The Rounders
The Rounders was a 17-episode western-style situation comedy about two cowboys on the fictitious J.L. Ranch in Texas. It starred Ron Hayes as Ben Jones and Patrick Wayne, a son of John Wayne, as Howdy Lewis. The M-G-M television series aired on ABC from September 6, 1966, to January 3, 1967. The program was loosely based on a 1965 film of the same name, The Rounders, starring Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda, set near Sedona, Arizona, rather than Texas. Chill Wills, a native Texan and formerly of CBS's Frontier Circus, appeared as the shady ranch owner, Jim Ed Love. Janis Hansen co-starred as Ben's girlfriend, Sally, and Bobbi Jordan played Howdy's girlfriend, Ada. Jason Wingreen appeared as Shorty Dawes, and Walker Edmiston as Regan. Character actors Strother Martin and J. Pat O'Malley appeared as "Cousin Fletch" and "Vince", respectively. James Brown, formerly the lieutenant on The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, played "Luke". Selected episodes with notable guest stars include: "A Horse on Jim Ed Love", series premiere with Harry Carey, Jr.; "It's a Noble Thing to Do", with John Smith, formerly Slim Sherman on NBC's Laramie; "Don't Buffalo Me", with Jay Silverheels, formerly Tonto of The Lone Ranger, as John Tallgrass; "The Moonshine Still Shines"; "It Takes Only One to Suffer"; "The Scavenger Hunt" with Zsa Zsa Gabor as Ilona Hobson; "Some Things Are Not for Sale"; "Four Alarm Wing Ding", with Dick Haynes as a sheriff; "Horse of a Different Cutter" with Andy Devine as Honest John Denton and Strother Martin as Cousin Fletch; "Polo, Anyone?", with Jay C. Flippen as Kenny Fahrbush; "Efficiency Is for Experts", and "What Elephants?", the series finale, in which Ben and Howdy try to hide an elephant in plain sight.
Insights
Plot Summary
In the post-Civil War American West, two nomadic friends, John "Jonah" Adams and Jim "Jim" Rout, wander from town to town making a living by 'hustling' horses. Their easy-going life is complicated when they encounter a young orphan boy, caught between his mother's strict religious upbringing and the allure of the wild frontier.
Critical Reception
The Rounders was a modest success upon its release, praised for its charming performances and gentle humor. While not a major critical darling, it was appreciated for its departure from more violent Westerns, offering a more character-driven and nostalgic look at the era. Audiences generally responded well to its lighthearted tone and the chemistry between its lead actors.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its charming chemistry between Henry Fonda and Glenn Ford.
- Appreciated for its lighter, more comedic take on the Western genre.
- Seen as a character-driven story with a nostalgic feel.
Google audience: Information not readily available for Google user reviews.
Fun Fact
The film is based on the 1911 novel 'The Rounders' by Southwestern author Stuart N. Lake, though the movie significantly alters the plot and characters from the source material.
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