Press Release Paramount Press Release: Bonanza: The Complete Series (DVD) (1 Viewer)

[John Sparks]

.While in high school my history teacher who went to school with Dan Blocker, wrote a script titled “Pig Man .” The entire high school watched that Sunday mite episode, from what I was told.

 

[ponset]

 

[Dave Lawrence]

Pernell Roberts probably would have appreciated the artist who did the cover for that coloring book on the left side above. As in real life, he is the only one in that illustration who doesn’t look happy, as though he doesn’t want to be there.

 

[Tom St Jones]

View attachment 226804

What is the name of this movie? (Unfortnately, I don't speak that language).. I was not aware there was ever a feature film adaptation of the show back then.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

What is the name of this movie? (Unfortnately, I don't speak that language).. I was not aware there was ever a feature film adaptation of the show back then.

That poster is for a movie version of the show released in the European market, made from the S7 two-part episode "Ride the Wind."

 

[jdee28]

I have started watching the set! I've never actually watched Bonanza before! Was Season 1 not a particularly good season? I've watched a few episodes, and they all seem to be a little mediocre. With what season does the series really kick off?

 

[Kevin Antonio (Kev)]

I have started watching the set! I've never actually watched Bonanza before! Was Season 1 not a particularly good season? I've watched a few episodes, and they all seem to be a little mediocre. With what season does the series really kick off?

Season 1 and 2 are very different than the other seasons. Season 3 is where the actors and show really settle down and get comfortable. Some standouts from season three are the tin badge, the gamble, the crucible ( lee marvin), the wooing of Abigail jones, the tall stranger, etc. I could rattle on but season 1 and 2 still have some great episodes but the first 8 episodes of bonanza are david dortorts attempt at combining history with the cartwrights

 

[Dan McW]

The Lee Marvin episode is one of the best of the series, despite the blue water tower's appearance partway through. My dad and I loved "Any Friend of Walter's" from season four, guest-starring Arthur Hunnicutt and his "surprisingly communicative dog," as IMDb puts it (although what was funny to us was the dog's apparently total lack of response, IIRC, making Columbo's "Dog" look like a chatterbox).

A friend and I, both of us Harry Dean Stanton fans, recently watched his two appearances that come from S2 and S4 and enjoyed those. There's a great Hoss episode where he prays for a sick little girl, at night under the stars, and the girl gets well. Haven't seen that one in ages. I think it's from the first few seasons.

I've seen scattered episodes from throughout the run ever since I was a kid and have found solid stories from each era. I never warmed much to Mitch Vogel, though, so his episodes toward the end of the series don't stand out as much for me. I also didn't like the revamped theme song in the later seasons and was glad to see the original tune return for the final season.

In watching the early episodes from S1 on DVD, I found several I liked but couldn't get used to the end credits being on a roll, instead of showing the famous watercolor images that were sometimes tied to the person being credited, e.g. the fiddle player being shown for the episode's composer or theme-song credit (I forget which) and the photographer being shown for the DP's credit. I couldn't remember seeing that early end-credit sequence from my youth, only the watercolor credits, but I guess that's the way they've always been.

I need to watch the series straight through, as I have all of the DVD sets in my enormous need-to-watch pile.

 

[jimmyjet]

gosh, i think most of the episodes are really good EXCEPT FOR THE COMEDIES. imo, they dont deserve the titles of bonanza. seasons 7&8 have very little of the silly stuff, but still great stories.

 

[The 1960's]

I have found Bonanza to be a really tough watch. Though I enjoy the series overall, as I've progressed further and further into it, there are fewer and fewer really captivating episodes. I'm certain that the cast changes have a great deal to do with this and because I'm currently on Disc 3 of Season Eleven. Seems for every episode that holds my attention then come two or three or more which do not, along with quite a few I just can't even complete viewing. It's taken me many years to progress this far probably because I have so many other series to watch that have greater interest.

I haven't given up and I will watch it all the way through Season Fourteen but for me it fails in comparison to Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wagon Train and Have Gun Will Travel to name just a few.

 

[bmasters9]

I'm certain that the cast changes have a great deal to do with this

I think that's a real big reason-- some of the shows that have best held my interest are those with very few main players (heck, those with just one real regular throughout, like, for instance, my three favorite Westerns [Have Gun Will Travel, Wanted Dead or Alive and The Rebel] succeeded with me because there was just the one main star/character, and no cast changes to speak of; only the guest stars changed per week).

