Pernell Roberts Movies

Director Delbert Mann and screenwriter Irwin Shaw adapt Eugene O'Neill's 20th-century version of a Greek tragedy to the screen with a bit more discretion than need be. The story takes place in the New England of the 1840s. Emotionally cool but passionately hot farmer Burl Ives the smoldering Sophia Loren as his third wife. Anthony Perkins arrives to ignite this powder keg of pent-up lust, with Perkins and Loren engaging in a semi-incestuous love affair. When Loren becomes pregnant, Ives thinks the child is his own and the heat it turned up considerably. And with Eugene O'Neill aping Greek tragedy, could infanticide be far behind? ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

The second edition of the famous fairy tale anthology Shirley Temple's Storybook (and the second to be telecast live), was this semi-musical version of the Grimm brothers' "Rumpelstiltskin." Because miller Hanz Franz (Kurt Kasznar) has bragged to one and all that his daughter, Elsa (Phyllis Love), can spin straw into gold, the poor girl is spirited away by royal tax collector Lord Karsch (a decidedly pre-Lost in Space Jonathan Harris) and locked in a room in the palace of the king (John Raitt). Here, Elsa is given an ultimatum: spin gold and win the king's hand in marriage, or suffer a terrible fate. Coming to the girl's rescue is an odd little man from the Black Forest named Rumpelstiltskin, who offers his magical assistance -- but his price is Elsa's first-born child. The title character is played by celebrated Israeli pantomimist Shai K. Ophir, an ironic bit of casting in that the Grimms' original Rumpelstiltskin was obviously intended as an anti-Semitic stereotype (though not, of course, in this production). John Raitt sings "A Lonely Heart and a Friendly Face"," specially written for this program by veteran Hollywood tunesmiths Mack David and Jerry Livingston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The first hour-long network Western series telecast in color, Bonanza was also the granddaddy of all "property" Westerns, future examples of which included The Virginian, The Big Valley, and The High Chaparral. The series took place during and after the Civil War in Virginia City, NV. Lorne Greene starred as Ben Cartwright, silver-haired owner of the fabulous, half-million-acre Ponderosa Ranch. The industrious, independent Cartwright had been widowed three times, each of his wives providing him with a single son. Pernell Roberts played eldest son Adam, the brooding, intellectual offspring of Ben's first wife Elizabeth; Dan Blocker played middle son Hoss, the beefy, affable issue of Ben's second wife Inger; and Michael Landon played youngest son Little Joe, a hotheaded, temperamental lad who took after his mother, Ben's third wife Marie. The four Cartwrights comprised the principal cast during the series' first six seasons, with occasional appearances by Victor Sen Yung as the Ponderosa's Chinese cook Hop Sing; Ray Teal as Virginia City's taciturn lawman, Sheriff Roy Coffee; and Bing Russell (father of Kurt Russell) as deputy Clem Foster. When Pernell Roberts left the series at the outset of season seven, it was explained that Adam had gone to Europe to complete his education. Several attempts were made to replace Adam in the hearts and minds of the viewing public: Guy Williams of Zorro fame was seen briefly as cousin Will Cartwright; David Canary appeared as ranch foreman Canady (aka Candy) during seasons nine through 11, then again during season 14, Lou Frizzell showed up as Ben's friend Dusty Rhoades beginning in season 12, as did Mitch Vogel as Dusty's ward Jamie Hunter, a teenaged orphan; and during the series' final year, Tim Matheson weaved through the proceedings as ex-convict Griff King, whom Ben tried to give a second chance by taking him on as a ranch hand. Making its NBC debut on September 12, 1959, Bonanza spent its first two seasons on Saturday evenings, opposite CBS' Perry Mason.
Ratings improved tremendously when Bonanza shifted to Sunday evenings at 9 PM (EST) beginning in the 1961-1962 season; in fact, the series was America's number one show for three seasons in a row, from 1964 through 1967. It might have run forever had it not been for two calamitous events during the 1972-1973 season: the decision by NBC to reschedule the show to Tuesdays, and the unexpected death of longtime regular Dan Blocker. With ratings plummeting precipitously, the show was canceled on January 16, 1973 -- a rather ignominious climax for a classic Western series that was second only to Gunsmoke in longevity. Since that time, a number of attempts have been made to revive Bonanza, notably a trio of made-for-TV movies produced in 1988, 1993, and 1995; the latter two appearing after the deaths of Lorne Greene and Michael Landon. And during the 2001-2002 season, the PAX network aired the prequel series Ponderosa, which detailed the adventures of the four Cartwrights in the years before Bonanza took place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Howard Duff guest-stars as Sam Clemens, who in the days before his fame and fortune as "Mark Twain" could be found working as a reporter on the Virginia City Enterprise. The Cartwrights come to Clemens' assistance when the young journalist endeavors to expose an illegal collusion between Judge Yerrington (John Litel) and a powerful railroad executive. Featured in the cast are Dorothy Green as Minnie andAnn Whitfield as Rosemary. Written by Harold Shumate and first broadcast October 10, 1959, "Enter Mark Twain" might prove an interesting comparison to the 1972 Bonanza episode "The 26th Grave," in which Sam Clemens is also a central character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the ninth episode of the series Bonanza, we get an episode-length flashback into history. While working on the Ponderosa, the Cartwrights are fired on by an old sourdough who claims they're on his land, presenting them with a deed signed by Mr. Henry T.P. Comstock. Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) and his sons have a good laugh and proceed to tell the man about Comstock (Jack Carson), a two-bit grifter always on the run from one man's rope or another, who inadvertently struck one of the largest silver deposits ever found while trying to cheat a group of miners. We glimpse the Cartwrights in relatively early days on the ranch, see Hoss' good nature, Adam's seriousness, Little Joe's recklessness (especially where pretty women are concerned), and Ben's concern that gold-fever doesn't destroy the land around him. And we witness the naming and founding of Virginia City, as a by-product of Comstock's attempted swindle. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Ida Lupino is cast as the titular Annie O'Toole, who along with her father (John Patrick) arrives in Washoe Diggings with a gold claim filed by her fiancé Swede Lumberg (Alan Hale Jr.). When Annie's father dies, Adam Cartwright helps her establish a restaurant to keep her solvent. Annie is going to need every penny she can get: an old acquaintance, Gregory Spain (Henry Lascoe), insists that he is the rightful owner of Swede's claim. The case is taken to Miner's Court, where Annie's fate rests in the hands of Adam's father Ben. First telecast October 24, 1959, "The Saga of Annie O'Toole" was written by Thomas Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Unscrupulous trader Mike Wilson (Jack Warden molests two Paiute Indian women, then manages to place the blame on Adam Cartwright. This incident, added to others sparked by Wilson, mushrooms into a full-scale war between the Paiutes and the California Militia. In the thick of the hostilities, the Indians take Adam hostage. Also appearing are Anthony Caruso as Chief Winnemuca and Mike Forrest as the Chief's son. First telecast October 3, 1959, "The Paiute War" was written by Gene L. Coon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The 14-season run of Bonanza began with this introductory episode, originally aired on September 12, 1959, entitled "A Rose for Lotta." Guest star Yvonne DeCarlo) plays renowned entertainer Lotta Crabtree, who finds herself duped into a plot against the Cartwright family and their ranch, the Ponderosa, located outside of Virginia City, Nevada. A cartel of businessmen led by Alpheus Troy (George Macready), Aaron Hopper (Barry Kelley) and George Garvey (Willis Bouchey), have been pressuring patriarch Ben Cartwright (Lorne Green) to sign over all the timber on the Ponderosa, to provide lumber that is essential for the continued operation of their mines; but Ben is equally adamant in his opposition, as the trees are essential to the future of the ranch and the land. Troy decides to use Lotta Crabtree as bait, to entice one of the Cartwright sons into Virginia City, where he plans to take them hostage and force Ben Cartwright to deal. Hot-headed youngest son Joe Cartwright (Michael Landon) falls the hardest for Lotta, goes to call on her, and finds himself trapped. But Troy hasn't reckoned with how the Cartwrights stick together, how far Ben and older sons Adam (Pernell Roberts) and Hoss (Dan Blocker) will go to protect one of their own -- even facing down a hired killer -- or just how resourceful Joe can be, even on the run, unarmed, from a pair of thugs who don't seem bright enough to know that they need him alive, or to avoid wrecking half the town. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

