"Bonanza" Badge Without Honor (1960)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

David Dortort (creator)
John Twist (writer)

TV Series:

"Bonanza" (1959)

Original Air Date:

24 September 1960 (Season 2, Episode 3)

Genre:

Action | Romance | War | Western

Plot:

After a U.S. deputy marshal apparently saves Adam's life by gunning down two men who shot at him, he...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Nevada | Half Brother | Brother Brother Relationship | Strong Man

Cast

Lorne Greene	...	Ben Cartwright
Pernell Roberts	...	Adam Cartwright
Dan Blocker	...	Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright
Michael Landon	...	Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright
Dan Duryea	...	U.S. Dep. Marshall Gerald Eskith
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred Beir	...	Jason Blaine
Wendell Holmes	...	Judge Rand
James Hong	...	Number One, Hop Sing's Cousin
Richard Warren	...	Gideon Clevenger
Christine White	...	Mariette Blaine

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Copyright has expired and is now in the public domain.

Silky smooth Duryea

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

For fans of the great Duryea the availability of this 'Bonanza' episode on DVD is a treat. As the suave but deeply suspect Deputy Marshall Gerald Eskith he dominates the show (not, admittedly, that difficult with the stilted performances around him). His con man name-dropping turn at the Ponderosa, culminating in a dazzling display of swordsmanship, is the highlight. How he arrives at Virginia City in a dazzling blue suit I'm not sure, but he goes on to try to seduce his quarry's wife with old world courtesy and honeyed words, as camp and urbane as Vincent Price. His tricky gunmanship seems likely to win the day, but of course his comeuppance is round the corner!