Bonanza (TV Series) Elizabeth, My Love (1961) User Reviews

The First Love

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 10 December 2010]

In this episode of Bonanza we learn something of Ben Cartwright's background when while Pernell Roberts is seriously ill, Lorne Greene while at his bedside flashes back to the courtship of his mother.

This earliest viewing of Benjamin Cartwright has him as a sailor out of New England going into partnership with a beached sea captain played by Torin Thatcher. Lorne Greene is also paying court to his daughter Elizabeth and woos and wins her.

Thatcher is a restless soul on dry land, not happy with the ship's chandler store that he's partners with young Ben Cartwright in. He's drinking too heavily and is sorely tempted by Berry Kroeger to sail a schooner for him.

I can't think of a TV show or movie where Berry Kroeger wasn't the slimiest of villains. No exception here, Kroeger's interest is in the outlawed slave trade. Kroeger's working on Thatcher hard, he might forget how distasteful the slave trade is just to feel a deck under his feet with the roll of the sea.

At the same time Thatcher's daughter Geraldine Brooks is now Greene's first wife and pregnant with young Adam. Greene has the concerns of a young businessman and father to be at the same time.

Elizabeth, My Love is a nice look at the Cartwright background way before there was a Ponderosa.

Flashback episode

[kfo9494 · 6/10 · 4 March 2014]

Even though this episode was not really that bad, it was on of those flashback shows that are usually saved for when the writers have nothing left. In this episode, when Adam is very ill, Ben flashes back to when he was a first mate on a New England merchant ship and remembers falling in love with Adam's mother, Elizabeth.

It just so happens that Elizabeth's father, Captain Stoddard, is the person that Ben is working for on the ship. When salty Captain Stoddard falls on hard times it could jeopardize the relationship between Ben and Elizabeth. Ben has faith in Captain Stoddard and will try to get fallen Captain to stand on his feet and also get the hand of his lovely daughter. But it will not be easy, as the Captain wants to set to sea again at any cost.

The best thing about this episode is that we learn Ben's early life and how and why he went west to start a life. Plus we get a look inside the life of Adam's mother which is always a positive. But this story just seemed too long. It just did not have the feel of a Bonanza episode.

First Love

[mitchrmp · 7/10 · 26 September 2014]

They say first love is always the sweetest, and in my opinion I think maybe it's the same in Ben's case.

This is the first of three episodes that tells the story of Ben's wife. In this episode, we learn how Ben married Adam's mother, how she died, and how he ended up coming out West. I think it's the sweetest of the three.

It's interesting seeing what Ben could have been like as a young man, though I figure he was a lot better looking and skinnier...

Ben, a seaman - turn merchant owner - turn...well, you'll just have to watch the next installment to see what he became next.

Dead: 1

Ben Cartwright before the Ponderosa

[CCsito · 8/10 · 7 May 2013]

This "Bonanza" episode starts with Adam Cartwright being seriously ill which brings back memories to Ben Cartwright that dealt with Adam's mother Elizabeth. Ben's earlier history is shown that he was originally was a seaman in New England who worked under a captain and was wooing his daughter. His commanding officer is forced to retire which results in friction with Ben who is tagged to replace him. Ben is able to convince his former captain to join him in starting a mercantile business. He also marries Elizabeth and she later becomes pregnant. All appears to be going well until the birth of the baby occurs (Adam) and Elizabeth's weak health condition from giving birth ends in tragedy. Ben then decides to "follow his dream" and heads out west with Adam leaving his father-in-law in New England. The storyline was a little weak regarding Elizabeth at the end of the episode. The doctor leaves her bed to go home and does not say anything to her father or husband about her condition. Returning back to the present, Adam recovers from his illness and mentions that he dreamed that he was on a ship which obviously has ties to Ben's memories.

Ben, The Star

[tracywinters-44332 · 7/10 · 15 October 2017]

Pretty good episode where Ben reminisces about one of his ex-wives (Adam's Mom).

Funny to see Ben in the navy on a ship shouting orders.... of course, he's a high-ranking officer (the writers ALWAYS do that -- they make the star a big shot officer during his military days. See McGarrett (Jack Lord) in a Hawaii 5-O episode where he also reminisces about when he wore his cute navy white OFFICER uniform).

Ben's former dark-haired navy persona is a little bit too goody-goody, of course, that was expected also. The STAR has to be drawn as a perfect human being. Anyway, of interest for the novelty of seeing Ben in the service.

Geraldine Brooks plays Ben's former love.