I also think that cast changes may make a show worse because viewers are used to seeing a particular cast member in a particular role, and if that cast member is replaced in his role (or there is a new cast member with a new role), the ratings may drop due to the changes (Emergency! generally had a very solid cast, both at Station 51 w/the firefighters/paramedics, and at Rampart General w/the doctors and the nurse, so I didn't have much to worry about on that score).

 

[timk1041]

gosh, i think most of the episodes are really good EXCEPT FOR THE COMEDIES. imo, they dont deserve the titles of bonanza. seasons 7&8 have very little of the silly stuff, but still great stories.

Nothing wrong with a bit of light hearted humor to mix in with the more action packed and dramatic stories and scenes.

 

[AlohaTiger]

Hey Neal , if for some reason you can’t stand to watch Bonanza anymore , I’m the Goodwill of unwanted TV sets here on the forum

 

[AlohaTiger]

I think that's a real big reason-- some of the shows that have best held my interest are those with very few main players (heck, those with just one real regular throughout, like, for instance, my three favorite Westerns [Have Gun Will Travel, Wanted Dead or Alive and The Rebel] succeeded with me because there was just the one main star/character, and no cast changes to speak of; only the guest stars changed per week).

I also think that cast changes may make a show worse because viewers are used to seeing a particular cast member in a particular role, and if that cast member is replaced in his role (or there is a new cast member with a new role), the ratings may drop due to the changes (Emergency! generally had a very solid cast, both at Station 51 w/the firefighters/paramedics, and at Rampart General w/the doctors and the nurse, so I didn't have much to worry about on that score).

I’m glad I like both the anthology style and the regular casts style. Just too much good Classic tv for me to not like one over the other.

 

[The 1960's]

Hey Neal , if for some reason you can’t stand to watch Bonanza anymore , I’m the Goodwill of unwanted TV sets here on the forum

'Fraid not young fella. As I wrote, I still enjoy the series overall, and I haven't given up and will watch it all the way through. However, an additional thought to my post above. I believe there are a number of television series, both past and present, that for whatever reasons went on for longer than they should have. Had Bonanza ended at it's peak I believe it would fared better when assessing it as a whole. Two others that come to mind that should've ended sooner. All In The Family and The Andy Griffith Show.

 

[AlohaTiger]

I think you’re right when assessing the series as a whole. I actually like the later seasons of those two series and their spin-offs but I’m in the minority . Most fans of TAGS don’t like the color years after Barney(Knotts) left , as for Mayberry RFD, fugadaboutit. I like RFD exactly bc of the new characters. Some of my favorite episodes of TAGS are from the color years. Also Opie has a lot more stories centered around him growing up which I like. One of my favorite episodes is the later Goober episode where his old buddy shows up not exactly being who they think he is & Goober trying to impress him.
I like the later years of AITF when Stephanie shows up and more stories are centered around the bar. I think it gave new life to the series and gave Archie someone new to play off of since Meathead & Gloria left. I‘m one of the few that really likes Archie Bunkers Place, even Gloria. I wish they would release the rest of Bunkers Place & Gloria .
And Bonanza without Hoss is NOT Bonanza!

 

[bmasters9]

I’m glad I like both the anthology style and the regular casts style. Just too much good Classic tv for me to not like one over the other.

Indeed-- there have been favorites from both styles for me as well.

 

[The 1960's]

the ratings may drop due to the changes (Emergency! generally had a very solid cast, both at Station 51 w/the firefighters/paramedics, and at Rampart General w/the doctors and the nurse, so I didn't have much to worry about on that score).

Ben, speaking of Emergency, have you seen the newly remastered Complete Series HD episodes streaming on Prime now? They look fantastic!

 

[bmasters9]

Ben, speaking of Emergency, have you seen the newly remastered Complete Series HD episodes streaming on Prime now? They look fantastic!

I don't have Amazon Prime Video, so I cannot see those, but I'll take your word for it-- thanks for the tip though.

 

[ponset]

I remember reading some of these BONANZA paperbacks about 30 years ago.
Alas I recall very little about them, except the stories were set during the Cartwright's early days in Nevada.