Robert Vincent Wright Movies
- 1976
Laura (Melissa Gilbert) is hoodwinked into bringing a billy goat named Fred into the Ingalls household. Alas, Fred is not only cantankerous but voracious as well, eating everything in sight -- including the family's crops. Sadly, Laura agrees with her father, Charles (Michael Landon), that the best thing to do is give Fred away to someone else -- but she soon finds that this is well-nigh impossible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1971
In this comic episode, Hoss Cartwright is tapped to judge a Virginia City "beautiful baby" contest. In so doing, he inadvertently sparks a chain reaction of disaster and ill will, culminating with the exposure of a long-suppressed "scandal". The Moral: All babies are beautiful, but most grownups are not. Edward Andrews, Patricia Harty and Ellen Moss play key supporting roles in "Rock-a-Bye Hoss", which was written by Preston Wood and Robert Vincent Wright, and first aired on October 10, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1970
Oscar winner Strother Martin is cast as Joad Bruder, the father of jailed stagecoach robber Randy Bruder (Anthony Colti). Aware that Joad is holding the Ponderosa money that was stolen by Randy, Joe and Hoss hatch another of their hare-brained schemes to retrieve the loot. Heading to Pineville, the Cartwright boy pose as two members of Randy's gang-a ruse that threatens to burn and crash when the wife of one of the gang members shows up unexpectedly. Originally shown on December 13, 1970, "The Impostors" was written by Robert Vincent Wright. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
While Sheriff Coffee testifies at a trial in San Francisco, Hoss Cartwright serves as temporary sheriff of Virginia City. Before long, Hoss has outraged and astonished the townsfolk by locking up millionaire Paul Forbes (Robert Emhardt) and his valet Fairfax (Jay Novello), for reasons which remain unclear throughout most of the episode. Conversely, Hoss refuses to accommodate troublemaker Hiram Peabody (Tom Bosley), who desperately wants to be arrested so he can escape his impending marriage to Cissie Summers (Melinda Dillon). First telecast on October 5, 1969, the lighthearted "A Lawman's Lot is Not a Happy One" was written by Robert Vincent Wright. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
Colonel Greg Brandon (Christopher George) is the commander of a B-17 fighter unit. His plan to send 1000 planes to bomb a strategic German airplane factory meets with continual rejection by everyone except General Palmer (J.D. Cannon). The tough-guy Colonel alienates himself to his men and superiors until his plan is approved. Royal Air Force Commander Hardwicke (Michael Evans) is sent to the United States to help train the pilots, and he clashes with the brazen Brandon. His girlfriend Gabrielle (Laraine Stephens) and Lieutenant Archer (Ben Murphy) are also alienated by the Colonel. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher George, Laraine Stephens, (more)
- 1968
As a result of a wager, Hoss and Joe Cartwright decide to enter politics, each supporting an opposing mayor candidate for the upcoming Virginia City election. Comic chaos ensues when both brothers become campaign managers for their respective candidates, and are thus forced to suck up to the man holding the deciding vote: Their own father Ben! Tom Bosley and Wally Cox guest-star as competing candidates Titus Simpson and Phineas Burke. Written by Robert Vincent Wright, "The Last Vote" first aired on October 20, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1967
Ben Cartwright purchaeses a stallion from drunken lout Burt Loughlin (Tom Tully), hoping to fulfill the fondest dreams of Burt's sweet daughter Trudy (Kim Darby). It is Trudy's wish to ride the stallion to victory in a upcoming high-stakes race. But Ben's good intentions may be undone by Burt, who has aligned with crooked gambler Harper (William Bryant) to fix the outcome of the race. Written by Sydney Ellis and Robert Vincent Wright, "The Sure Thing" was originally telecast on November 12, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1964
A deft blend of comedy and suspense, "Alias Joe Cartwright" affords series regular Michael Landon the opportunity to play a dual role: His usual characterization of Joe Cartwright, and murderous Army deserter Angus Borden. Mistaken for Borden, Joe is sentenced to a firing squad by martinet Captain Merced (Douglas Dick). But Sgt. O'Rourke (Keenan Wynn) suspects something is amiss, especially when Merced makes it clear that he knows Joe is innocent but is determined to go through with the execution anyway. Throughout the episode O'Rourke's favorite patsy, the hapless Private Peters (Joseph Turkel), runs himself ragged trying to find out if Joe is indeed who he claims to be. Also in the cast is familiar character actor Dave Willock, here seen as an overly unctuous hotel clerk. Originally telecast on January 26, 1964, "Alias Joe Cartwright" was written by Robert Vincent Wright. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1963
John Anderson is cast as fiercely proud rainmaker Tulsa Weems, who is averse to charging money for his services, doing so only to afford medical care for his daughter Mary Beth (Eileen Chesis). When Tulsa is arrested for pulling a gun on Ben Cartwright, Ben's son Hoss takes it upon himself to look after little Mary Beth, unaware that the girl is a carrier of the dreaded typhoid fever. Claudia Bryar appears as Mrs. Weems. Written by Robert Vincent Wright, "Rain from Heaven" was first broadcast on October 6, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1962
Eleven of the twelve jurors in the murder trial of Jamie Wrenn (Jack Betts) have voted for a guilty verdict. The sole holdout is Hoss Cartwright, who harbors the old familiar "reasonable doubts." When it appears as though Hoss has received a bribe, his brother Adam takes a hand in the matter. Also appearing are James Bell as Olson, Don Haggerty as Murdock, Arthur Space as Judge Crane and Tol Avery as Breese. Written by Robert Vincent Wright, "The Jury" made its first network appearance on December 30, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1962
The Cartwrights take a hand in matters when bandits reportedly steal the $100,000 dowry intended for the wedding of Michele Dubois (Luciana Paluzzi), the daughter of self-proclaimed land baron Alexander Dubois (Steven Geray). While the Cartwright sons stand guard over the injured DuBois during his recuperation at the Ponderosa, Ben begins to wonder why the same outlaws repeatedly manage to track down DuBois and his money. Meanwhile, bride-to-be Michele deftly wraps Joe, Hoss, and Adam around her little finger. Lee Bergere costars as Ricardo Fernandez. First shown on April 29, 1962, "The Dowry" was written by Robert Vincent Wright. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1962
Mickey Shaughnessy guest stars as Mr. Muldoon, a self-proclaimed (and somewhat oversized) Irish leprechaun. Hoping to convince a skeptical Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) of his magical powers, Muldoon offers to grant Bart five wishes, the first one being for money. Unfortunately, the cash that Muldoon hands over to our hero is exactly the same amount that was recently lifted in a payroll robbery. Originally slated to air on January 14, 1962, this episode was rescheduled to February 11 before its ultimate network debut on April 15. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
The final episode of Maverick finds Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) crossing the path of his brother Bret's old nemesis Modesty Blaine (played in earlier episodes by Mona Freeman, and here enacted by Kathleen Crowley). Hoping that Bart will marry her, Modesty goes ballistic (even though that word didn't exist in the 1870s) when he turns her down--and to get even, she tells the authorities that Bart tried to "have his way" with her. Somehow or other, all this nonsense is prelude to the climactic sequence, in which both Bart and Modesty are key players in a spectacular train robbery, which also involves real-life luminaries Diamond Jim Brady (Barry Kelley) and Doc Holliday (Peter Breck). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this comic episode, mail-order huckster Gideon Flinch (Ian Wolfe), alias Homer T. Cranston, fleeces ornery Bullethead Burke (Harry Swoger) of 5,000 dollars. When Bullethead shows up in Virginia City seeking revenge, Gideon's quick-thinking niece Jennifer (Sue Anne Langdon) convinces the surly bruiser that Little Joe Cartwright is really the elusive Flinch. Arnold Stang co-stars as Jake the Weasel, while venerable character actors Burt Mustin and Clem Bevans function as a sort of Greek chorus, weaving in and out of the proceedings. Written by Robert Vincent Wright and first broadcast November 5, 1961, "The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch" was one of several Bonanza episodes directed by Robert Altman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Sheriff Dan Trevor (Peter Breck) of Devil's Flat concocts a plan to steal a chest of gold from the town's new "sky pilot", Deacon Curt Eaker (Frank Ferguson). Bart (Jack Kelly) decides to stop Trevor in his tracks by replacing the gold with stones--failing to take in consideration the old adage "No good deed goes unpunished." Guest star Peter Breck would later appear on Maverick in the recurring role of Doc Holliday...and much later would costar with Barbara Stanwyck on another popular TV western, The Big Valley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Arrested for gambling in Dakota City, Beau Maverick (Roger Moore) is given a choice by Col. Gaylord Summers (Arch Johnson: Go to prison, or work as an undercover agent for the Army. Weighing the two options, Beau agrees to thwart a plot hatched by an Irish rebel group called the Fenians to invade and "liberate" Canada from the British Empire--or at least, liberate the chunk of Canada that the group really wants. This episode is a slight reworking of the earlier Maverick installment "Trooper Maverick", which focused on Beau's cousin Bart (Jack Kelly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Bret (James Garner) is determined to foil the never-ending efforts by Big Ed Murphy (John Dehner) to rob the bank owned by Col Dutton (Wendell Holmes). Figuring that the best way to save Big Ed from himself is to remove the temptation, Bret conspires with Foursquare Foley (Gage Clarke) to steal the bank's money themselves, then hide it in a safe place. In fact, Foley has already dug a tunnel under the bank for this purpose...a fact that should have put Bret on guard from the get-go. This final episode of Maverick's third season also marks the next-to-last appearance by James Garner as Bret Maverick (discounting the later TV and movie sequels). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Anticipating the real-life political career of Maverick star Jack Kelly, who would serve two terms as mayor of Huntington Beach, California, in the 1980s, this episode finds Bart Maverick (Kelly) running for a State Senate seat on the Reform Party ticket. He has agreed to throw his hat in the ring to help Penelope Greeley (Merry Anders), daughter of the actual candidate Ellsworth Greeley (R.G. Armstrong), who has been shot and wounded by an unknown assailant. Well, maybe "unknown" is a poor choice of words: Bart's opponent Wellington Cosgrove (R.G. Armstrong) has made no secret of his plans to kill Mr. Maverick should he win the election. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Gold Flats is the first of three cities in which Bart Maverick (James Garner) comes face to face with the estimable Stephanie Malone (Pat Crowley)--who proceeds to rob him at gunpoint a few seconds after introducing herself. But Stephanie insists that she isn't a bad girl, and that she's only trying to help her father (Louis Jean Heydt), who has accrued a huge gambling debt. Somehow or other, both Bart and Stephanie are rescued by the members of the Ladies Aid Society, headed by the formidable Hannah Adams (played by Barbara Jo Allen, the dithery "Vera Vague" of radio fame). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
