To Ride a Yeller Horse (18 Mar. 1974)

The schemes of a mother trying to control the lives of her son and daughter lead to tragic results.

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writer:

Calvin Clements Sr.

Stars:

Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Milburn Stone	...	Doc
Amanda Blake	...	Kitty
Ken Curtis	...	Festus
Buck Taylor	...	Newly
James Arness	...	Matt Dillon
Louise Latham	...	Mrs. Shepherd
Kathleen Cody	...	Anna May
Tom Leopold	...	Chester (as Thomas Leopold)
John Reilly	...	Orlo
Parker Stevenson	...	Steven
Simon Scott	...	Mr. Rogers
Herb Vigran	...	Judge Brooker
Elizabeth Harrower	...	Mrs. O'Roarke

Storyline

Joan Shepherd and her daughter, Anna May, plan to go to a local dance so Anna May can meet a wealthy young man, such as Steven Rogers, son of a wealthy rancher. An arranged marriage would be acceptable to Mr. Rogers, but Anna May detests Steven. She has eyes for Newly O'Brien. A poor neighboring farmer, Orlo Baker, would like to court Anna May, but Joan finds the thought laughable. Chester Shepherd, Joan's son, is interested in a young woman, whom Joan characterizes as a trollop. Joan recalls a young man from her own youth who rode a fine yellow horse, which epitomizes her goal for her children. The tensions threaten to tear the family apart.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1974 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

The ending is as sad as it gets.

In this rather simple plot we have a woman, Joan Shepard (Louise Latham) that has two young adults that want to live her life through them. She has already distance her son with her hateful works. Now she is after her daughter, Anna May, and wants her to pick a husband that she wished she had picked in her younger days.

Anna May is being courted by Newly but her mother does not think he is good enough and wants her to marry Steven Rogers which has just came back from a school back east and set to take over his father's business. Joan sees her daughter marrying into money and do all the things she wished she had done in her life. Then we get to see the psychotic side of Joan Shepard as she tries to eliminate all suitors thinking she knows what is best for her daughter.

The ending is not a pleasant one. It is a sad reminder that even our own family members may need help and sometimes we really do not know the right remedy to give. A melancholy show that you cannot do anything else but watch till the end.