The Ride (21 Jan. 1962)

Because he didn't see the gunman's face, witness Adam Cartwright can't convince his family and the sheriff of his certainty that good friend, Bill Enders, was one of the hooded men ... See full summary »

Director:

Don McDougall

Writers:

David Dortort (creator), Ward Hawkins

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
Jan Merlin	...	Bill Enders
Grace Gaynor	...	Mary Enders
Ray Teal	...	Sheriff Roy Coffee
Chubby Johnson	...	Toby Barker
Hal Baylor	...	Arch Stewart
Bob Harris	...	Sammy Yates

Storyline

Because he didn't see the gunman's face, witness Adam Cartwright can't convince his family and the sheriff of his certainty that good friend, Bill Enders, was one of the hooded men responsible for robbing a way station and killing the attendant.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 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?

Goofs

After Ben and Adam talked to Sheriff Coffee in his Office Adam says he's going to meet his brother Hoss in the "Silver Dollar Saloon". But in the following scene Ben and Adam enter the "Nugget Saloon" and meet the there waiting Hoss.

User Reviews

The Ride: An Excellent Episode

This episode aired during the 3rd season of Bonanza in January 1962. This is one of those episodes that I would show to someone who has never heard of Bonanza; it's that good. Adam (Pernell Roberts) is the main character of this story, although the others appear.

The only guest star that I know is Chubby Johnson, who opens the story sitting with Adam on a porch. Seems he made hundreds of appearances in western films & TV, a character actor who chewed his scenery, often as an old timer.

Anyway, the opening scene mentioned above reminds me an awful lot of "The Andy Griffith Show" & the relaxed nature of many scenes featuring Andy & Barney just talking.

Unfortunately, a robbery bursts the tranquil, lazy opening. Adam recognizes one of the robbers, even though they're wearing potato sacks over their heads.

That reminded me of Batman, The Lone Ranger, or any western where the bad guy used a neckerchief to cover his face, & you'd always think that someone should have recognized him at some point.

Even though Adam's a Cartwright with lots of respect, hardly anyone believes his story, especially when it's discovered that witnesses have placed the robber in Virginia City shortly after the robbery, seemingly impossible that he could have made it to the robbery site & back in time.

Adam stays convicted that he knows the robber. That's one of the episode's strengths & lessons: be honest even when no one believes you.

Later in the episode Adam confronts the robber in Virginia City, which happens several times. The robber is very convincing in regards that he would never commit such an act. He then starts to spread the word around town that Adam just wants his wife, so that's why he's accusing the robber in the 1st place.

The wife of the robber has some very good scenes. Check out the one where she tries to seduce Adam. It's very well portrayed.

Just an excellent story. Many of the western clichés are turned head over heels in this episode, all for the better. There's action, but more dramatic scenes between the central characters.

The only thing against this episode is the constant commercial interruption shown on TVLand. It'll be a great day when the powers that be release this show with complete seasons with uncut 51-minute episodes.