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Date Posted: 20:46:28 07/22/13 Mon
Author: Kayleetara
Subject: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman

I saw an episode of "The Rifleman" yesterday named "The Jailbird". I swear I saw an episode of Bonanza that was the very same storyline. Even had the same actors as the Rifleman.

The storyline concerns a convict that is released and ends back in North Forks where his wife is running a store with great apple pie. At first the guy does not want to say he came out of prison, but admits it to Lucas, who hires him. He comes upon a murder while on an errand for Lucas, and is accused of the murder. It was actually the son who killed his father, and stole money to buy a rifle in town.

Am I nuts or was this a Bonanza episode too? Substitute Ben Cartwright for Lucas McCain. The Rifleman episode was in 1960, so it came first.

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Replies:

[> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Richard, 14:09:04 07/23/13 Tue [1]

I think you are correct, but I can't think of the Bonanaza episode.

However, while we are talking about former prisoner turned ranch-hand episodes, there were a lot of similarities between these 2 episodes:

Bonanza - "The Friendship" with Dean Jones as "Danny Kidd."

Virginian - "The Evil That Men Do" with Robert Redford as "Matthew Cordell," who by the way, falls in love with Patricia Blair, who had played "Lou Mallory" on The Rifleman as the hotel owner.


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[> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Big Valley -- Kayleetara, 00:12:27 07/24/13 Wed [1]

I ended up watching a "Big Valley" episode called " a Flock of Trouble". I watched because I thought, "Is that MILTON BERLE?" I did not know he was an actor and he wasn't too bad.

Of course, sheep vs. cattle was a problem in the West and Bonanza had an episode that addressed it as well. (Blood on the Land)

But what really struck me was the bar fight. I think it was Sam the bartender; he must have gone west to Stockton. If so, he made a bad exchange. The Cartwrights always seemed to offer money to repair the damages of the fight. And even though the Barkleys are as rich, or richer than the Cartwrights, nary a word was spoken about reimbursement even though Nick started the fight.

And even Bonanza repeated within itself. "The Flannel Mouth Gun" addressed the topic of range detectives with Adam, and after he left the topic was addressed again with Joe as the main character, though I can't recall the name of the episode.


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[> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Richard, 07:49:09 07/24/13 Wed [1]

There are a lot of those situations with common themes.

The mail order bride situation comes to mind, on both Bonanza and The Virginian (and maybe on the Big Valley too), where the guy going out to fetch the bride gets into trouble with the groom-to-be.


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[> [> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Richard, 10:23:29 07/24/13 Wed [1]

John Doucette is the guest star on 2 mail order bride episodes, as the jilted rancher in both cases:

Knight Errant - Bonanza, Season 4

Devil's Masquerade, Big Valley, Season 3


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[> Roy Huggins -- SWC, 22:15:18 07/24/13 Wed [1]

Once said that there are only 6 plots in westerns. It's not originality but quality that counts in that genre.

The best comparison is that they were both rancher shows, (but the McCains weren't rich), family shows, (with only one son this time and he's still a child), and both had good writing, acting and great music. Which is why we still remember both a half century later.


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[> [> Re: Roy Huggins -- Ruth, 03:34:30 07/25/13 Thu [1]

Kayleetara...Robert Fuller starred in a western, Laramie, with John Smith and was also on Wagon Train.


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[> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Kayleetara, 22:57:37 07/24/13 Wed [1]

But the Barkleys were rich! Or is it Barclay?

Interesting that the same themes had the same actors. What I noticed in that "Flock of Trouble" episode were so many people that became famous in other shows. One in the FOS episode was Robert Fuller(?) who played one of the doctors on "Emergency." I found it hard to see him as a cowboy. I know many guest stars on Bonanza were known for other roles, but I don't see them sticking out like sore thumb.

So what are the six themes in Westerns? Range Detectives? Mail order brides?


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[> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Richard, 07:45:57 07/25/13 Thu [1]

Rifleman is simply of the best westerns ever. I'm taping them every Sat. morning off AMC.

I have often divided up Rawhide episodes into two main categories:

1) The business and hardships of driving the herd down the Sedalia Trail.

2) Strange or mysterious people or events occurring on the trail.

I love the first category of episodes, but generally don't care much for the second.


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[> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Kayleetara, 05:28:26 07/26/13 Fri [1]

I vaguely remember Wagon Train and the theme song to Rawhide. Too young to remember much more. Bonanza of course--that burning map was burned into my brain.

I only remember Fuller as the doctor on Emergency!, my sister's favorite show. She was in love with Johnny Gage. So I still have a hard time seeing Fuller as a cowboy. :0)


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[> [> Re: TV Similarities Bonanza/Rifleman -- Richard, 07:07:32 07/26/13 Fri [1]

Johnny Gage (Randolph Mantooth) was cool, "Patient is in extreme pain, Rampart!!" Great show.

I remember Fuller best from Laramie, but it I haven't watched Laramie in many, many years.


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