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Bonanza: Enter Mark Twain (1959)
Enter Mark Twain
Samuel Clemens arrives in Virginia City to write for the Territorial Enterprise at the same time a crooked politician tries to lay claim on the Ponderosa. After writing some humorous articles of a sighting of a wild man which attracts a horde of folks to the Ponderosa, Clemens joins forces with the Cartwright's as he investigates the shady goings-on between a railroad company and a local judge.
Howard Duff plays a character who believes that the pen is mightier than the sword - well, he's a journalist and a fairly good one. His articles causes an uproar, even up setting the Cartwright's. The episode has some moments, has humorous spots and quirky moments but overall I found this a little so-so. Things prep up at the end with a rambunctious shootout.
Bonanza: The Philip Diedesheimer Story (1959)
The Philip Diedesheimer Story
Adam and Hoss put their lives and the Cartwright reputation on the line to help Dutch engineer, Philip Diedesheimer, convince greedy silver mine owners and shareholders to use his innovative honeycomb support system to improve mine shaft safety and save miners' lives.
R. G Armstrong plays Holloway, the head of a mining company, who puts profits ahead of lives and consequently his actions cause the death of many, including his future son-in-law, who had warned him of the dangers of the mine. But his warning fell on deaf ears.
Excellent episode about how lives are placed secondary to profit - it's well-acted by all, especially by Armstrong who is out of touch with the working people since climbing the social ladder. Cutie Mala Powers gives him some stern words that hopefully will set him right.
Bonanza: Mr. Henry Comstock (1959)
Me. Henry Comstock
The Cartwrights are met by an old man with a gun who claims they're on his land; he even has a deed signed by Henry Comstock to prove it. They start laughing and tell him that the deed is false. The episode flashes back to how Comstock, a con man, accidentally found a huge silver deposit while trying to pull a swindle, and how Virginia City got its name.
A lighter and different episode than usual- no gunplay, just mild shenanigans with Little Joe taking a Paiute gal to a dance and Hoss introducing Adam to a large lady. There's a good performance by Jack Carson as Comstock. There's a nice scenery. It's not a great episode but amusing at times.
Bonanza: The Truckee Strip (1959)
The Truckee Strip
Caught in the middle of a longtime family feud over a disputed piece of land, star-crossed lovers Joe Cartwright and Amy Bishop try to convince their stubborn fathers to resolve their differences as tension escalates into violence, especially with Bishop's foreman Jessup ( James Coburn ) scheming by making it out that the Ponderosa had killed a bishop employee. A ponderosa branded horse that was stolen was used for that purpose. He has his own vendetta to spark the feud ...
Michael Landon as Little Joe and the ultra-pretty Adrienne Hayes play the star crossed lovers in this Romeo and Juliet type of episode which is loaded with action, misunderstandings, killings, duplicity and tragedy. Very robust episode and fairly intense - check out the fist fight between Little Joe and Coburn. One of the best I have seen in a TV western. There is an anti-feud message and I liked that Cartwright's employee with the eyepatch was just as maniacal as Coburn's - a good touch. The last scene with Little Joe at Amy's death bed was very moving.
Bonanza: The Newcomers (1959)
The Newcomers
The Cartwrights discover an old enemy killing steers on The Ponderosa. They head to their camp which includes John Larch - who had a run in with the Cartwright before - and a sickly woman who needs to get to the high desert country. Her brother is along with her to guide her but Larch has other plans and is egged on by the unsavoury element in his group, which leads to two killings that will be blamed on the Cartwrights. Hence, it will get a lot of the miners go up against the Cartwrights ...
There are fantastic and touching performances by Dan Blocker as the gentle giant Hoss and Inger Steven's who lends her enigmatic presence suitably as the dying lady. It's a good story, well told and moving.
The Virginian: Throw a Long Rope (1962)
Throw a long rope
A homesteader (Jack Warden) accused of rustling narrowly escapes hanging by local ranchers led by Major Cass (John Anderson); it's an event that is observed by Shiloh hands including the Virginian. However, the homesteader is severely injured, hurting his leg after being cut down from the hang tree, and the Virginian helps him work his farm during his off hours.
After some investigation into the rash of cattle rustling, the Virginian decides to defend the man against the Major and the other ranchers including Judge Garth.
These Virginian episodes feel like films than a TV production, and not just because of the running time- the music, the scale of the drama and camerawork contribute to this feeling. The most interesting part of this particular episode is the relationship between The Virginian and Judge McGarth taking a dive. They're on the opposite sides of the fence. For a while the Judge agrees with Major Cass, who is stirring up trouble for homesteaders. John Anderson plays the role in his usual inimitable fashion. Shouting his way through. The pace can be slow and it's too talky at times, but the sheer sweep of the story and the good acting carries you through.
