Face of Fear - first shown November 14th 1971

 

 

 

'Jamie's friend witnesses Mr Trunkett's murder and sees the killer steal Trunkett's identification. Mr Trunkett was due to inherit a fortune. Jamie's friend, however, is afraid of her father, and therefore refuses to come forward. Ben hires the killer for temporary work after "Mr Trunkett" says he needs money until the inheritance comes through.'

 

Guest Stars: Bradford Dillman as Griff Bannon, Jewel Blanch as Netta Thatcher, Donald Moffat as Thatcher, Chick Chandler as Carroway, Athena Lorde as Miss Griggs.

 

 

**********

 

 

 

I thought that the whole episode was very well crafted with the main story and sub-plot very well intertwined, beautiful scenery, good use of the sets and, above all, the Cartwright family (and all associated with them) really written convincingly in character.

This is a Jamie centred episode (a very good performance from Mitch) but with interesting appearances from Ben, Hoss, Joe, Hop Sing, Clem and Dusty. Not only do I enjoy seeing all the main characters but their inclusion is vital to understand the world in which Jamie is living.

The main story involves Jamie and his friend Netta. On the way home from school, Netta witnesses one man (Griff Bannon) bending over another (Trumble) who is laying across a rock in the nearby river. Jamie was some way behind so sees less. Netta realises that she has witnessed a murder and that the murderer has seen her. She runs home, terrified of the event but terrified to tell her cruelly strict father. Netta's father unjustly suspects her of improper behaviour with boys "like your sister"; the sister simply got married and left home. So Netta just says that she is late due to helping her teacher after school.

Meanwhile Jamie tells the story to the Cartwrights and Ben and Joe accompany him to the river. However the body has been washed away and the killer obliterated his tracks so all they can do is to call in Clem Foster.

Bannon, taking Trumble's identity, arrives at the Ponderosa with an introduction from Trumble's lawyer. The Cartwrights are in the middle of hectic arrangements for a forthcoming round-up. The packing scene is very realistic with the chuck wagon (sternly supervised by Hop Sing!), horses, hands and general paraphernalia. Dusty Rhoades' laid back humour completes the activities. Trumble quickly gets hired.

There is a very amusing family scene with Hoss, Joe and Jamie grouped around Ben's desk with plenty of brotherly banter. It's a scene where you feel that Jamie is really integrated into the family.

Being short-handed Ben assigns Jamie as Trumble's guide to the line fences needing repair. Jamie begins to find all Trumble's questions about Netta and her family decidedly odd.

Meanwhile Clem is investigating the area and presses Jamie for more details of the killer. All Jamie saw was a bay horse and an ordinary looking man from the back unlike Netta who saw his face.

Netta's father talks to the school teacher, Mrs.Briggs, about Netta's behaviour with boys and not studying well. Mrs.Briggs is angry at this gross injustice and tells Thatcher that the boy issue is totally untrue and that Netta is an outstandingly good pupil. She also tells him that he is cruel and unjust to his daughter and explains to him how he should treat Netta. Thatcher says: "You don't care what you say do you?" The teacher's brilliant reply is that she says these things because she does indeed care about Netta. Then those words begin to sink in to Thatcher.

Jamie realises that he must find out more from Netta and persuades her to tell him whatever she knows. With Jamie's kind support, Netta agrees. Near her house the youngsters suddenly encounter Trumble and Netta screams as she recognises the killer. Jamie's quick action in throwing a rock at Trumble's horse gives the youngsters time to hide in the undergrowth until dark when they run back to the Ponderosa to get help from adults.

The episode then builds to a climax full of suspense as Jamie and Netta reach the ranch house where Trumble has arrived first and is sneaking around the place. There are some edge-of-the-viewers'-seats scenes! Jamie and Netta find everyone gone except Hop Sing and are so stressed that Hop Sing can't understand them. Trumble bursts into the kitchen and his attack is deflected by Hop Sing who throws a pan at
him. However Trumble has no difficulty in knocking Hop Sing out leaving the terrified but resourceful youngsters alone with a killer on the Ponderosa.

They hide in the top of the barn but hay dropping through cracks in the boarding alerts Trumble to their presence. There is a tension filled moment where Trumble climbs up the ladder to kill Jamie and Netta. Three things happen very quickly to save them: Jamie throws a sack down on Trumble, knocking him over, Netta's father arrives and
shoots Trumble in a gunfight and Hop Sing has recovered and comes running with a meat cleaver to help. Although we, the viewers, know that all will be well the drama is full of suspense.

There is a happy closing scene where Netta's father is much kinder and he and Ben allow Jamie and Netta to go for a picnic. Ben watches Jamie earnestly polishing the buggy with a mixture of affection and parental responsibility and it's a scene where you can imagine Pa having gone through just the same stages with Joe, Hoss and Adam.

Excellent performances from all concerned and well worth watching.

Final comments:

This was an extremely good episode from the point of view of writing where the main murder plot is skilfully intertwined with the sub-plot of Netta's sad home life.

The direction is very creative with wonderful outdoor scenes (for the murder location) shot at Franklin Lake, a convincing schoolhouse and a really good scene of the round-up preparation. But the high point is when the ranch house becomes a place of fear. The house is as well lit and as welcoming as ever yet its very emptiness with a killer on the loose makes it a place of fear, especially at night.

Kudos to Mitch for a very good performance and for the sense that he has now made the Jamie character his own. I also thought that Athena Lorde as Mrs. Griggs the school teacher gave a noteworthy performance. She played the part very much along the courageous and confident lines of Ellen Dobbs in "The Stillness Within" and her
scene with Thatcher was a pivotal one for the episode.

Said with affection LOL! – I tend to find Clem worthy and likeable but rather stolid. However, his new stylish moustache really puts the "zing" into Bing!