The Maverick Report

("The Maverick Report" will be a recurring feature where I review my favorite Maverick episodes starring Jack Kelly.)

"All This--And Puppies, Too?"

My current favorite JK episode is "The Witch of Hound Dog". It originally aired on November 6, 1960. I'm guessing it was intended as a Halloween episode, though, because there's some mighty spooky stuff going down here.

First, there's an alluring young mountain lass named Nancy who may or may not be a witch. She can apparently brew up thunderstorms at will and claims she put a "courtin' spell" on Bart so he'll fall in love with her. Then, there's Nancy's Pappy, who may or may not be a raven. And, finally, there are Nancy's two no-account brothers, who may or may not be "all there" and who enjoy using poor Bart as a punching bag.

The plot also involves a prized Bassett hound. And, let's not forget about the gambling debt Bart aims to collect, which is why he traveled to Hound Dog, Tennessee, in the first place. His winnings are in a safe stolen by Nancy's brothers, but they don't know his money is in the safe, so Bart has to play poker with them to get access to the safe...or something like that.

Bart eventually comes to his senses and sees Nancy "nevermore". He returns to his life as a gambler. But, he's reminded of his mountain interlude when he hears thunder--and spies a familiar bird in the saloon!

"The Witch of Hound Dog" is surprisingly racy for 1960--and for Maverick, for that matter. Bart is literally under Nancy's spell and comes this close to surrendering to her charms. There's lots of huggin' and kissin' and flirtin' between Bart and Nancy, and you have to hear the "poem" he recites to her. Don't worry, though: the whole thing is like "Maverick Meets Bewitched Meets Lil' Abner" and is wildly whimsical.

Jack Kelly is extra charming as Bart Maverick in this episode. He's courtly, yet witty and amorous, too. And, even when he's not under her "spell", Bart treats Nancy with respect, which is something the townsfolk--and her brothers--refuse to do.

The title character of "The Witch of Hound Dog" is smolderingly portrayed by Anita Sands, a talented young actress whom, frankly, I'd never heard of before seeing her here. She guest starred in another Maverick episode ("Family Pride" with Roger Moore) and in a handful of other television series during the same era.

Another interesting guest star in this episode is Wayde Preston, who'd starred in Warner Brothers' Colt .45 series.

So, is Nancy really a witch? Who knows. But, one thing is for sure--I wouldn't need a "courtin' spell" to fall for Bart Maverick. ;->