Bonanza Brand Episode Guide: Season 14

Season 14 Episode Guide
Episodes 416- 430

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Welcome to the BonanzaBrand Episode Guide!

Episodes appear in order of original air date which may not coincide with when they were actually filmed.

Episode #416
Forever
September 12, 1972
Joe finds happiness and marries Alice Harper, only to have her and their unborn child murdered. He and Candy set out to find the killers.
Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Alice Harper-Cartwright(Bonnie Bedelia), John Harper(Andrew Robinson), Damian(Larry Golden), Mr. Hanley(Roy Jenson), Sloan(Robert Doyle), Krater(Lee de Broux), Carver(Jay Jones), Minister(Ivan Bonar), Gloria(Joan Lemmo), Miss Grayson(Helen Kleeb), Jack(John J. Fox), Jake(William Challee), Clem(Bing Russell).

Trivia: This was the two hour premiere episode for the 14th season. Written by Michael Landon, this episode was originally written with Hoss as the main character; unfortunately, Dan Blocker's untimely death in May 1972 caused a change in those plans. Landon put Little Joe in the role of the doomed bridegroom, and with relatively few changes to the original script, shot the episode in June 1972, about a month after Blocker's death.

Episode #417
Heritage of Anger
September 19, 1972
Ben helps an ex-convict readjust to life outside prison.
Written by: Don Ingalls
Directed by: Nick Webster
Guest Stars: John Dundee(Robert Lansing), Meg Dundee(Fionnula Flanagan), Sheriff(Warren Kemmerling), Fancher(Len Lesser), Bartlett(Roydon Clark), Jim Anders(Ed Long), Mr. Sangster(Harry Harvey Sr.), Telegrapher(Henry Oliver).

Trivia: This is Robert Lansing's third and final appearance in the series. He was a rugged American leading man of 50s Broadway and 60s standard film and TV action drama -- the star of several TV series ("12 O'Clock High" (1964) and "The Man Who Never Was" (1966) among others).

Episode #418
The Initiation
September 26, 1972
When a boy is killed during an initiation to a secret society, a friend of Jamie's is blamed.
Written by: Douglas Day Stewart
Directed by: Alf Kjellin
Guest Stars: Ted Hoag(Ron Howard), Lummis(Ed Bakey), Moeller(William Bramley), Harley Lewis(Biff Elliot), Clem(Bing Russell), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung), Josh Adams(Sean Kelly), Ron Lewis(Nicholas Beauvy), Sonny Moeller(Jeff Smart), Corkey Sibley(Jimmy Van Patten), Billy Newton(Al Barker, Jr.), George Adams(James Chandler), Mr. Cropin(Pitt Herbert), Judge(John Zaremba), Preacher(Ivor Bonar).

Trivia: This was Ron Howard's only appearance on the series. Howard began his career as a child actor, finding success as Opie Taylor on 'The Andy Griffith Show.' He also was a co-star on the 70's ABC comedy, 'Happy Days.' As he has gotten older, he has found much success as a writer, producer and director of many successful movies, such as 2001's 'A Beautiful Mind,' 2006's 'The Da Vinci Code,' and 2009's 'Angels and Demons.' He is also back in television, producing the NBC drama 'Parenthood.' based on the movie he wrote and directed in 1989.

Episode #419
Riot
October 3, 1972
Rioting inmates take Ben hostage at Nevada State Prison. Joe and Candy work frantically to save Ben's life.
Written by: Robert Pirosh, John Hawkins
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Griff King(Tim Matheson), Mr. Heiser(Aldo Ray), Cooper(Gregory Walcott), Johnny Plank(Marco St. John), Warden(Denver Pyle), Asa Calhoun(Barney Phillips), Willie Noone(Bob Delegall).

Trivia: This was Tim Matheson's debut on the series by airdate - the first filmed episode with Griff King was #423 - 'Stallion.'
This was Aldo Rey's second and last appearance on the series - he previously appeared in Season 6's 'The Wild One.' In preparation for his first major role in 'The Marrying Kind' (1952), director George Cukor recommended that he go to ballet school because he walked too much like a football player.