Bonanza: Death on Sun Mountain (1959)
Death on Sun Mountain
The Cartwrights go up against two San Francisco men (Barry Sullivan and Leo Gordon) who plan to get rich by killing off the antelope herds-which the Indians rely on for their food - and selling the meat to Virginia City's swarms of silver miners at a high price.
There's some complex villainy in this rather involving episode with the excellent Barry Sullivan playing a man with high ambitions and is behind the antelope selling scheme that has starved the Paiutes, however he wants his thuggish sidekick - who had saved his hide in prison - not to use his methods which includes beating Little Joe, killing in the guise of the Paiutes. The sidekick is, of course, Leo Gordon, and him and Sullivan clash a lot. Liked to have seen Hoss and Gordon have a fight - well at the action-packed finale they sort of did.
Bonanza: The Fear Merchants (1960)
The Fear Merchants
A Chinese-American stable hand is accused of murdering a young gal. Guess who comes to his rescue? The The Cartwrights. And Opposing them is a manipulative mayoral candidate who wants all "foreigners" to leave Virginia City. He manipulates the father of the deceased from not telling anyone he had killed his daughter in the scuffle ... he also tries to orchestrate a lynching ...
Very topical subject I feel, especially when regarding immigration and how they are treated by a certain faction- good example are the racist riots in UK not so long ago.
Gene Evan's is excellent as the attorney at law who is running for mayor and wants Virginia City to be cleanse of "foreigners" - in this case, the Chinese. He has a fairly good ability to convince a lot of folk with his talk, but he can only do that to the stupid people. Very good episode, tense and engaging all the way.
Bonanza: Day of Reckoning (1960)
Day of reckoning
When an Indian saves Ben Cartwright's life from a near fatal knife attack by another Indian, Ben later gives the Indian and his pregnant wife a strip of fertile farming land. Unfortunately the land is next to an Injun-hating settler, Ike Daggett (Karl Swenson), who does his best to destroy this initiative - things turn real deadly.
A well-meaning Bonanza episode with some good performances by Ricardo Montalban, who plays a Bannock Indian banished from his tribe for marrying a bible reading Shoshone (Madlyn Rhue -what a cutie!) and is given a chance to farm, though he's not sure about this as he will be living like a white man. He's quite conflicted, with him now living like a white man and his warrior brother loathing him even more.
The Cartwrights are an altruistic bunch and human - they might not have people like that in the real wild and woolly west, but it's good to hope and Bonanza is a good place to start. That's what fiction is about, exploring the alternative possibilities. The guy who plays the racist Ike is very good in his role, a real horrid man - his beliefs lead to tragic results, which is quite intense.
The Virginian: Woman from White Wing (1962)
Woman from White Wing
Frank Dawson, a friend from Judge Garth's past reappears out of nowhere, and accuses him of stealing his pregnant wife and abandoning him in the desert. But the Judge says that it isn't the case - he had returned to the spot he'd left him but he'd disappeared, and even afterwards he never gave up looking for him. Frank Dawson, heavily consumed with jealousy, doesn't believe this and is determined to ruin the Judge and take away his most prized possession: the Judge's daughter- Betsy! How? By telling her the truth!
To find out the truth you have to watch this gripping episode which features number one performances all around, especially by the two powerhouses that are Lee J Cobb and Barry Sullivan - they really bring their characters to life. There's a lot of suspense, too. Nice nail-biting finish.
The Virginian: The Executioners (1962)
The Executioners
Although some question his guilt, like the Virginian and the judge, a man is hanged in Medicine Bow when a woman denies being with him at the time.
A stranger with many talents arrives in Medicine Bow and takes a job at Shiloh; he takes a keen interest in the main players. The man calls himself Paul Taylor (O'Brian) begins inquiring about the hanging. After making a questionable first impression at Betsy's 15th birthday party (by adding a hangman's noose to his "gifts" of string art), Paul is signed on to work at Shiloh when he exhibits his horsemanship skills breaking a horse for the girl to ride. Although he shows himself to be an accomplished ranch hand, the Judge and local sheriff are uncomfortable with Paul's demeanor and ongoing investigations ...
Hugh O' Brien plays the stranger as superficially charming with social skills yet with an undercurrent of something... sinister. One minute playful, and the next creepy and inquisitive. Plays the character real well but he can be irritating after a while with his grin and his 'tricks' to impress Roberta Shore.
