Blind Man's Bluff (15 Jan. 1979)

Laura Ingalls is horrified to witness the fall from a tree that blinds her friend, Jordan Harrison, while he's performing a circus stunt. But when she finds out that Jordan's sight has ... See full summary »

Director:

William F. Claxton

Writers:

Laura Ingalls Wilder (based upon the series of books "Little House" by), Arthur Heinemann

Stars:

Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Michael Landon	...	Charles Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert	...	Laura Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson	...	Mary Ingalls Kendall
Lindsay Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Sidney Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Richard Bull	...	Nels Oleson
Kevin Hagen	...	Dr. Hiram Baker
Scottie MacGregor	...	Harriet Oleson (as Katherine MacGregor)
Matthew Labyorteaux	...	Albert Quinn Ingalls
Linwood Boomer	...	Adam Kendall
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wesley Bishop	...	Mr. Herzog (as Wesley Grant)
Michelle Downey	...	Susan 'Sue' Goodspeed
Karen Grassle	...	Caroline Ingalls (credit only)
Bert Kramer	...	Timothy Harrison
Maureen Lee	...	Mrs. Herzog

Storyline

Laura Ingalls is horrified to witness the fall from a tree that blinds her friend, Jordan Harrison, while he's performing a circus stunt. But when she finds out that Jordan's sight has returned, Laura must decide whether it's right when he asks her to keep it a secret, especially after Jordan tells her that his parents' concern for him appears to have brought them back from the brink of divorce.

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Plot Keywords:

falling off horse | fake blindness | concussion

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1979 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ed Friendly Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Don't Try This at Home!

Jordan Harrison has big dreams of one day joining the circus, which he practices for daily on the trapeze in his room. There was one trick he still unable to master: get his parents, Timothy and Belle, to stop their endless bickering. They argued like little kids in front of their own kid. To make matters worse, they were planning on separating. While jugging his emotions, Jordan showed off his limited knowledge of circus stunts to his friend, Laura. For example, today he strung a tight rope between two trees a few feet apart with the aim of walking across it. A few steps out, Jordan suddenly lost his balance and fell to the ground, knocking him out. Laura raced for Doc Baker. The boy came to an hour or so later, seemingly fine, with one problem: he couldn't see. Apparently the fall had blinded him. After a week with no changes in his vision, Timothy decided Jordan should be enrolled in the blind school and even asked Charles to secure it with Mary. Belle wasn't so sure as she thought of the boy going there as a sign of giving up. All the while, Laura couldn't shake the feeling that Jordan's accident was her fault, even though he's the one who stupidly tried to walk a tight rope without experience. Timothy and Belle were also beside themselves over this tragedy and managed to put aside their differences. I sure hope the little bugger isn't fake this, as the episode's title tends to give away. However, it may just be a coincidence.

Jordan caught on pretty quick with braille and he participated in many of the school's extracurricular activities. His parents seemed to be getting along again, however the status of their relationship was still unsettled, mainly because they were too busy being concerned with their son than with themselves. This seemed to dissatisfy Jordan, so one day during class, he decided to sneak out and run away like a bandit in the night. Laura found him in the woods, still practicing his tight rope skills, only this time on a fallen tree. Naturally she felt shocked, hurt and deceived all at the same time, just thinking about all the pain, agony and remorse he'd put everybody through. Jordan apparently did it because he saw his mother and father together and wanted to keep them that way, so he begged for Laura to keep his secret until he was ready to fess up. Laura continued wrestling with her conscience, as if he didn't already make her do that enough in this episode, and was then requested to walk Jordan to school on horse back. See, the little troublemaker had a plan: he would have an "accident" via falling off the horse and regain his sight. Deciding he already had gotten himself in deep enough, Laura refused to go along and left, causing the horse to rear up and Jordan fell flat on the ground. This was for real. His head hit a rock and he required stitches, there was also the possibility of a skull fracture and he may require surgery. After many hours of waiting and worrying, Jordan finally came to, and he could see again! It's a miracle and stuff, I guess. He seemed to have forgotten falling off a horse as well as every other occurrence that followed his tight rope catastrophe. Was it a concussion or another case of crying wolf? Laura was determined to find out so she cornered him and asked if he swore to God on his life that he was for reals. Jordan swore to God, which was very serious back then, so I guess he's telling the truth. As for Timothy and Belle, I guess they stay together. Whether they do or not, it probably doesn't matter since we never see any of them again.

While this episode was pretty good, it was also quite depressing. The whole thing had a very bleak and sad tone. Plus you're not sure how to feel about Jordan. Sure he's an unhappy kid crying out for his parents' affection and for them not to split up, which might have been better for them, and so he fakes blindness and plays everybody like a harp. Deception was not his intention, but wrong is wrong no matter how you slice it. Well however you feel about it, this episode was still well done. Ronnie Scribner was good as Jordan, and I believe he did his own stunts, though I could be wrong. Also good were Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Bert Kramer, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Kevin Hagen. I say, give this one a look over.