After years of prospecting, Jonathan finally strikes gold. He returns to town only to discover that his partner has since died and left Tommy fatherless. He decides to leave Shep (played by Lassie) with Tommy to cheer him up. Meanwhile, Jonathan's new partner, Lin, isn't interested in sharing the gold, and lures Jonathan to his death. Lassie immediately deduces what's happened, so Lin poisons Lassie. Lassie barely pulls through and pursues Lin to a climactic confrontation where, due to an off-screen accident with some liquid nitrogen, Lin's gun jams.
Unfortunately the movie The Painted Hills is not yet available on HBO Max.
| Writing | Alexander Hull | Novel |
| Directing | Harold F. Kress | Director |
| Camera | Harold Lipstein | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Douglas Shearer | Sound |
| Sound | Daniele Amfitheatrof | Original Music Composer |
| Art | Cedric Gibbons | Art Direction |
| Camera | Alfred Gilks | Director of Photography |
| Crew | Warren Newcombe | Special Effects |
| Production | Chester M. Franklin | Producer |
| Costume & Make-Up | William Tuttle | Makeup Artist |
| Art | Edwin B. Willis | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Sydney Guilaroff | Hairstylist |
| Editing | Newell P. Kimlin | Editor |
| Directing | Sid Sidman | Assistant Director |
| Art | Leonid Vasian | Art Direction |
| Writing | True Eames Boardman | Screenplay |