Rather good first episode, involving with some good drama, but don't expect any Wild West action. Can be a bit slow and talky - ranch life is well depicted. There's an exciting fight between the Virginian and Hugh o'Brien.
A Man Called Shenandoah: Run and Hide (1966)
Run and hide
Shenandoah comes to yet another western town, this time looking for Dave McWaters, who of course may have a clue to his identity. Unfortunately, McWaters is locked in a deadly love triangle with his finance Josie and Tad Kern, whose father Harley runs the town.
The triangle becomes a quadrangle as Shenandoah gets caught in the middle of the dangerous dynamics of this small town. Murder ensues - and that of Tad Kern's get killed in a shootout of his own doing.
Starts out well, but slides down a couple of pegs in terms of enjoyment and just meanders a bit and it's a little talky - but hey Robert Horton's screen presence and good acting prevails.
A Man Called Shenandoah: Survival (1965)
Survival
While headed to Dos Minos, Shenandoah's horse falls in the snow and breaks his leg, leaving horseless. Shenandoah reaches a hut where a widow serves drinks, but other two guys are unfriendly - one even picking on him, insisting he pays first before drinking. He then gets angry at the widow when he tells them to get out and is about to attack her, but Shenandoah intervenes.
Later, he buys a horse from the widow for ten dollars and heads to town where he's soon accused of horse stealing and cold-blooded murder as the two bullies attest that he was the last one to see the widow ...
Shenandoah naturally tries to prove his innocence in this episode that has vivid snowy scenery, a gritty atmosphere and a man leaping back as he gets hit by buckshot. Two guys who harass Jeanne Cooper are real dysfunctional hillbillies, one of them is John Chandler Davis who does his usual slimy turn.
A Man Called Shenandoah: Muted Fifes, Muffled Drums (1966)
Muted fifes, Muffled Drums
Like he has done in other forts, Shenandoah searches through army records for clues and, and much to his joy, finds his picture along other officers. Apparently he served as a lieutenant in 2nd regiment in Fort Smith. The regiment was deactivated after an Indian Raid. Further research, though, isn't too good as he learns that he may have been the only survivor of the raid and is arrested for desertion, and the sergeant hits him, calling him a traitor.
The next minute he's tried in court for desertion - and only the captain and his sister, who has the hots for Shenandoah, believe in his innocence. Facing a row of officers headed by the stern Colonel, a witness is called - one who can identify the lieutenant...
The outcome I won't mention, but judging by the fact that there were 12 more seasons says it all. But it's a fairly suspenseful ending- and the rest is watchable, and Robert Horton is great as usual, his face expression quite emotive as he spots his picture. His dread of knowing he could be a deserter is just as expressive.
A Man Called Shenandoah: The Lost Diablo (1966)
The Lost Diablo
Shenandoah rides into a New Mexico town, stops at the Wells Fargo Stage office and asks the lady for the strongbox number that will fit the numbered key he has in his possession, one of the few items he has had since losing his memory. So far his luck in finding that strongbox was off at other Wells Fargo offices, but not this time- a lady brings out a strongbox matching the key number, and much to his surprise, there's nothing but a small tube with a rolled up piece of paper inside. That's a map to a treasure.
Jake Roberts (James Gregory), has been watching Shenandoah from the back room. Later, Jake Roberts (James Gregory) introduces himself, announcing to Shenandoah that they know each other, and he can help lead Shenandoah to the gold.
Of course, things aren't as easy as they seem, especially when they meet up with the ruthless Manuel Rojas (Robert Loggia). Plus, Jake Roberts is waiting or the right moment to plunge his knife in Shenandoah's innards ...
Ok treasure tale with good performances by Robert Loggia as the bandit and James Gregory as the slippery eel of a treasure Hunter. Little flat in places, but still passable.
A Man Called Shenandoah: Rope's End (1966)
Rope's End
Shenandoah is a passenger on a stagecoach crossing the Arizona desert country, and he's joined by Virgina Harvey (Susan Oliver), the local judge's daughter. She's quite estranged from him and hasn't seen him for a long time. As for Shenandoah, he's hoping the judge can remember him as he was a trooper under his command.
Could the judge be salvation for Shenandoah in order to piecing back his life?
First, Shenandoah needs to overcome an outlaw's brother (Michael Ansara) who the judge had convicted. Shenandoah and Miss Harvey are being held hostage at a way station - Miss Harvey will be killed, unless the judge agrees to set the outlaw free.
