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 | Alfred Gilks | Director of Photography |
| Production | Chester M. Franklin | Producer |
| Sound | Daniele Amfitheatrof | Original Music Composer |
| Crew | Warren Newcombe | Special Effects |
| Art | Cedric Gibbons | Art Direction |
| Art | Edwin B. Willis | Set Decoration |
| Editing | Newell P. Kimlin | Editor |
| Costume & Make-Up | William Tuttle | Makeup Artist |
| Directing | Sid Sidman | Assistant Director |
| Camera | Harold Lipstein | Director of Photography |
| Art | Leonid Vasian | Art Direction |
| Costume & Make-Up | Sydney Guilaroff | Hairstylist |
| Sound | Douglas Shearer | Sound |
| Writing | True Eames Boardman | Screenplay |
