Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) Heritage (1959) User Reviews

Irrational act

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 29 March 2017]

Edward G. Robinson and Robert Blake play father and son in this Zane Grey Theater teleplay set during the Civil War. Robinson is a hard working wheat farmer and by the last name looks to be of Dutch descent.

Apparently Blake's mom died during his childhood and Robinson did not have to be mom&dad to him. Now Blake has gone on a Confederate raid near his home and escaped. But the Yankees got his name and are searching for him.

The father and son reunion as you can imagine is somewhat painful. But what follows is one totally irrational act that I'm still scratching my head over.

How could Dick Powell let this story slip through, what a waste of talent.

Heritage

[Prismark10 · 3/10 · 5 April 2024]

Dick Powell introduces this tory by playing chess with his dog. His dog keeps losing. Powell talks about how dogs were used as a means of transport in parts of the west.

As for the main story. It is set in the civil war. Victor Bers (Edward G Robinson) is a Hungarian immigrant who became a farmer. He owns this piece of land, he and his later wife worked it to grow wheat. Leave something behind for his son.

Only Michael Bers (Robert Blake) resents his father and the farm. He went off to fight for the Rebels in the civil war. He detests being a farmer.

Now his son and a band of men return to hideout in the farm. Only if the Union soldiers find Victor helping his son. He will lose his land and crops.

It is a melodrama, well acted by the leads. I can dig the immigrant story, from nothing to something.

The ending is weak. Victor acts irrationally and loses everything. He had already lost his son, he was injured and on the losing side. Victor's sacrifice since he arrived in America was for nothing.