Shenandoah must find a way to stop the madman and keep the judge and his daughter safe. And possibly learn about who he is...
Tense episode with a sharp villain, well played by Michael Ansara. Nice rugged location, the way station, and the plot builds to the crescendo really well. LQ Jones plays Ansara's partner in crime. Good fight and shootout at the end.
A Man Called Shenandoah: A Long Way Home (1966)
A long Way from Home
Just as Shenandoah comes into yet another Western town, he is shot at and slightly wounded by an escaping bank robber, who obviously recognizes Shenandoah's face.
The local sheriff, at first, thinks he's the robber's partner who he decides to double cross- but Shenandoah insists otherwise and he wants to join the posse - the sheriff (Lyle Betger) begrudgingly agrees to let Shenandoah lend his considerable tracking skills to find the man who just cleaned out the town bank and who may be able to finally tell Shenandoah his true name.
But nothing is so easy or without any obstacles or you wouldn't have a watchable episode- it's a well done plot. It ends with Shenandoah finding another link to pursue.
A Man Called Shenandoah: The Accused (1966)
The accused
While working as the trail boss of a cattle drive, Shenandoah befriends the not so bright cow hand, Will Turner, who obsessively puts his wife up on a pedestal. They head to town - Shenandoah wants to enquire about the wages as the Marshal had ridden into camp to inform them not to come into town as no bank draft been received, hence they might get angry and shoot up the town.
When Will accidentally kills the jeweler who may have made the locket Shenandoah found in episode 10, he follows Will to his ranch where we find out the sad truth about his marriage. Meanwhile, the marshal is hot on their heels to arrest Will.
It's a rather sad episode but very absorbing and you really feel for Will - excellent played by Albert Salmi - who has an idealistic view of his wife- a wife who doesn't really love him as he does. Well-acted and intelligent.
A Man Called Shenandoah: The Locket (1965)
The Locket
While traveling, Shenandoah is chased by some Indians, and after killing a few, he finds a locket on one of the Apache. To his surprise, the locket contained two pictures: one of Shenandoah, and one of a little girl. He learns at a trader place that the locket had been seen in the hands of Frank Abbott, who was wanted by the law for murder.
Shenandoah is on the hunt for Abbott, but he has competition on that score with a bounty hunter (Martin Landau) who has no intention to bring Abbott back alive. Shenandoah wants to talk to him so he can learn about his past.
Shenandoah and the bounty Hunter briefly work together in order to find Abbott but that Union ends quickly when the bounty hunter tries to stick a knife in Shenandoah's back ...
Shenandoah, the man doomed to wander, is on his usual mission. To find out who he is - it's a good tale, starts with a lively Apache attack and an engaging plot. Theres a juicy performance by Martin Landau. He plays a bounty hunter with a moral compass of a Cockroach. He's like the obstacle to Shenandoah's quest - there always is in every episode.
Cheyenne: Standoff (1958)
Stand-off
Cheyenne is deputized to look for Marshal Beloin who has been on the trail of an outlaw named Porter for over a month. He comes upon two men, chained together, one wounded and one dead. He takes the wounded man who says he is Beloin to the nearest town where they find the female doctor Maria Vargas and the outlaw gang run by the feared Lobos.
Vargas treats Beloin but a knock on the door brings Lobos and his gang. Lobos' second in command Ortega wants to kill the men but Lobos impressed by Cheyenne's bravery allows them to stay until well enough to leave. Vargas tells Cheyenne that Lobos is on the trail of the man who shot two of his men while trying to kill Lobos. He executed two townspeople but still wants the guilty party, and If the real shooter doesn't turn himself in by noon the next day, Lobos plans to burn the village with everyone in their homes.
Cheyenne learns Beloin is Porter and the killer. A showdown is forced as the Federalis approach the town and Cheyenne tries to stop the ensuing bloodshed...
Richard Garland plays Porter who killed Lobos man and he falls in love with Joy Page, the doctor, but a death sentence is hanging over them, though Portree intends to hand himself in and save lives. It's a well-told tale, is a little offbeat and watchable, though a little on the dull side.
Cheyenne: The Empty Gun (1958)
The empty Gun
While Cheyenne riding on a cold and stormy night he comes upon a grave being dug and he's joined by Matt Reardon, who shot the man. The two ride off together talking, and heading to Moundsville for a meal and room.
