Look to the Stars (18 Mar. 1962)

The Cartwrights encourage young genius, Albert Michelson, to pursue his scientific experiments while trying to discover why schoolmaster, George Norton, expelled Albert from school and ... See full summary »

Director:

Don McDougall

Writers:

David Dortort (creator), Robert M. Fresco,

Stars:

Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Lorne Greene	...	Ben Cartwright
Pernell Roberts	...	Adam Cartwright
Dan Blocker	...	Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright
Michael Landon	...	Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright
Douglas Lambert	...	Albert Abraham Michelson
William Schallert	...	George Norton
Joe De Santis	...	Samuel Michelson
Penny Santon	...	Rosalie Michelson
Booth Colman	...	Henry P. Quince
Salvador Baguez	...	Antonio Garcia
Wallace Rooney	...	Boardman
Richard Vera	...	Miguel Garcia

Storyline

The Cartwrights encourage young genius, Albert Michelson, to pursue his scientific experiments while trying to discover why schoolmaster, George Norton, expelled Albert from school and seems determined to stand in the way of his appointment to the prestigious Annapolis Naval Academy.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Western

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1962 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 17, Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior of the school house used in this episode "Looking to the Stars" was located on the backlot of Paramount Studios, (in an area now known as The Tank) it is the Historic Lasky-DeMille Barn in which the first feature length motion picture in 1913 "The Squaw Man" was shot. Moved from it's original location on Selma Avenue and Vine Street by film Pioneer Jesse L. Lasky; it was used in many Paramount western films and television episodes. Mr. Booth Colman who guest stars as "Henry P. Quince" was a close friend of Jesse L. Lasky Jr.

---

Goofs

Albert Abraham Michelson was born in 1852, he received his appointment to Annapolis in 1869 from Ulysses S. Grant. These early seasons of Bonanza were set before 1861 and the start of War Between the States.

User Reviews

every bit as bad as "Dr Quack, Modern Woman"

Inasmuch as Albert Michelson grew up around Virginia City, someone must have thought that getting the Cartwrights involved in his life would make an interesting story. * It might have, but this isn't it.

Given Michelson's great intelligence, the Cartwrights try to get him appointed to the Naval Academy, so he can receive the education he deserves. But... Michelson is thwarted at every turn by his teacher (William Schallert) who doesn't like people with dark skin, or Jews, or fill in the name of any discriminated-against minority.

Of course, justice wins out in the end, and Schallert is even allowed to keep his job after promising never to do bigoted things again.

AS A LIBERAL, I detest this rewriting of history to "prove" that some people (eg, the Cartwrights) were good and decent and unprejudiced and just and (fill in whatever positive attributes you care to). Such stories are little more than an excuse for the viewer /not/ to feel guilty about their own failings.

"In the real world", the white citizens of Virginia City would have had little social tolerance for people who looked or acted differently. They wouldn't have given a damn whether Michelson was admitted to Annapolis. Indeed, I suspect Michelson was nominated and appointed without any problems.

* Given Michelson's stated age of 16, the story would have to take place in 1868 or 1869. I couldn't find a chronology for the Ponderosa or the Cartwrights, so I don't know if this is accurate.