Ah, the life of a Wells Fargo special agent can be most hazardous, and Jim Hardie is aware of this fact acutely. This can be especially true when travelling with a cargo that proves extremely dangerous as well as enticing, as Hardie finds himself on a Wells Fargo stage with a group of singers who also happen to be very beautiful women, one of which may be the clue to a string of robberies.
Now I'm not claiming this outing is the pinnacle of the seven seasons of Tales of Wells Fargo. However, it does land squarely on the list of memorable episodes, and is absolutely a fun watch. Dale Robertson is quite the likeable guy, and to say he was a devil with the ladies is undeniable. Similar to Matt Dillon, Jim Hardie is a no-nonsense kind of character, and is rarely (if ever) stymied by the lure of a beautiful woman. When interacting with the ladies, Hardie, for the most part, maintained his distance and remained professional, aloof and in control. These characteristics were tested sorely in this episode.
The four women Hardie encounter on the Wells Fargo stage are lovely, independent, willful, and mischievous. It's amusing to watch Hardie's attempts to maintain his cool, calm, special agent persona in the face of such daunting odds, and is a big part of the appeal of this episode.
Adele Mara plays Theo, the leader of the group. Ms. Mara played this type of character frequently, and is just great as always. Dorothy Partington played Sis, and had only 3 screen credits. Nancy Kilgas played Gee Gee, and she had 25 appearances during the 50s, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, but nothing beyond that. She basically just giggled here. However she did plant a huge, spontaneous kiss on Jim Hardie when they parted, causing him to break out his sly, trademark smile. Cliff Ketchum plays an amusing role as Frank, the stage driver.
And one last mention would be the immortal Henry Corden in a small role as the outlaw Renner. Mr. Corden has a huge resume, including films ranging from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to The Ten Commandments. But he is forever enshrined in pop culture as the voice of Fred Flintstone.
But the real focus of the episode was Monica Lewis, who plays Molly. As with many of the stars from decades past, she was very well known during her heyday but is completely unknown today. She was a very successful singer with many hits, and was a vocalist with Benny Goodman's band. Her brother created the Ed Sullivan Show, and she appeared on the first episode. She also provided the voice of Miss Chiquita Banana for 14 years. Look for the dimple when she smiles in the last scene, she was known for it.
ToWF is always a good watch, and the four lovely ladies interacting with Jim Hardie pushes that up a notch. All in all, a good way to spend a half hour!