Dark Angel (11 Nov. 1972)

Lordsville preacher Serenity Johnson is literally blinded by greed, while Caine locates his paternal grandfather, who has lived a bitter life blinded by prejudice.

Director:

Jerry Thorpe

Writers:

Ed Spielman (creator), Herman Miller (developer),

Stars:

David Carradine, John Carradine, Robert Carradine

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Carradine	...	Kwai Chang Caine
John Carradine	...	Rev. Serenity Johnson
Robert Carradine	...	Sonny Jim
Dean Jagger	...	Henry Raphael Caine
Adrienne Marden	...	Coralee Dodd
James Griffith	...	Joe Purdy
Paul Harper	...	Davey Peartree
Keye Luke	...	Master Po
Philip Ahn	...	Master Kan (voice)
Larry Duran	...	Lead Indian
Charles Bail	...	First Tough (as Chuck Bail)
Bob Herron	...	Second Tough
Bill McLean	...	Poker Player
James Weatherill	...	First Vigilante (as Jim Weatherill)
Tim Haldeman	...	Second Vigilante

Storyline

Lordsville preacher Serenity Johnson is literally blinded by greed, while Caine locates his paternal grandfather, who has lived a bitter life blinded by prejudice.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 1972 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 16, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Carradine's Serenity Johnson would return in two episodes: "The Nature of Evil," during the second season, and "Ambush," during the third.

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Goofs

During the initial fight between Caine and the Indian leader stunt doubles are clear in the throws.

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Connections

Referenced in Zen and Now: A Dinner with David Carradine & Friends (2004)

User Reviews

John Carradine as Serenity Johnson

It is quite fitting that this second episode from November 1972 features three Carradines,as it centers on Caine's family tree.Destitute prospector Davey Peartree(Paul Harper)lies dying from an attack by Apaches,having discovered his long-sought cache of gold on their land.Caine,arriving too late to save him,is given the map of the gold's location and brings the dead body into the local town of Lordsburg,meeting Davey's preacher,Serenity Johnson(John Carradine),and his mute assistant,Sunny Jim(Robert Carradine).After saving Caine from a hanging by alerting the vigilantes to the evidence of an Apache attack,Serenity makes a plea to the grateful Caine to give him proof of Davey's gold.Once Caine complies,Serenity goes off in search of his fortune,but is waylaid by the vigilant Apaches,who tie him to a post with his eyelids sewn back,leaving the avaricious preacher completely blind.Wallowing in bitterness and drink,Serenity finds comfort in the example set by Caine,who remembers his blind Master Po(Keye Luke)as a man with no eyes who never failed to see the important things in life.Also in Lordsburg lives Henry Raphael Caine(Dean Jagger),the stonemason grandfather of Kwai Chang Caine,who drove his son,Thomas Henry Caine,out of his home and over to China because he couldn't stand the sight of his Asian bride,driving his wife,Kwai Chang's grandmother,to an early grave.Confronted by the righteous Serenity Johnson,the bigoted Henry acknowledges his half-Chinese grandson,offering him belongings from both his father and son,including unanswered letters from Thomas Henry Caine's eldest son,Kwai Chang's half-brother Danny.The introduction of a brother provided the motivating destiny for Caine's eternal search for peace,and sustained the series for its entire three year network run.David Carradine is memorably joined by his legendary father,John Carradine,and his own half-brother Robert,making only his second television appearance,having made his feature debut in 1972's "The Cowboys," starring John Wayne.This was the first time that David and Robert had worked together,but John had already done three movies with son David,1969's "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys," 1970's "The McMasters," and 1972's "Boxcar Bertha." Even half-brother Keith makes an unbilled appearance as the Middle Caine,albeit in archive footage shot for the original pilot,only repeating the role in episode 11 "Chains." I believe this is the only time in his career that John Carradine played a blind character,in a role he would repeat in "The Nature of Evil" during the second season,and "Ambush" during the third.Two future episodes also boasted David's older half-brother Bruce,born three years before David(same mother,different fathers),whose acting career featured far fewer credits than the others.The bigotry of the Old West,toward the Chinese,the Indians,even the blacks,were touched on more often than any other topic,and this episode,plus the following one,were the best examples to begin with.