I'm a little surprised this episode is rated so low. For me it's one of my personal favorite Bonanza episodes. Certainly Dennis Hopper is outstanding and handsome at age 28, even though he looks younger. Watch for his big dramatic reveal about half-way through the episode. Also interesting to see Susan Seaforth (Hayes) with very long hair and a pre-"Days of Our Lives" appearance. The plot is slightly contrived to get Dennis and Susan to the Ponderosa, but once they do, you'll enjoy seeing their budding attraction. They have nice chemistry together and the and acting and great ending save it. Hard to believe Dennis would be doing "Easy Rider" just five years later.
3 Reviews
Preacher's kid turned bounty hunter
bkoganbing17 June 2019
Dennis Hopper delivers a great performance as a bounty hunter, a man without
friends or needing any so he says. The big surprise for the Cartwrights is that
Hopper is the son of a preacher that Lorne Greene knew from the old days.
But Hopper has abandoned that and his quarry is outlaw Ron Starr whose wife ran away and is back in Virginia City. He figures that if he hangs around Susan Seaforth Hayes long enough Starr will surface.
All I'll say is that things don't quite go according to Hopper's plans. And he finds he needs friends like the Cartwright's in time of need.
Susan Seaforth Hayes does well too as the very naive girl. I have to say that folks like the Cartwrights don't come along that often in life to lend a helping hand.
Hopper's scenes with Michael Landon are very good as Little Joe shows the upbringing he's had that Hopper has rejected.
All around good episode.
But Hopper has abandoned that and his quarry is outlaw Ron Starr whose wife ran away and is back in Virginia City. He figures that if he hangs around Susan Seaforth Hayes long enough Starr will surface.
All I'll say is that things don't quite go according to Hopper's plans. And he finds he needs friends like the Cartwright's in time of need.
Susan Seaforth Hayes does well too as the very naive girl. I have to say that folks like the Cartwrights don't come along that often in life to lend a helping hand.
Hopper's scenes with Michael Landon are very good as Little Joe shows the upbringing he's had that Hopper has rejected.
All around good episode.
Is this preacher's son-turned-gunfighter hopeless?
georgeredding30 March 2022
In this unforgettable episode Dennis Hopper plays the part of a bounty hunter who is colder than cold can be. He had rather hunt human beings than people. Susan Seaforth Hayes plays the part of a darling young lady, named Holly, whose has escaped from her outlaw husband Ron Starr; she goes to the Ponderosa.
To show how cold the bounty hunter is, he reluctantly reads to her after Joe asks him to, but he is unfriendly toward Holly and and is sarcastic about the Bible. One time Little Joe, after being frustrated with him tells him that ..."he is not there to sing him any hymns!" The resolve may be surprising, but the entire story held my attention well.
To show how cold the bounty hunter is, he reluctantly reads to her after Joe asks him to, but he is unfriendly toward Holly and and is sarcastic about the Bible. One time Little Joe, after being frustrated with him tells him that ..."he is not there to sing him any hymns!" The resolve may be surprising, but the entire story held my attention well.
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