'Ben is injured when his horse throws him down a hill. Joe
searches for a wagon and team to pull him up, but no one is willing to help.
They fear that a land baron will take over their ranches, and they must stand
by to
defend their land at all times.'
Guest Stars: Gregory Walcott as Ed Thornton, Heather Menzies
as Martha, Carl Reindel as Frank Wells, Harlan Warde as Tom Boyle, Chick
Chandler as Doctor, Jerry Gatlin as Harvey, Darrell Larson as Brian, Ken Mayer
as Sheriff, Scott Walker as Blue.
*****
This is a super Joe/Ben story where Joe must get help for
his injured father while dealing with unhelpful settlers and taking on an
outlaw gang in the pay of a devious local landowner Dawson.
Ben has decided to rest Buck and ride
Joe tenderly examines Ben and talks to him (wonderful Joe/Ben interactions) and
realises that he must get help immediately for Ben. The Boyle family initially
are too scared of
Meanwhile there is a wonderful dream sequence premonition where Ben sees Joe
coming but Joe is hurt as he hurtles towards Ben.
Things go badly wrong when Ed Thornton is shot by the outlaws and Joe must
eventually pay the outlaw gang to help him. Their sadistic leader Wells takes
his money, beats him up and betrays him – as in Ben's nightmare.
When Joe regains consciousness he courageously tries to get Ben uphill to the
wagon alone but when he looks up the Boyles have come to help him after all!
Hoss arrives and the local, taciturn doctor treats Ben but the sheriff can't
arrest Wells because of lack of evidence and witnesses.
Justice is finally done when Wells tries to shoot an unarmed Joe in a dramatic
fight scene and is carted off to jail.
There are some wonderful scenes between Ben and Joe – intense Lorne and Michael
connections. Lorne gives a terrific, mostly silent performance as the injured
Ben and Michael is in wonderful athletic action in the buckboard driving, scrambling
over rough terrain and fight scenes. Gregory Walcott is excellent as Ed
Thornton and Carl Reindel really makes the viewer loathe Wells.
A really good Cartwright adventure with the satisfaction of knowing that Ben,
Joe and Hoss are returning home and all's well that ends well.
Footnote: There is a really funny Bonanza blooper in some of the buckboard
scenes. Michael does a great job of his own driving in close-up scenes but you
can see a stuntman under the seat ready to help if needed!!!