The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

As Amos Tucker (Tim Conway) and Theodore Ogelvie (Don Knotts) sought to escape their criminal pasts for a new beginning in the sleepy town of Junction City, they inadvertently sparked a whirlwind of chaos. Their intentions to start fresh were undermined by a duo of shrewd bank robbers, Wes Hardin and Hank Starrett, who swiped their hard-earned cash. With their finances in ruins, the two found themselves fleeing from Marshal Woolly Bill Hitchcock (Kenneth Mars), who harbored a personal grudge against them due to a series of humiliating encounters.

In a frantic attempt to evade Hitchcock’s fierce pursuit, Amos and Theodore made the heart-wrenching decision to abandon their loyal donkey, Clarise. However, fate took a twisted turn when she innocently led the marshal straight to their hideout. To make matters worse, they enlisted in the United States Cavalry at Fort Concho, but their clumsy antics, coupled with an unfortunate clash with a rogue lawman, resulted in the fort being reduced to nothing but smoldering ruins. The very next day found them wearing prison stripes, much to the bemusement of Major Gaskill (Harry Morgan).

Yet, even behind bars, Amos and Theodore were unable to escape the entanglements of trickery. A notorious thief known as Big Mac (Jack Elam) recognized their potential and recruited them for an audacious train heist. Although they knew better, the duo attempted to slip away from this dangerous scheme by alerting the local sheriff, only to be redirected to find a visiting U.S. Marshal at a nearby saloon.

In a comical disguise as dance hall girls to evade recognition by Big Mac’s crew, Amos and Theodore inadvertently crossed paths with Hitchcock again, all while making a series of trades for blankets that fortuitously landed them right on the train they intended to sabotage. It was here they encountered Jeff Reed (Tim Matheson), an army intelligence officer posing as a soldier to unravel a conspiracy surrounding military robberies, along with Millie Gaskill (Elyssa Davalos), the daughter of Major Gaskill.

Together, this unlikely group thwarted Big Mac’s nefarious plans, successfully apprehending the robbers, including their mole, Lt. Jim Ravencroft (Robert Pine). Following this victory, both Amos and Theodore were bestowed with pardons, leading them to embrace the simpler life on Russell Donovan’s farm, leaving the past—and their wild adventures—behind firmly, and ready to take on new beginnings.

Last Updated: November 18, 2024 at 20:34