Episode #420
New Man
October 10, 1972
The sequel to 'Riot,' Griff returns to the Ponderosa with Ben to start his new life.
Written by: Jack B. Sowards
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Lucas(Ronny Cox), Clem(Bing Russell), Shorty(Charles Dierkop), Tulsa(Jeff Morris), Amy(Carol Vogel), Guard(Chuck Hayward), Man(Bill Clark), Clerk(Jac Flanders).

Trivia: This was Ronny Cox's only appearance in the series. A versatile character actor, Cox is remembered best as the moral-minded and ill-fated Drew who instigates the legendary "Dueling Banjos" sequence with a mountain boy in Deliverance (1972), Cox is a real-life singer/songwriter/guitarist as well as master storyteller. He and his band do about 80 shows a year at folk festivals, small theatres and other folk venues.

Episode #421
Ambush At Rio Lobo
October 24, 1972
Outlaws waiting to rob a stage hold Ben and a pregnant woman hostage.
Written by: Joel Murcott
Directed by : Nicholas Colasanto
Guest Stars: Teresa Burnside(Sian Barbara Allen), Vance(James Olson), Stretch(Albert Salmi), Zachariah Burnside(Murray MacLeod), Gabe(Douglas Dirkson).

Trivia: Sian Barbara Allen(Theresa Burnside) was an actress who worked primarily in the 1970s, and dated actor Richard Thomas(John Boy from 'The Waltons' for a few years in the early '70s.

This was Albert Salmi's fourth and final appearance in the series. He was, in real life, quite different from most of the characters he played. A quiet-natured family man, he was an oddity by glitzy Hollywood standards. Many of his friends and co-stars have commented on his sense of humor and his lack of pretense. In semi-retirement, he shared his knowledge of theatre by teaching drama classes in Spokane, Washington, where he and his wife settled.

Episode #422
The Twenty-Sixth Grave
October 31, 1972
Mark Twain returns to Virginia City to solve the mystery of some miners' deaths, getting himself into hot water in the process.
Written by: Stanley Roberts
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars:: Sam Clemens(Ken Howard), Merrick(Dana Elcar), McNabb(Phillip Kenneally), Campbell(Walter Burke), Mr. Goodman(Richard Bull), Bert(Wayne Heffley), Prentiss(Stacy Keach, Jr.), Clem(Bing Russell).

Trivia: Ken Howard(Clemens) was third actor to portray Samuel Clemens during the series run. He is probably best remembered for his role as street savvy teacher and basketball coach on the 1978 CBS drams, 'The White Shadow.' Howard studied at the Yale School of Drama and became a lecturer at Harvard, and currently is the President of the Screen Actors Guild.

Episode #423
Stallion
November 14, 1972
Ben gives Joe a black stallion for his birthday. When the stallion is stolen, it brings Joe on a journey he did not expect.
Written by: Jack B. Sowards, Mort Sarcoff, Juanita Bartlett
Directed by: E. W. Swackhamer
Guest Stars: Billy Brenner(Clu Gulager), Alice Brenner(Mitzi Hoag), Tommy Brenner(Vincent Van Patten), Seth(Roy Lee Brown), Travis...Michael Greene), Doctor(Wallace Chadwell).

Trivia: This was Mitzi Hoag's second and final appearance on the series - she was also in Season 7's 'Three Brides for Hoss.'

Did You Notice: In the scene with Joe, Ben and the stallion in the barn, you can see that Michael Landon forgot to remove his gold chain before the scene was shot!

Episode #424
The Hidden Enemy
November 28, 1972
A young new doctor comes to Virginia City, hiding a serious addiction.
Written by: Stanley Roberts
Directed by: Alf Kjellin
Guest Stars: Dr. James Wills(Mike Farrell), Nancy Wills(Melissa Murphy), Miles Johnson(David Huddleston), Mr. Evans(Clifford David), Henry Johnson(Gary Busey), Chris Wills(Mons Kjellin), Clem(Bing Russell).

Trivia: Mike Farell(Willis) makes his only appearance on the series. Farrell is best known for his portrayal of Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the long running CBS series 'M*A*S*H.' A native Californian, he attended West Hollywood Grammar School with Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. Farrell is involved with many humanitarian causes.

