Ep 15. The Bandits of Panamint

Death Valley Days is an American Western television series that aired from 1952 to 1970. The show was created by Ruth Woodman and produced by Gene Autry's production company, Flying A Productions. Each episode depicts a historical event or person through a fictional narrative that takes place in Death Valley or the surrounding desert region.

Season 1 Episode 15, titled "The Bandits of Panamint," is set in the 1870s and opens with a group of bandits robbing a stagecoach. The bandits are led by a man named Red Wilcox, played by William Talman, who plans to use the stolen money to buy a ranch and start a new life with his girlfriend, Mary. However, their plans are interrupted when the local sheriff, played by John Doucette, puts together a posse to track down the bandits.

As the bandits flee through the desert, they come across a man named Charlie Parkhurst, played by Alan Hale Jr., who is stranded without a horse. Charlie introduces himself as a stagecoach driver and offers to help the bandits escape from the posse by driving them in his stagecoach. Although Red is initially suspicious of Charlie, he eventually agrees to let him drive the stagecoach.

As they continue on their journey, the bandits encounter more obstacles, including a group of Native Americans who demand a toll for using their land and a treacherous mountain pass. Along the way, Charlie becomes privy to the bandits' plans and sympathizes with several of their stories, particularly that of Red and Mary. Meanwhile, the posse is hot on their trail.

The episode reaches its climax as the posse catches up with the bandits and a shootout ensues, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Red and Mary make a final stand against the posse, while Charlie tries to make his escape with the stagecoach. In the end, the surviving bandits are captured and brought to justice, while Charlie makes a surprising revelation about his own past.

Overall, "The Bandits of Panamint" is a suspenseful and action-packed episode that explores themes of betrayal, redemption, and the harsh realities of life in the American West. It features strong performances from its cast and highlights the rugged beauty of Death Valley and the surrounding desert landscape.