AND TO BE sure, a lot of our appreciation of this hour story is due to the appearance of that "Mr. Milquetoast" (himself), Mr. Ernest Truex.
HE HAD EMPLOYED his considerable talent and 5'3" frame to many of such roles in film from the early 1930's up until the 70's. There are two such portrayals for which we do remember him well. One was a TWILIGHT ZONE Episode, What You Need (1959) and ,perhaps his most visible and prominent role as milquetoast reporter, Bensinger, in HIS GIRL Friday (Columbia, 1940).
AS FAR AS today's subject, BONANZA: Square Deal Sam (1964), it presents the now venerable actor's comic abilities on display for the TV generation. Being a standard sort of comic relief episode; it is essentially a reworking of the old "Con Man With A Heart of Gold" plot that had been kicking around for years. It was the stuff that W.C. Fields had gotten so much mileage out of in the '30's and '40's.
IN THE PROVERBIAL "nutshell", Samuel & Martha Washburn (Truex & Martha Westman) arrive via stagecoach in Virginia City, Nevada and are befriended by Hoss Cartwright, after poor-mouthing him with stories of lost fortunes and unrealized expectations at this their new "home." What follows is a series of increasingly lucrative cons, which are artfully dodged by grafter Washburn. Even when discovered, his apology and explanation always leads to greater scams.
FINALLY THIS STORY ends up with the conman once again looking like a a blue collar champion of the people. He escapes prosecution successfully by claiming his shady financial dealings were meant to be a means of raising the needed funds that the City needed to found and construct a Needy Children's Home; a charitable pursuit alluded to early in the episode.
THIS WIND-UP IS both a violation of the age old axiom about "The End Never Justifies The Means." But, this was, of course, the "Dawning of the Age of Aquarius" and the 1960's marked what was just the beginnings of such warped ways of viewing things.
AS MUCH AS one may well find this BONANZA Installment to be somewhat trite, unoriginal and unremarkable, we did enjoy it very much; especially when contrasted with some of the other episodes that were being turned out during that period.
AND TO BE sure, a lot of our appreciation of this hour story is due to the appearance of that "Mr. Milquetoast" (himself), Mr. Ernest Truex.