He finds out that Reardon, a notorious gunslinger, has regrets and a 12-year old debt he needs to pay before anyone finds out he's no longer the same gunslinger he used to be, meaning his gun hand isn't working. He offers to pay Cheyenne $300 to help by being his second gun - sort of a bodyguard. Cheyenne agrees but he wants no money.
The next day they pay a visit to a widow Martha Fullerton and her son Mike. The first man Reardon killed was her husband and Reardon's business partner because he loved Martha as well. However, Mike has other ideas about repayment. And that's by a bullet.
Two gargantuan screen presences and imposing cheekbones and a hell of a story - gripping and quite lyrical. John Russell is superb and totally invests in his character. He plays a fast gun who regrets the path he has chosen and tries to rectify things. Clint Walker is a calm presence towards Reardon. He shows empathy and common sense. One of the best Cheyenne episodes. The grave digging bit in the beginning and the end is very effectively done.
Cheyenne: Apache Blood (1960)
Apache Blood
The Apache Chief Chotah wants to meet with Cheyenne. He wants to surrender his people to move to a reservation, and wants Cheyenne to help his adopted white son, who was captured ten or so years ago, to return to his people- as he's a white he won't be allowed to go to the reservation. Cheyenne agrees but is surprised when the son Mickey Free shows up with a wife who is a Mexican captive. By treaty any Mexicans captured south of the border must be returned to Mexico but Cheyenne and Rev. Joshua Collins who agreed to take Mickey overlook the issue. However, others have a problem with the couple - especially the Collins house guest - Elizabeth Quill. To counter this, the reverend gets them married ...
Things get heady when they learn that Mickey's wife is from the south of border - not the north of the border as thought - which means the treaty was breached and that means the sheriff takes the Mexican back to her people - and Mickey isn't too happy and kidnaps the sheriff wife for an exchange ...
Quite a solid episode about prejudices, cultural differences and adapting to a different way of life from what you're used to- it's quite engaging, has some fine acting and a good plot loaded with drama and drive.
A Man Called Shenandoah: The Caller (1965)
The Caller
Shenandoah arrived at James Burgess' house - who may know what his name is -one night and a shot rings out he rode up and rushes in to see what was wrong. He is found bent over the body by the sheriff. He is arrested for murder, despite protesting his innocence. The only witness is Burgess' little girl, who is now mute due to trauma of seeing her father murdered.
Later, Shenandoah persuades the sheriff to help him to get to the truth, and the girl is the key to that - he tries to talk to the girl and at one point she looks like she's about to speak ... the doctor, his wife and the sheriff are present ...
The next minute, while in jail, someone fires at Shenandoah- it's obvious someone is trying to silence him because he was about to get the girl to talk ...
Only three could do it, and to be fair, I didn't really have a clue. It's a decent episode, has some find suspense and ends satisfactory.
A Man Called Shenandoah: The Fort (1965)
The Fort
Shenandoah arrives at an Army fort to see Sergeant Ryder, who answered a newspaper advert that Shenandoah had placed, claiming he could identify Shenandoah, and an officer takes him to see him. However, Sergeant Ryder has been sentenced to be shot for selling rifles to the Apaches - the Major assumes that Shenandoah was involved with Sergeant Ryder in the rifle selling that caused the fort raid, and is arrested, despite Ryder insisting that Shenandoah isn't his partner. The Major is hellbent not to listen and only the doctor is convinced that Shenandoah is an amnesiac and isn't Ryder's partner in crime.
A good episode with the usual series' dark-serious tone, but it's never depressing. The atmosphere of the fort isn't a happy one, and it is commanded by an irrational major who just wants to accuse someone based on circumstantial evidence which is weak at best. It's well-acted all round, especially by Robert Horton who is on the quest to know who he is. Maybe he will learn who he is in this episode. Of course, you know that's not going to happen here or else the series wouldn't go for thirty more episodes.
Cheyenne: Savage Breed (1960)
Savage Breed
What started out as a simple buffalo hunting party turns deadly when a Sioux war party wants their horses. Cut off from an approaching Army patrol, they must defend themselves and hope they can be rescued in time. But things get difficult with some unsavoury characters within the group.
There's decent villainy by Ray Danton who is a crooked Marshal with an eye on the money kept in the tent - poor Cheyenne is lumped with an odd group out for buffalo hunting- an ignorant senator obsessed with getting a trophy, a wife beater, the abused wife and other thieves. Makes for good conflict. The tale is a little on the dull side with too much talk, but Clint Walker's honourable presence and some nail biting tension scattered here and there keeps things simmering. Oddly there no injun attack or action. The injuns just want horses in exchange for no attacking.