Episode #425
The Sound of Sadness
December 5, 1972
A widower tries to keep two orphans together.
Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Jonathan May(Jack Albertson), Dawson(John Randolph), Timothy(Marty McCall), Mrs. Holcombe(Carol Lawson), Miss Gaines(Irene Tedrow), Mr. Holcombe(Dan Ferrone), Silas(Jerry Harper), Dr. Martin(Harry Holcombe), Clem(Bing Russell).

Trivia: This is John Randolph's(Dawson) third and last appearance on the series. This is the second time he has appeared with Irene Tedrow(Miss Gaines) in an episode of Bonanza, the first being Season 10's 'Different Pines, Same Wind.' Blacklisted during the McCarthy era, Randolph went on to become a familiar face on television during the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. He won the 1987 Tony award for best featured actor for his performance in 'Broadway Bound.'

Michael Landon recycled this script for a Season 7 episode of "Little House on the Prairie" called 'The Silent Cry.'

Episode #426
The Bucket Dog
December 19, 1972
Jamie forms a bond with a dog that he finds. When the owner of the dog comes to claim it, trouble begins.
Written by: Jonh Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Tim Riley(Don Knight), Horace Kingston(William Sylvester), Clem(Bing Russell), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung)

Trivia: This was William Sylvester's second and last appearance on the series. He is probably best known for his supporting role as Dr. Heywood Floyd in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

Episode #427
First Love
December 26, 1972
Jamie befriends the wife of an unpopular schoolteacher.
Written by: Richard Collins
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Mrs. Kelly Edwards(Pamela Franklin), Dan Edwards(Jordan Rhodes), Eloise(Lisa Eilbacher), Gene(David Doremus), Henry(Steve Benedict), Lew(Michael Blake), Harve(Dennis Robertson), Emily(Eileen Ryan), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung).

Trivia: Pamela Franklin(Kelly Edwards) was originally intended to play the role of "Jenny" (played by Ann Davies) in "Doctor Who" (1963).

Episode #428
The Witness
January 2, 1973
Griff goes after the only witness who can clear Candy of murder. Ben must put his trust in a fledgling lawyer, who is going up against a very successful prosecutor.
Written by: Joel Murcott, Arthur Heinemann
Directed by:Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Kate Fallon(Sally Kemp), Oscar Hamner(Stephen Nathan), Lewis Gardner(Byron Mabe), Schulte(William Wintersole), Ella Peterson(Shirley O' Hara), Harvey Walters(Ross Elliott), Sheriff Touhy(David McLean),

Trivia: This was Steven Nathan's(Hamner) only appearance on the series. He originated the role of Jesus in Godspell, and won the Variety Critic's Poll for Best Actor in a Musical for Godspell in 1971. Today he is behind the camera, working as a writer, producer, and story consultant.

Episode #429
The Marriage of Theodora Duffy
January 9, 1973
Griff and government agent Theodora Duffy pose as husband and wife to capture a gang of war criminals.
Written by: Ward Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Theodora Duffy(Karen Carlson), Jonas Holt(Ramon Bieri), Dody Hendrickson(Robert Yuro), Stanton(Richard Eastham), Shaw(Rayford Barnes), Marshal Taylor(Willard Sage), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung).

Trivia: This was the last episode of Bonanza ever filmed.

This was Karen Carlson's only appearance on the series. Representing Arkansas, she finished as first runnerup in the 1965 Miss America pageant. Carlson was also married to the actor David Soul(Starsky and Hutch) from 1968-1977.

Episode #430
The Hunter
January 16, 1973
Joe is stranded while making a delivery for Ben, and winds up being the 'prey' of a psychotic ex-Corporal.
Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Corporal Bill Tanner(Tom Skerritt), Mexican(Phillip Avenetti), Old Man(Peter O'Crotty), Man(Hal Burton).

Trivia: As this episode primarily deals with a hunt and chase, there is virtually no dialog at all. Tom Skerritt(Tanner) is probably best remembered for his role of Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the CBS series 'Picket Fences.' He also portrayed Commander Mike 'Viper' Metcalf in 1986's 'Top Gun.'

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