DVD Review: Bonanza (The Official Fourth Season, Volume 1 and Volume 2)

DVD Reviews, Reviews

The whole point of heading out west was to hit it big. Settlers dreamed of big spreads, big herds of cattle, big riches, big adventures and big families. That’s exactly what the Cartwrights achieved with their Ponderosa Ranch in the Lake Tahoe area of Nevada. There was nothing small about Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) and his sons Hoss (Dan Blocker), Adam (Pernell Roberts) and Little Joe (Michael Landon). He probably would have had more sons if only their three different mothers hadn’t died. But those boys caused more trouble than the mega-families featured on TLC. Bonanza: The Official Fourth Season, Volume 1 and Volume 2 has no shortage of big action around the Ponderosa.

“The First Born” has Barry Coe arrive on the ranch to work. But he’s got more to tell his bosses. He swears he’s the son of Little Joe’s mom. Is he looking to get adopted? “The Quest” puts Little Joe in business as he wheels and deals a lumber contract. But is he really ready for such action? “The Artist” turns Dan O’Herlihy (Halloween III: Season of the Witch) into a blind painter. Can he express himself in pigments with the help of the Cartwrights and a good woman? “A Hot Day for a Hanging” busts Hoss on murder charges. He’s merely delivering a pile of cash for Ben, but a sheriff (Dukes of Hazzard‘s Denver Pyle) swears Hoss robbed a bank and killed teller. How big of rope will they need to string him up and his huge cowboy hat?

What would a TV series be without a guest visit from Claude Akins (Sheriff Lobo)? He’s a Army Colonel looking for an AWOL soldier in “The Deserter.” He ends up getting shot by an arrow and sticks around the Ponderosa to recover. Will he find his man? “The Way Station” is an Adam solo adventure. He’s at a stage coach station with Robert Vaughn (Man from U.N.C.L.E.) and Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island. There’s a lot more baggage with this crowd than what’s got handles. “Gallagher’s Sons” is a Hoss solo outing. He helps a family find out who killed their father. “The Decision” puts Hoss into a critical state. There’s only one man that can save his life: DeForest Kelley. The future Bones from Star Trek must be a doctor. “Song in the Dark” accuses a cowhand of being the singing cowboy that strangled a woman to death. “Elegy for a Hangman” drops Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) in the face of a hanging judge that executed his dad. “Half a Rogue” hides Slim Pickens on the ranch in order to clean him up and clear his name.

Volume 2 starts with “The Last Haircut.” Little Joe calms down a man set on revenge. “The Hayburner” is a horse tale. Hoss loses their top racer during a Poker match. He’s got to buy it back before the big race. William Demarest (My Three Sons) is part of the equine antics. “The Way of Aaron” brings Jewish people to Nevada. Harry Dean Stanton (Big Love) is part of the religious issues. “A Woman Lost” finds Dick Miller in a non-Roger Corman film. “My Brother’s Keeper” dares to scare us when Adam shoots Little Joe. Can his brother survive the accident? “The Saga of Whizzer McGee” is the perfect title to discuss in front of older family members. It’s not as dirty as it sounds.

“Thunder Man” makes Simon Oakland (Kolchak: The Night Stalker) a kind yet frightening figure. He’s a swell guy who has no problem raping and killing a woman. “The Boss” faces off Ben with Carroll O’Connor (All in the Family). He’s taken over the local railroad action to squeeze the Cartwrights. Denver Pyle plays another sheriff. “Little Man… Ten Feet Tall” marks the arrival of Ross Martin (The Wild Wild West) as a recent arrival from Italy. Will he bring pasta to Reno?

Bonanza: The Official Fourth Season, Volume 1 and Volume 2 brings plenty of big trouble to the huge ranch. There’s plenty of killings during the show and desperate men eager to take the riches of the Cartwrights. This large action is what kept people tuning in for 14 years. The special moment of the season is getting to see Bones in become a doctor before being beamed into a future world.

Episodes
“The First Born,” “The Quest,” “The Artist,” “A Hot Day for a Hanging,” “The Deserter,” “The Way Station,” “The War Comes to Washoe,” “Knight Errant,” “The Beginning,” “The Deadly Ones,” “Gallagher’s Sons,” “The Decision,” “The Good Samaritan,” “The Jury,” “The Colonel,” “Song in the Dark,” ” Elegy for a Hangman,” “Half a Rogue,” “The Last Haircut,” “Marie, My Love,” “The Hayburner,” “The Actress,” “A Stranger Passed This Way,” “The Way of Aaron,” “A Woman Lost,” “Any Friend of Walter’s,” “Mirror of a Man,” “My Brother’s Keeper,” “Five into the Wind,” “Saga of Whizzer McGee,” “Thunder Man,” “Rich Man, Poor Man,” “The Boss” and “Little Man…Ten Feet Tall.”

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The new transfers bring out the details and rich hues used in this early color series. This looks better than the video masters run on various TV channels. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are as solid as Hoss’ gut. The episodes are subtitled.

Audio Commentaries feature guest stars remembering their times on the Ponderosa. Larrian Gillespie and Andrew J. Kylde discuss “Gallagher’s Sons.” Gregory Walcott sings of “Song In the Dark.” Patrica Crowley waxes on “The Actress.”

Photo Galleries include “Chevrolet’s Ponderosa Party,” “Lake Tahoe Location ,” “Cartwrights Behind the Scenes,” “Pernell and His Motorcycle,” “Stars and Their Stunt Doubles,” “Ponderosa Party Time Recording Sessions”

Play Episode with Original NBC Network Logo, Bumpers and Chevrolet Promos. Takes you back when it was a thrill to get a show in color even if your family owned a black and white TV back in 1962.

Excerpt from “Perry Como’s Kraft Musical Hall (7:46) has Dan Blocker and Lorne Greene bring a little of the west to Perry’s Brooklyn studio. The sketch shows how the series is altered for foreign markets.

Bonanza: The Official Fourth Season, Volume 1 and Volume 2 keeps up the family fun next to Lake Tahoe. The episodes do things huge while keeping the emotions down on the range. The two volumes are packaged together as a complete season set for a bit of a savings.

CBS DVD presents Bonanza: The Official Fourth Season, Volume 1 and Volume 2. Starring: Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon. Boxset Contents: 34 episodes on 9 DVDs. Released: October 2, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.