While on a mountain expedition in the dead of winter, Hoss and Little Joe come upon an Indian woman (Chana Eden) who is about to give birth. Building a shelter for the woman, the two Cartwright boys stay by her side until the baby is born, then bring both mother and child back to the Ponderosa. Meanwhile, two men conduct a search for the woman -- one of whom has sworn to kill the other. Written by Donald S. Sanford, "The Last Hunt" was originally telecast on December 19, 1959. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sue Ellen Terry is shot and killed while disembarking from a stagecoach. The town drunk claims that the shot was fired by Adam Cartwright, who'd been paying court to Sue Ellen despite her questionable reputation. Though Adam protests his innocence, the men of Virginia City -- many of whom had enjoyed the favors of the dead woman -- turn against him. Fay Spain and Buddy Ebsen are featured in this episode, which was first broadcast on December 12, 1959. "The Sisters" was written by Carey Wilbur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Determined to track down the man who murdered his wife, Flint Johnson (Onslow Stevens) forms a posse. Adam and Little Joe Cartwright, longtime friends of Johnson, join the posse to make sure that proper justice is meted out -- but Johnson has no intention of allowing the law to take its course. Also appearing are Adam Williams as Blackie and Arthur Hunnicutt as Piute. First broadcast on November 28, 1959, "The Posse" was written by Carey Wilbur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the darkest days of World War One, four French soldiers (one of them played by a young, pre-Bonanza Pernell Roberts) see a strange light in the sky--whereupon they throw down their weapons and apparently desert their posts. Assigned to defend the soldiers during their court martial, Capt. Emil Tremaine (Bruce Gordon) can neither believe nor sympathize with the defendant's claims that they were motivated to "desert" by circumstances beyond their control. Only on the eve of the soldiers' execution does Tremaine undergo a paranormal experience, proving that there is sometimes a "greater truth" than what meets the eye. (Curiously, "The Vision" is misidentified as the earlier One Step Beyond episode "Emergency Only" by several public-domain DVD merchants). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide