Mingo, with the help of Rebecca and a backwoodsman, dresses up like a British major in order to steal a shipment of rapid-fire rifles that could be used for the Revolutionary War.Mingo, with the help of Rebecca and a backwoodsman, dresses up like a British major in order to steal a shipment of rapid-fire rifles that could be used for the Revolutionary War.Mingo, with the help of Rebecca and a backwoodsman, dresses up like a British major in order to steal a shipment of rapid-fire rifles that could be used for the Revolutionary War.
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Did you know
- TriviaThe story is clearly trying to depict the Ferguson Rifle story. Major Patrick Ferguson (the Richardson character here) was a British officer who developed an early version of a breech loading rifle. Some 200 rifles were produced, and used at least once at the 1777 Battle of Brandywine, PA. The rifle initially worked, but as with many early firearms variations, it was prone to break down. Mingo is shown firing the prototype but only recharging it with powder; the Ferguson did need to be reloaded with individual projectiles. The real Major Ferguson was killed at the Battle of King's Mountain, SC in 1780.
- SoundtracksDaniel Boone
by Lionel Newman and Vera Matson
Featured review
Secret Agent Man Mingo
Daniel, Mingo (Ed Ames)and sidekick Jeremiah intercept (after a gratuitous ambush of same by the Shawnee, this week the unlucky recipients of an experimental rifle demonstration) a wagon carrying British Major Richardson (Harold Gould). Capturing him and one of his self-developed rapid-firing rifles, Mingo disguises as Richardson and with Jeremiah infiltrates a British fort commanded by Colonel Chalmers (Lloyd Bochner) to exfiltrate the rifles for the Patriot cause.
Getting the series back to a Revolutionary War adventure, the episode offers a contrived but enjoyable hour. The centerpiece is watching Ames, an unrecognizable Gould, and a mustachioed Bochner (in his fourth DB role) ham it up as Monty Pythonish English redcoat twits. Becky is along for the hour, and allowed to break out of the cabin wife mold by doing some undercover work as an officer's fiancé. Dean, earlier introduced as Delo Jones in the series, is "Jeremiah" in this one-shot, before taking on a semi-regular role as "Josh Clements."
The history background is the usual interesting "DB" hybrid of reality and fabrication. The story is clearly trying to depict the Ferguson Rifle story with some major variations. Major Patrick Ferguson (the Richardson character here) was a British officer who developed an early version of a breechloading rifle. Some 200 (the same as related in the episode) were produced, and used at least once at the 1777 Battle of Brandywine, Pa.; Ferguson later claimed he had George Washington in his sights, but relented at the last moment. The rifle initially worked but as with many early firearms versions was prone to breakdown. Mingo is shown firing the prototype but only recharging it with powder; the Ferguson did need to be reloaded with individual projectiles. The real Ferguson was KIA at the Battle of King's Mountain, SC in 1780; his character is used in a completely unrelated context during "The Williamsburg Cannon" two-parter in DB, Season 3.
The Revolution's geography and chronology generally take a dive out the window here; Richardson is said to have "landed in Boston" and started an overland trip in full uniform to "Fort Styles." Boston was American-besieged from the outbreak of fighting in April 1775, and was evacuated by the British in March 1776; Ferguson arrived in America in 1777 and was attached to the main British army in NY, NJ, and Pa. Fort Styles is entirely fictional and depicted here in a reuse of the Boonesborough set.
Redcoat report: about 20 plus, a fairly big contingent for a DB episode, and all uniformed as the Royal American Regiment.
Although the writing clearly veers off into comedy-drama territory for a bit, the end drama compensates for that. The strong support cast and the production values make "The Imposter" the best hour of Season 4 to date.
Getting the series back to a Revolutionary War adventure, the episode offers a contrived but enjoyable hour. The centerpiece is watching Ames, an unrecognizable Gould, and a mustachioed Bochner (in his fourth DB role) ham it up as Monty Pythonish English redcoat twits. Becky is along for the hour, and allowed to break out of the cabin wife mold by doing some undercover work as an officer's fiancé. Dean, earlier introduced as Delo Jones in the series, is "Jeremiah" in this one-shot, before taking on a semi-regular role as "Josh Clements."
The history background is the usual interesting "DB" hybrid of reality and fabrication. The story is clearly trying to depict the Ferguson Rifle story with some major variations. Major Patrick Ferguson (the Richardson character here) was a British officer who developed an early version of a breechloading rifle. Some 200 (the same as related in the episode) were produced, and used at least once at the 1777 Battle of Brandywine, Pa.; Ferguson later claimed he had George Washington in his sights, but relented at the last moment. The rifle initially worked but as with many early firearms versions was prone to breakdown. Mingo is shown firing the prototype but only recharging it with powder; the Ferguson did need to be reloaded with individual projectiles. The real Ferguson was KIA at the Battle of King's Mountain, SC in 1780; his character is used in a completely unrelated context during "The Williamsburg Cannon" two-parter in DB, Season 3.
The Revolution's geography and chronology generally take a dive out the window here; Richardson is said to have "landed in Boston" and started an overland trip in full uniform to "Fort Styles." Boston was American-besieged from the outbreak of fighting in April 1775, and was evacuated by the British in March 1776; Ferguson arrived in America in 1777 and was attached to the main British army in NY, NJ, and Pa. Fort Styles is entirely fictional and depicted here in a reuse of the Boonesborough set.
Redcoat report: about 20 plus, a fairly big contingent for a DB episode, and all uniformed as the Royal American Regiment.
Although the writing clearly veers off into comedy-drama territory for a bit, the end drama compensates for that. The strong support cast and the production values make "The Imposter" the best hour of Season 4 to date.
- militarymuseu-88399
- Jan 29, 2023
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Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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