David Canary Movies

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

Yes, Paul Newman is a blue-eyed Indian in Hombre, but this apparent ethnic error is carefully justified in the body of the story. Newman plays a white man who was raised by the Apaches, and ever since has straddled two worlds, feeling truly comfortable in neither. While riding a stagecoach, Newman is subject to the racial bias of banker Fredric March and his snooty wife Barbara Rush. In truth, March is an embezzler, and has no reason to feel superior to anyone. This fact comes out when the coach is held up by murderous bandit-chief Richard Boone. When the passengers fight back, Boone takes Rush as a hostage. Newman, who by rights should be supremely satisfied that his tormentors are themselves tormented, proves himself the bravest of the passengers, sacrificing his own life to save Rush and put an end to Boone's reign of terror. Hombre is based on a novel by suspense specialist Elmore Leonard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Cartwrights must carefully wend their way through Paiute territory, guarding two survivors of a recent massacre. One of the survivors, Josh Tanner (Steve Forrest), is an accused murderer. The other, Mary Burns (Tina Louise), knows that Josh is innocent, but can't-or won't-reveal this fact. This episode represented one of the first post-Gilligan's Island assignments for the toothsome Tina Louise. Originally shown on November 5, 1967, "Desperate Passage" was written by John Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While visiting the remote community of Olympus, Candy is accused of murdering the son of town boss A.Z. Wheelock (Arch Johnson). Things don't look very rosy for the Ponderosa ranchhand: Determined to see Candy hang, Wheelock has paid off both the district attorney and a drunken eyewitness. Arriving in town, Joe Cartwright tries to prove Candy's innocence, only to be arrested himself for murdering the sole witness. Also appearing are Barry Sullivan as Fully, Brooke Bundy as Mary Elizabeth, and Vaughn Taylor as Sheriff Henning. Originally titled "Judgement at Olympia", this episode was written by Walter Black, and made its network debut on October 8, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After delivering a herd of cattle to the town of Sand Dust, Joe and Hoss Cartwright, together with ranchhand Candy and local girl Valerie Townsend (Davey Davidson), are eyewitness to a fatal shooting. When the brothers of accused killer Billy Slader (Michael Blodgett) threaten to permanently silence all four witnesses, Sheriff Dunkel (Robert McQueeney) puts them under protective custody, leading to several unexpected plot complications. Frederick Down and Bill Fletcher are cast as the homicidal Slader siblings, while Russ Conway is seen as Judge Wheeler. Written by Eric Norden, "False Witness" first aired October 22, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by John Hawkins and Gil Lasky, "Sense of Duty" served to introduce new Bonanza regular David Canary as Candy. Donning a military uniform for the first time in years, Ben Cartwright is placed in command of the 116th Virginia City Militia, a unit including his own sons Joe and Hoss. Ben's mission: to escort Indian rebel leader Wabuska (Michael Forest) to prison. Surrounded from all sides by Wabuska's fanatical followers, Ben and his unit find their lives in the hands of an enigmatic stranger named Candy, who seems to understand the Indians better than the Indians do. "Sense of Duty" originally aired on September 24, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Taking advantage of the illness of his powerful rancher father Claude Roman (Denver Pyle), mean-spirited Jermey Roman (Jeremy Slate) runs roughshod over everyone. In addition to browbeating his sister Mary (Diane Muldaur) and reneging on a legitimate business deal with the Cartwrights, Jeremy also tries to get his father declared mentally incompetent. But by episode's end, Jeremy forcibly learns that there's more to greatness than merely inheriting a great name. First telecast on October 13, 1968, "The Passing of a King" was written by B.W. Sandefur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The focus in this Bonanza episode of September 29, 1968 is on ranch hand Candy, played by David Canary. Candy and the Cartwrights offer their assistance to a US Army unit, presently under attack from a gang of gold bandits. Crisis mounts upon crisis when it develops that Captain Harris (Pat Conway) is married to Candy's ex-wife Ann (Sandra Smith)-and the leader of the outlaws is Candy's childhood friend Angel Montana (Carlos Rivas). "Salute to Yesterday" was written by John Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mariette Hartley makes a return visit to Bonanza in the November 10, 1968 episode "The Survivors." This time, Hartley is cast as Alicia, a former captive of the Paiutes. During her captivity, Alicia had been forced to bear a son to one of the braves, and as a result is shunned by the townsfolk-and rejected by her husband Wayne Purcell (John Carter). It is up to the Cartwrights to defend Alicia in the face of raw, ugly bigotry. "The Survivors" was written by S.H. Barnett, Colin MacKenzie and John Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Beaudry (John Vernon), an old army buddy of Ben Cartwright, is just a man who wants to have fun. Unfortunately, his idea of fun is to steal Hoss' horse, pick fights with the townsfolk, and seriously injure Candy. But there may be even worse in store: Tired of a life as vagabond, Beaudry plans to settle permanently in Virginia City. Also in the cast are Melissa Murphy as Noreen, Rodolfo Acosta as Matar, Larry Ward as Stryker and Pepper Martin as Hawkface. Written by Milton S. Gelman, "Yonder Man" was originally telecast on December 8, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jack Kruschen makes his third and final Bonanza appearance as Giorgio Rossi, the bombastic patriarch of an Italian wine-growing family. Having been awarded a parcel of Ponderosa land to create a vineyard, Rossi causes consternation for Ben Cartwright when he invites a group of hungry Indians to pay a visit. What Ben knows, but Giorgio doesn't, is that once they've encamped on the Rossi property, the Indians will assume they've been invited to stay on permament. Also making return visits to the series are Penny Santon and Brioni Farrell as Giorgio's wife Maria and daughter Regina. Fans will be amused by the layout of the Rossi living room, which is an exact replica of the Cartwrights' (as well it should be, inasmuch as the same set was used!) Written by William F. Leicester, "The Sound of Drums" first aired on November 17, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Grand Jury witness Charles Ball (James Patterson) is prepared to charge seven men with fraud-not out of any sense of civic duty, but because he has been paid off by Vandeman (Mark Richman a co-conspirator of the seven defendants, and the worst of the lot. With his life in jeopardy, Ball hides out at the Ponderosa, which rests not at all well with Candy. Meanwhile, the seven accused men align themselves with Vandeman to arrange a fatal "accident" for Ball. Others in the cast include Linda March as Harriet Ball, John Milford as Rodgers, and John Archer as Ludlow. Written by Preston Wood, "A World Full of Cannibals" first aired on December 22, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ben Cartwright is determined to block the gubernatorial bid of John Faraday (Simon Scott), the corrupt stooge of crooked tycoon Sam Endicott (Sidney Blackmer). When Ben is shot by one of Endicott's henchmen, he decides to "play dead" until the convention, then expose both Endicott and Faraday as murderous scoundrels. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the works when an innocent man is arrested for Ben's "murder." Portions of David Rose's background music were later incorporated into the themes of the subsequent Michael Landon series Little House on the Prairie). Among the supporting players is George Gaynes, best known to latter-day viewers for his hilarious performances in the theatrical features Tootsie and Police Academy. First shown on March 3, 1968, "The Late Ben Cartwright" was written by Walter Black. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide