Waterhole #3 (1967) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A stolen fortune drives criminals, a lawman, and a gambler through shifting alliances, deception, and an unfinished desert pursuit.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Tunnel To The Treasure

An inside operation steals an Army shipment of gold and hides it near Waterhole No. 3. Cole discovers a map to the treasure after killing the mastermind of the caper.

Key Events

• The Inside Gold Job — Foggers and Hilb join an inside operation to steal the Army's gold shipment. Characters: Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Arizona Army deposit
• The Tunnel Is Dug — The robbers take the shoemaker hostage and dig toward the adjacent Army deposit. Characters: Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: A shoemaker's parlor
• Gold Buried Near Waterhole — The stolen gold is buried in the desert near Waterhole No. 3. Characters: Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Desert near Waterhole No. 3
• The Map On The Bill — Cole discovers a map to the buried gold scrawled on a twenty-dollar bill. Characters: Lewton Cole Location: Arizona trail
• Cole Kills Quinlen — After an altercation, Cole kills the robbery mastermind and takes the clue to the treasure. Characters: Lewton Cole Location: Arizona trail

The Lawman Gives Chase

Cole deceives local law enforcement, takes official clothing, and steals a horse while Copperud pursues him. Foggers and Hilb begin their own pursuit to recover the gold and frame the hostage.

Key Events

• Cole Kills Quinlen — After an altercation, Cole kills the robbery mastermind and takes the clue to the treasure. Characters: Lewton Cole Location: Arizona trail
• Three Men Begin The Hunt — Foggers and Hilb pursue Cole while using the shoemaker to disguise responsibility for the theft. Characters: Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Arizona desert
• Cole Takes The Jail — Cole locks the sheriff and deputy in their own jail and takes their clothes. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Deputy Location: Integrity jail
• Cole Steals The Horse — Cole reaches the sheriff's ranch, steals his horse, and continues fleeing from law enforcement. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Sheriff's ranch
• The Desert Pursuit Widens — Copperud leaves the ranch and pursues Cole into the desert. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Desert outside Integrity
• Cole Finds The Gold — Cole locates the buried gold just as Copperud catches up with him. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Desert near Waterhole No. 3

An Uneasy Partnership

Cole finds the buried gold, but Copperud arrests him before being persuaded to share the treasure. Their temporary partnership is shattered when Foggers and Hilb ambush them in the desert.

Key Events

• Cole Finds The Gold — Cole locates the buried gold just as Copperud catches up with him. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Desert near Waterhole No. 3
• The Arrest Becomes A Deal — Copperud arrests Cole, but Cole persuades him to take the gold for themselves. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Desert near the buried gold
• The Gold Ambush — Foggers and Hilb ambush Cole and Copperud, seize the gold and horses, and tie them up. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Desert trail
• Escape From The Desert — Cole and Copperud are freed and realize Foggers plans to cross into Mexico. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Desert ambush site
• Return To Integrity — The pursuers return to Integrity, expecting Foggers's group to spend the night there. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Town of Integrity

The Hotel Gunfight

The rival groups converge on Integrity and try to trap Hilb at the hotel. Hilb escapes, a gunfight breaks out, and the gold changes hands again during the confusion.

Key Events

• Return To Integrity — The pursuers return to Integrity, expecting Foggers's group to spend the night there. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Town of Integrity
• Hilb Guards The Hotel — Foggers orders Hilb to guard the hotel while he leaves with the shoemaker. Characters: Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Integrity hotel
• The Hallway Standoff — Hilb barricades himself inside, while Cole and Copperud watch the room from across the hallway. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Hilb Location: Integrity hotel hallway
• The Hotel Gunfight — Hilb escapes the hotel, a gunfight erupts, and one portion of the gold is dropped. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers, Hilb Location: Integrity hotel and street
• The Shoemaker Flees — During the confusion, the shoemaker escapes with the loot, prompting all three men to pursue him. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers Location: Integrity outskirts

The Final Desert Pursuit

A saddlebag full of rocks reveals that the gold was hidden along the trail. Cole recovers it and rides away, leaving Foggers and Copperud to pursue him across the desert.

Key Events

• The Shoemaker Flees — During the confusion, the shoemaker escapes with the loot, prompting all three men to pursue him. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers Location: Integrity outskirts
• The Saddlebag Holds Rocks — The suspected thief's saddlebag contains only rocks, suggesting the gold was dropped along the trail. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sheriff John Copperud, Sgt. Henry Foggers Location: Army campfire
• Cole Rides Away With Gold — Cole recovers the hidden gold and rides away as the others begin a hot pursuit. Characters: Lewton Cole, Sgt. Henry Foggers, Sheriff John Copperud Location: Rocks near the Army camp

Story Breakdown

• The Gold Robbery — An inside operation removes Army gold and conceals it in the Arizona desert.
  • Inside Army Job — Sgt. Henry Foggers and Hilb participate in the theft of the gold shipment.
  • Buried Desert Fortune — The stolen bullion is buried near Waterhole No. 3.
• Cole Finds The Clue — Lewton Cole obtains the information needed to locate the hidden fortune.
  • Map On Currency — A treasure map is discovered on a twenty-dollar bill.
  • Deadly Altercation — Cole kills the robbery mastermind after discovering the map.
• Integrity Deception — Cole manipulates the local law and escapes through disguises and theft.
  • Jailhouse Reversal — Cole locks Sheriff John Copperud and the Deputy in their own jail.
  • Stolen Horse — Cole takes the sheriff's horse and gains a temporary lead.
• The Sheriff Changes Sides — Copperud's arrest of Cole transforms into an unstable partnership over the gold.
  • Desert Arrest — Copperud catches and arrests Cole after the gold is located.
  • Treasure Partnership — Cole persuades Copperud to take the gold for themselves.
• Foggers Strikes Back — Foggers and Hilb use force to reclaim the gold and delay their pursuers.
  • Desert Ambush — The robbers ambush Cole and Copperud and leave them tied up.
  • Mexican Escape Plan — The pursuit continues after Foggers's plan to cross into Mexico is discovered.
• Hotel Chaos — The rival groups collide in Integrity during a tense overnight standoff.
  • Hilb Barricades — Hilb guards the hotel and barricades himself inside his room.
  • Gunfight Breakout — Hilb escapes, triggering a gunfight and another displacement of the gold.
• The Last Gold Chase — A false clue redirects the pursuers before Cole takes the treasure and rides away.
  • Rocks In The Saddlebag — The suspected thief's saddlebag contains rocks instead of gold.
  • Cole Rides Away — Cole recovers the hidden gold and is pursued across the desert.

Directed by

William A. Graham

Key Cast

• James Coburn — Lewton Cole
• Carroll O'Connor — Sheriff John Copperud
• Margaret Blye — Billee Copperud
• Claude Akins — Sgt. Henry Foggers
• Timothy Carey — Hilb