Season Five of Bonanza came to a close on May 24, 1964 with the episode titled "Walter and the Outlaws", a sequel to the previous season's "Any Friend of Walter's" (the scripts for both episodes were written by Lois Hire). Arthur Hunnicutt returns as grizzled prospector Obie, who lives in a squalid shack with his pet dog, the redoubtable Walter. Also making return appearances are Steve Brodie, Vic Werber and James Luisi as dimwitted but deadly outlaws Macie, Teague, and Willard, still determined to steal Obie's cache of gold. This time around, the crooked trio kidnap Walter, hoping to make Obie surrender his treasure. The prospector and the Cartwrights concoct an elaborate rescue scheme which goes hilariously awry. The classic scene in which head outlaw Macie is forced to take castor oil has, alas, often been removed from syndicated prints of "Walter and the Outlaws."
by Hal Erickson
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