Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)

The Thin Rope (1957)

Dale Robertson: Jim Hardie

Photos 

Quotes 

• Button Smith : Jim, those jaspers had us covered. How come you took a chance and went for your gun?

  Jim Hardie : I had to. When they don't wear masks, they aren't going to leave any witnesses around who can talk later.

• Jim Hardie : You dont' drink whiskey and you don't kiss girls. I've always been a little suspicious of a man who never had any minor vices.

• Button Smith : What's this writin' on the barrel?

  Jim Hardie : Read it.

  Button Smith : "Be not afraid of any man who walks beneath the skies, though you be weak and he be strong - I will equalize."

• [last lines] 

  Jim Hardie : He could have been a real good man to ride with, but there was a flaw in his make-up, a weakness that was his undoing. For a man, it's like a rope - it's only as strong as it's thinnest part.

• [first lines] 

  Jim Hardie : [narrating]  The firm of Wells Fargo played an important part in the settling and development of our American West. As the frontier moved towards the Pacific Ocean, Wells Fargo moved with it, making the hundreds of towns that sprang up in that great wilderness with roads over which their stagecoaches and freight wagons traveled. Wells Fargo's business was transportation and security. Its motto was to safeguard and deliver the goods whether it was human or freight cargo or a consignment of that precious yellow metal that men call gold. The West was a lawless place in those days and a man who worked for Wells Fargo had to be long on courage to hold down his job.

• Wells Fargo Manager Jefferson : Jim, I think Wells Fargo should make something out of this. A little advertising that'll show our company can deliver the goods. We ought to give this guard a medal at the very least.

  Jim Hardie : He might appreciate a bonus a little more.

  Wells Fargo Manager Jefferson : Yes. Wells Fargo may be a business firm, but we're doing more than our share to bring law and order to the West. It's men who have courage and loyalty, like this guard, Button Smith, who are the backbone of Wells Fargo.

• Jim Hardie : I take it your Button Smith.

  Button Smith : Who else.

  Jim Hardie : You know, it's bothered me ever since I first heard it. Where'd you get a name like that?

  Button Smith : When I was born, ma says to pa, "Ain't he sure cute as a button!"

  Jim Hardie : Your ma oughta see you now.

  Button Smith : Yeah. Be quite some shock to her, wouldn't it?

• Button Smith : Hardie!

  [Hardie spins, whipping his pistol from his holster] 

  Button Smith : A swifty, huh?

  Jim Hardie : I'm a ringtailed whizzaroo when I'm pressed.

• Jim Hardie : [narrating]  My name is Jim Hardie - special agent and sort of a traveling detective for Wells Fargo.