William F. Claxton Movies

Bonanza: The Movie originally went out as Bonanza: The Next Generation. That title accurately reflected the film's content: death and previous commitments prevented the cast of the original Bonanza TV series of 1959-1973, thus the talent roster of The Next Generation was brand-new. John Ireland took over from Lorne Greene (who signed for this movie, but died before production commenced) as the brother of Greene's character Ben Cartwright. Home from the sea, Aaron Cartwright (Ireland) stupidly turns the drilling rights to the Ponderosa over to those perennial 1980s movie villains, the "evil land developers". It's up to the sons of Adam, Little Joe and Hoss Cartwright to save the ranch (One wonders how the Cartwright boys could have had sons, given the mortality rate of their sweethearts on the old series). Michael Landon Jr., son of the original series' Little Joe, is here cast as Benj. This 1988 Bonanza TV movie sequel was supposed to have been spun off into a weekly syndicated series, but for various reasons this project never came to fruition, despite station clearance and sponsorship in virtually every major market. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Wilders are in for quite a time when Almanzo's brother Royal (Woody Eney) decides to take a vacation -- and deposits his troublesome sons, Myron (Ham Larsen) and Rupert (Rossie Harris), in the home of Almanzo (Dean Butler) and Laura (Melissa Gilbert). Before long, the nasty nephews have turned the household topsy-turvy with their practical jokes and pranks. It falls to Laura to put the kiddies in their place with some trickery of her own. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Charles (Michael Landon) enters into a rivalry with his son-in-law Almanzo (Dean Butler). The bone of contention is an argument over the quickest method to deliver goods from Walnut Grove to Sleepy Eye. To settle the matter, Charles and Almanzo agree to a race; whichever man loses will have to cook dinner for the other. Alas, both contestants indulge in so much trickery to emerge triumphant that no one wins -- except their respective wives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Widowed farmer Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Oleson) and his son Andy (Patrick Laborteaux) move to the town of Sleepy Eye so that Jonathan can start a freight business. Unfortunately, he is repeatedly robbed of his meager belongings by a gang of local toughs. Deciding to end this crime wave on his own, Jonathan becomes the local deputy sheriff -- and his first arrest results in a brutal beating for Andy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The schoolchildren of Walnut Grove face a new nemesis in the form of an overgrown bully named Bart (Sandy Ward). To teach his tormentor a lesson, Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) contrives to throw a good scare into the boy. But when his "wolf-man" disguise comes a cropper, Albert decides to leave Bart's reformation in the hands of his clever classmates. This episode contains a sly reference to series star Michael Landon's first starring film I Was a Teenage Werewolf. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After the death of Caroline's mother, her heartbroken father, Frederick Holbrook (Barry Sullivan), moves into the Ingalls' sod house. Little Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) quickly gravitates to Frederick, who has a gift for weaving fascinating stories out of his lifetime experiences. As a means of pulling Frederick out of his loneliness, Charles (Michael Landon) persuades the old man to gather together his reminiscences in book form -- and even offers to raise enough money to get the book published. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although the people of Walnut Grove are delighted when a carnival comes to town, Nels Oleson (Richard Bull) is in despair. It seems that the carnival's fat lady, Annabelle (Harriet Gibson), is Mr. Oleson's long-estranged sister. Elsewhere, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) has a new rival for the affections of Almanzo (Dean Butler) in the form of snooty Christie (Wendy Schaal). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While staying with the family of Brett Harper (Charles Cioffi), from whom he hopes to purchase a horse, Charles (Michael Landon) is approached by Brett's two children. The younger Harpers beg Charles to help them prevent their parents from splitting up. But since Brett has become a drunken recluse due to the death of his favorite son, even someone as perceptive and compassionate as Charles may not be able to mend things between Brett and his long-suffering wife, Leslie (Jenny Sullivan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When his sight is temporarily impaired in an accident, young Jordan (Ronnie Scribner) pretends to have been permanently blinded in order to keep his quarrelling parents from splitting up. At first disapproving of Jordan's charade, Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) decides to let him keep his secret, since he means no harm. Circumstances alter cases when Jordan endures a second concussion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As a rite of passage, youngsters Albert Ingalls (Matthew Laborteaux) and Andy Garvey (Patrick Laborteaux) embark upon a camping trip to Sleepy Eye all by themselves. Though they don't wish to embarrass their sons, Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Olsen) secretly tag along with Albert and Andy -- at a distance -- to make sure that the boys don't get into any trouble. Inevitably, it is Charles and Jonathan who find themselves in a mess, and Albert and Andy who end up the rescuers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Actually, there are two sets of rivals in this episode. While farmers Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Olsen) must square off against some tough professional competitors in a freight-hauling contest, Charles' daughter Laura (Melissa Gilbert) finds herself battling with attractive Samantha (Seeley Ann Thumann) over the affections of young Jimmy Hill. Beginning with this episode, the character of schoolteacher Miss Beadle, played by Charlotte Stewart, is rechristened Mrs. Simms, befitting her recent marriage to hog farmer Adam Simms. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Charles (Michael Landon) comes into an unexpected inheritance, everyone tries to tell him how best to spend the money -- including the troublesome Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor). Only after getting deeply into debt with the Olesons does Charles discover that his windfall consists of worthless Confederate money. Intending to milk the situation for all it is worth, the spiteful Mrs. Oleson gleefully humiliates the Ingalls by auctioning off their belongings -- and that is when Charles discovers who his real friends are. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Among the students at the school for the blind where Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) works is Tom Carlin (Brad Wilkin), whose taciturn (and sighted) farmer father, Frank (John Ireland), has given Tom up as a total loss. Hoping to build Tom's self-confidence, Mary arranges for Tom to play with the football team at the less affluent of Winoka's two schools. Ultimately, Tom triumphs during a crucial game between his school and the "rich" one across town -- while the Ingalls' foster son, Albert (Matthew Laborteaux), briefly pulls duty as a "human football." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide