WINTER KILL

 

 

Winter Kill - first shown March 28th 1971

 

'The Ponderosa and other ranches suffer cattle losses from a rough winter. Ben's one Montana steer thrives. When Howie, a neighbouring ranch foreman, accidentally shoots the steer, Quarry the ranch owner threatens to put him in prison unless he tells Ben that he saw the steer die in the winter kill. Then the bank would not loan the ranchers the money for a Montana herd, and Quarry can buy out all of the starving ranchers.'

 

Guest Stars: Glenn Corbett as Howie Landis, Sheilah Wells as Marie Landis, Troy Melton as Mr Gorley, Clifton James as Mr Quarry, Robert Knapp as Denman, Stuart Nisbet as Fred Tyson, John Pickard as Griggs.

 

*****

 

This is a marvellous episode where every aspect of the whole production comes together perfectly to give us Bonanza at it's very
best. The concept of exceptionally hardy Montana steers is true, the choice of spectacular scenery perfect, the Cartwrights take centre stage with an outstanding supporting role from Glenn Corbett and even the minor roles of hardened ranchers, cautious bankers and a greedy "fat cat" are very well cast.

The story involves Ben's excellent initiative in testing a Montana yearling to see if it thrives or is a victim of winter kill. There is
a super opening scene where he sends Hoss and Joe up into the Sawtooth mountain area (real snow, real mountains on location at Cedar Lake and Big Bear Lake, California) to observe and measure the yearling. Joe falls giggling into the snow and Hoss is in fine jovial form but they can't catch the sturdy, surviving animal.

In Virginia City the bankers are considering loans to ranchers who have lost huge amounts of stock due to winter kill. Ben wisely tries to persuade everyone that buying in tough Montana steers would be a sound investment for the bankers and ranchers alike. However the bankers will only agree to giving loans if Ben can show them that his trial Montana yearling has survived. Devious rancher Jake Quarry wants to buy out the other impoverished ranchers' remaining stock so he certainly doesn't want a thriving Montana breed. (The stocky Clifton James makes the nasty Quarry a "fat cat" in every sense of the word!)

Hoss and Joe are again detailed to go up the mountain to measure the yearling and this is one of my favourite scenes of all time for the sheer joy of watching Dan and Michael having so much fun. The camera shoots them from above, struggling and floundering in the snow. Joe can't stop giggling and Hoss can't stop chortling with laughter and their ROFL expressions just make the viewer want to laugh with them. I'm sure that the director just told them to climb and have fun LOL! This is pure Dan and Michael as well as Hoss and Joe. Wonderful!

They return to Virginia City to "warm up" in the saloon (great Hoss/Joe banter) and are told that a draw is to take place to decide
which ranch will provide the beef for the annual Cattlemen's Association dinner. The recently married Howie and Marie Landis take part and Marie (naïve about local politics) is so proud of her husband's work as a foreman that she persuades him to enter the draw on behalf of his boss Jake Quarry. Howie wins but the mean and devious Quarry refuses to supply the meat and forces Howie to find his own source.

The honest Howie goes out to shoot an elk but mistakenly kills Ben's Montana steer. Having no other choice, he butchers the carcass (clearly carrying the Ponderosa pine tree brand) ready for the annual dinner and prepares to tell Ben of his mistake. Quarry arrives unexpectedly and threatens Howie with the loss of his job if he admits that the steer died from a hunting shot not winter kill. The situation is complicated by the fact that Marie has just told Howie that she is pregnant.

Howie and Marie both feel very guilty – she for having got her husband into this situation and he for shooting Ben's prize yearling.
There are some very touching scenes where Howard and Marie support each other by their mutual love and strength. As a viewer, I really wanted everything to turn out well for this very likeable couple! I thought that Glenn Corbett was splendid as the very honest, kindly, intelligent Howie.

At the Cattlemen's dinner Howie bravely confesses that the steak they are eating is the Montana yearling but Quarry insists it can't be and that the yearling carcass must still be in the mountains. Ben immediately understands that Howie has been blackmailed and
threatened and a decision is made for the Cartwrights, the local ranchers, bankers, Howie and a lawman to search for whatever carcass may be on the Sawtooth Ridge. Before they get there the devious Quarry fakes a Ponderosa brand on a real winter kill carcass.

The next day, in a wonderful snow scene where all the party don snow shoes and trudge through the shimmering white slopes, lofty pines and large granite boulders, they find the suspicious carcass. The Cartwrights are not fooled and Hoss cuts away part of the hide to reveal the over-branding. Quarry's attempt to escape is thwarted by the athletic Joe and Michael does a great fight scene in the snow!

I absolutely loved the picture perfect and character perfect last scene. Ben suggests that Howie takes a short cut home. As Howie dismounts, he runs through the snow as fast as he can to where Marie is calling and waving to him. The couple embrace warmly. Above them, Ben, Hoss and Joe smile down and then turn, warmly as a family, to return to the Ponderosa. A super episode not to be missed.

In terms of "behind the scenes", the presence of the brilliant writer John Hawkins (Michael's writing mentor) on the writing team really shows in the character construction and continuity of the script. The episode also benefits from the experienced William Wiard and an excellent choice of casting.