This episode is made more interesting by its main character than by the actual story. It pertains to a self-centered middle-aged man who jilts his bride on their wedding night by faking his own suicide. He then hops on a bus and stops off at a small southern town where he tricks everybody into thinking he is an artist researching the origins of folk music, which he only does in order to get closer to a young beauty that he is attracted to. Of course the 'hicks' finally catch on to the fact that he is using them and this leads to several uneasy confrontations.
The part of the cad, who is given a very pretentious sounding name of Julian Roeback, is brilliantly played by actor Richard Basehart. He was pretty much known as an average actor at best, but his performance here is a real stand out and possibly the pinnacle of his career. The character is quite believable. Half time you want to see him get punched in the face, but he ends up being strangely engaging no matter what he does.
The only problems with the story are some of the actions by Tod (Buz was again off due to the illness by actor Maharis). Tod sees right through the Roeback character and yet is always defending him so he won't get beat up. In fact Tod ends up taking a beating twice that should have gone to Roeback. What is worse is that Tod goes the next day and forgives the men who beat him up and continues to work alongside them like somehow he deserved it, which doesn't make any sense at all.
An interesting scene involves Tod and Roeback walking alongside a dirt road while holding a conversation. A dragonfly then appears and lands on the back of actor Basehart's neck while he is talking and then flies right into actor Milner's face. Both actors duck out of the way of the fly, but still manage to say their lines without missing a beat.
Overall this is a good episode, but the 'double' ending is a bit disappointing.
Grade: A-
The part of the cad, who is given a very pretentious sounding name of Julian Roeback, is brilliantly played by actor Richard Basehart. He was pretty much known as an average actor at best, but his performance here is a real stand out and possibly the pinnacle of his career. The character is quite believable. Half time you want to see him get punched in the face, but he ends up being strangely engaging no matter what he does.
The only problems with the story are some of the actions by Tod (Buz was again off due to the illness by actor Maharis). Tod sees right through the Roeback character and yet is always defending him so he won't get beat up. In fact Tod ends up taking a beating twice that should have gone to Roeback. What is worse is that Tod goes the next day and forgives the men who beat him up and continues to work alongside them like somehow he deserved it, which doesn't make any sense at all.
An interesting scene involves Tod and Roeback walking alongside a dirt road while holding a conversation. A dragonfly then appears and lands on the back of actor Basehart's neck while he is talking and then flies right into actor Milner's face. Both actors duck out of the way of the fly, but still manage to say their lines without missing a beat.
Overall this is a good episode, but the 'double' ending is a bit disappointing.
Grade: A-
