The BEST episodes directed by Herman Hoffman
#1 - Hostage for Hanging
Rawhide - Season 8 - Episode 6
Rowdy is held for ransom by a family of crooked horse traders. Quince, Jed, Wish and Simon try to dicker unsuccessfully. The family is led by Ma Gufler. Her two sons are Jesse and dim-witted Max. They prepare to hang Rowdy. Jed rides in to talk things over.
Watch Now:Amazon
#2 - The Squad
Combat! - Season 1 - Episode 17
The squad gets an amiable replacement from Georgia named Moseby Lovelace (Jonathan Bolt), who comes complete with a coveted, new pair of boots. Lovelace is eager to see action, but not interested in the ordinary work of soldiering such as digging foxholes and following orders. He has a hair-raising adventure on a night reconnaissance patrol, but handles it with aplomb.
Watch Now:Amazon
#3 - Chaff in the Wind
The Virginian - Season 4 - Episode 19
The Sheriff of Laramie orders an itinerant family of con artists, Micah Ellis (Ed Begley), his son Clifford (Tony Bill) and daughter Becky (Linda Lawson), to leave town. In doing so they are forced to leave in jail Micah's brother Clemmet (Lonny Chapman). Their wagon breaks down near Medicine Bow. Clifford goes hunting for a rabbit. He shoots a steer and is heard by Randy Benton and Jennifer who are riding nearby -- but Clifford claims the steer had a broken leg and he was only putting it out of its misery. Randy and Jennifer help them temporarily fix their wagon and they go to Shiloh ranch to make permanent repairs. The Judge is away and the Virginian is in charge. They say they need work and Jennifer offers them jobs, much to the Virginian's chagrin who warns Jennifer to be careful. Becky stays in the house while the male Ellis' are put up in the bunkhouse. Becky, who is used to the high life of saloons, finds staying with Jennifer stifling and tries to get the others to leave ...
Watch Now:Amazon
#4 - A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town
Bonanza - Season 8 - Episode 12
When the woman he was planning to marry is strangled, Joe forces the only suspect to come forward, in a very tense-filled episode.
#6 - One Spring Like Long Ago
The Virginian - Season 4 - Episode 24
Bounty hunter Bowers (Warren Oates) trails a Sioux Indian, High Sun (John War Eagle), who has left the reservation. However, High Sun sees a herd of buffalo and surrenders to Bowers. Meanwhile, Morgan Starr (John Dehner) and Randy Benton arrive at the Rolling Creek Indian Agency to complete a sale of cattle to the Indian Agent, Harry Weatherby (Gary Wahlberg). Morgan is surprised that the agent only wants 500 head of cattle because he suspects it will not meet the needs for the Indians and hints Weatherby is lining his own pockets. Bowers returns with High Sun and Weatherby tells him to tie up the man and not let him speak to Two Hawks (Eduard Franz), a Sioux leader who speaks no English. With the intervention of Morgan, High Sun is allowed to talk to Two Hawks and he tells him the buffalo are returning. Two Hawks, through his son, Tonka (Clive Clerk), tells Weetherby that he is going to see the buffalo, talk to the Great Spirit, and then return to lead his people. Weatherby sends for
#7 - The Nick Moses Story
The Untouchables - Season 2 - Episode 19
1932. Just 3 weeks after Al Capone was convicted on the ironic charge of income tax evasion, the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. was calling its leading law enforcement agents from all over the country to fly to the nation's capital to testify and get a new Anti-Racketeering Bill passed. Back in Chicago, 4 of Capone's bigshots who ran his bootlegging empire had skipped town, like rats deserting a sinking ship: only Frank Nitti ""the Enforcer"" had the guts to remain in the Windy City, as did Nick Moses. With the gang bosses assembling again, Ness can't leave Chicago. Ness says, ""It looks like you'll be going to Washington without me,"" and he shakes District Attorney Asbury's hand, ""bring us back a law, Beecher."" At the Club Montmartre, Nitti presides over a meet. Overlord Vinnie is grousing that Nick Moses muscled in on his territory while he was in Miami; Nick counters that Vinnie ran out, so his district was up for grabs. Nitti tells them to settle this ""peaceful."" That ni