| Bonanza episode | |
|---|---|
| “Warbonnet” | |
| Season 13, Episode 14 #403 in Series | |
 | |
| Air date | December 26, 1971 |
| Production code | |
| Guest starring: | |
| Written by | Robert Biheller, Charles Goldwad |
| Directed by | Arthur H. Nadel |
| Episode Guide | |
| Previous Episode: A Home for Jamie |
Next Episode: A Lonely Man |
| External links | |
 IMDbWarbonnet on IMDb | |
Summary[]
Joe is caught in the middle of a bitter dispute between an aging Native American chief and the man who stole the Indian's warbonnet years ago as a saloon decoration.
Plot[]
Joe is stranded in the desert when his mare falls and breaks her leg. He falls unconscious from exhaustion and lack of water, and is found near death by a Paiute named Swift Eagle. But instead of saving Joe, Swift Eagle steals his gun and goes back to the reservation. His grandfather, Chief Red Cloud, finds the gun and insists they return it and help the owner. Red Cloud cares for Joe until he gets his strength back and then orders Swift Eagle to take Joe into town.
In town, Joe meets the most powerful man there, Frank Ryan, who showers Joe with hospitality. Joe feels indebted to both Red Cloud for saving his life, and to Frank Ryan for extending hospitality in an unfamiliar town. So when Red Cloud challenges Frank to a fight to the death, Joe tries desperately to keep the peace. The reason for the fight? Fifteen years ago, Frank took Red Cloud's warbonnet, and has been proudly displaying it ever since, on the wall in his saloon. Red Cloud, now an old man, must regain his honor before he dies.
Cast and Characters[]
The Cartwrights[]
Recurring[]
- Victor Sen Yung: Hop Sing
- Rex Andrews: Townsman (uncredited)
- Jack Lilley: Barfly (uncredited)
- Fred McDougall: Barfly (uncredited)
- Arnold Roberts: Barfly (uncredited)
- Linda Gaye Scott: Saloon Girl (uncredited)
Guest Stars[]
- Forrest Tucker: Frank Ryan
- Chief Dan George: Red Cloud
- Linda Cristal: Teresa
- Patrick Adiarte: Swift Eagle
- Russ Marin: Sheriff
- M. Emmet Walsh: Mattheson (as Emmet Walsh)
- John Wheeler: Hill
- Lee de Broux: Elias
Trivia[]
- German episode title: "Der Kriegsschmuck von Red Cloud", meaning "The Warbonnet of Red Cloud".
- Filmed at Warner Brothers Studio, Burbank California.
- Chief Dan George makes his only appearance, as Red Cloud, along with Forrest Tucker, as Frank Ryan, also making his only appearance on the series. Linda Cristal stars as Frank's girlfriend, along with Linda Gaye Scott as one of Frank's saloon girls, competing for his affections. Lee de Broux makes his second appearance, as Elias, the town trouble-maker, later seen as Krater, in fourteen's, Forever.
- Co-written by Robert Biheller (he changed his name to Robert Blood for this script), and was in both Between Heaven and Earth and as Napoleon, in Napoleon's Children.
Video Link[]
