The Big Valley (TV Series) Fall of a Hero (1968) User Reviews

Not the legal profession's finest hour until the end when it shines

[mlbroberts · 10/10 · 24 November 2020]

Heath, infuriated at the mistreatment of an Indian war hero that results in his death, confronts the men who tormented him. One of the men is killed, but Heath has been knocked unconscious, did not see what happened and doesn't remember what led up to it. He is charged with murder and wants Jarrod to defend him, but two of the men who tormented the Indian are swearing Heath did the killing.

Jarrod knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on in his brother's defense, especially when the prosecutor who is known for pulling out all the stops for the benefit of his own political career shows up. Miraculously (?) Jarrod's old friend and political rival of the prosecutor shows up to "help" defend Heath. Jarrod knows he needs the help, but neither he nor Heath likes the tactics. Jarrod will accept them, but Heath won't, because they don't get at the truth - did he kill the dead man himself? Jarrod relents and goes looking for the one missing witness who might know what really happened.

Walter Burke to the rescue, even if he doesn't want to be there. God bless this great character actor with a face that looked like it was too long in the dryer. Jarrod retakes the case from his old friend, much to the old friend's disapproval, and gives a smashing example of how to examine a hostile witness on the stand. With Richard Long and Walter Burke on his side, Heath is guaranteed to find out the truth and the truth will set him free, from jail and from his own doubts.

Everybody wants a piece of a Barkley

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 25 July 2015]

A whole lot of familiar character players populate the cast in this Big Valley episode where Lee Majors goes on trial for murder. Of course it's Richard Long who gets him off to be back for the next show.

Back when he was not known to the rest of the Barkleys Lee Majors served in the Civil War with Rafael Campos who was a scout for his regiment. In one action he smelled out an ambush and saved a lot of lives. Now he's just another drunken Indian performing for the amusement of saloon louts like Dub Taylor, L.Q. Jones and Warren Vanders.

After Campos dies in a fall from attempting a stunt, Majors goes after those three, but gets a whack on the head and doesn't remember how Vanders got dead and his weapon fired.

Like the Cartwrights the Barkleys are big fish. Dennis Patrick comes in to prosecute Majors and a high priced defense attorney Richard Anderson offers his assistance to Long. Neither are shining examples of the legal profession.

A really superb cast is the reason to see this episode. But it's not the best Big Valley story and Lee Majors gets off via a very convenient ploy.

Another memory loss episode that is lackluster at best

[kfo9494 · 4/10 · 1 November 2012]

For whatever reason, we have at least one episode a year where someone from Stockton will lose their memory. Just last season Jarrod was the one that caused a wild adventure when he gets a knock on the head causing amnesia. This time it is Heath's turn to take the bump on the head and be the person of the week on another episode of "The Big Valley'.

Charley White Horse has been a friend of Heath's since a scout in the army. Now days Charley hangs around saloons doing anything for drinks. When Parker Atlas gets Charley to walk across the balcony blindfolded things go wrong. Charley falls to his death which makes Heath angry enough to hunt down Parker.

Heath finds Parker in the stable before being hit over the head. When Heath awakes, Parker is dead and two eye witnesses, Doc Tulley and Gus Vandiver, advises they saw Heath shoot Parker. And with the bump on the head, Heath cannot remember what happened.

Heath will stand trial for the murder of Parker with his brother, Jarrod, defending him of the charges. With two eye witnesses it will be difficult for Jarrod to have any defense in court. The only hope is for Heath's memory to return enough to remember some fact about that evening.

The episode started off real hopeful and then descended into a story with predicable dialog and uninteresting action. To me, when a script has to opt for memory loss then the writers are not really trying. Even with the great acting by the cast, this episode seemed slow and repetitive in nature. Not one of the better shows.