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Reviews
The High Chaparral: The Arrangement (1967)
Pilot (part 2)
John decides to pay Don Sebastian Montoya a visit, and tries to work out some kind of cooperation with him. Don Sebastian is a sly fox, and agrees, but with a price to pay. He wants John to marry his beautiful daughter Victoria, since John lost his wife. When John arrives at The High Chaparral, his son Blue isn't pleased with the news and after John tells him he is 'free to leave' he does so. Buck finds Blue after three days, and 'gently' persuades him to come back. After a Apache attack on the ranch, Blue is wounded and John shows for the first time he cares about him.
Good episode with great acting of all actors.
The High Chaparral: Destination Tucson (1967)
Pilot (part 1)
First part of the Pilot, which you really have to watch in order to understand everything that is going to happen in the next episodes. John Cannon, his brother Buck, son Billy Blue and wife Annalee arrive in the Arizona Territory after they have traveled a thousand miles to get there. We get a good insight of the characters from the very beginning. Big John Cannon, a harsh, tough man, determined to tame the country even if it kills him, and thinks his son needs to be toughened up. Billy Blue, his sensitive son, for whom it is impossible to understand his father, full of compassion, always willing to help. Buck, John's brother, who often acts as an intervenor between John and Blue, he's a fighting, drinking man with a hard of gold. John's sensitive wife Annalee.
The bunkhouse boys are recruited in this episode as well. Sam, Joe, Pedro, Reno and Ira join the family at the ranch, where we also see Vaquero for the first time.
Action, drama, humor, everything is present in this episode. Very funny scene when Buck tries to introduce Blue to a saloon girl.
The High Chaparral: Survival (1968)
Heat and thirst
Survival, a television drama at it's best. A very important episode for John (Leif Erickson) and Blue (Mark Slade), who have to survive in the desert after there horses, water and hats have been taken by Soldado. He sets them free, but says they have to live off the desert, the way an Indian could. The nearest well that they know of is 40 miles away, without horses and water things look grim. This episode is so realistic that you can feel the heat and the thirst. While Blue and his father are struggling to survive, there is a shift in their relationship. At the beginning Blue is still considered a boy by his father, later John begins to realize that his son is growing up. They are willing to sacrifice their lives for one another. A very dramatic episode with outstanding performances of Leif Erickson and Mark Slade. The parts of Cameron Mitchell, Henry Darrow and Linda Cristal are relatively small, but important for the flow of the story. An episode have to watch!
The High Chaparral: Champion of the Western World (1968)
One of the funniest episodes
"Champion of the Western World" is one of the funniest episodes of The High Chaparral. Billy Blue (Mark Slade) sees a beautiful silver saddle, which he wants to buy. The price is much too high so he decides he has to win the prize money for the 4th July Rodeo. Joe (Bob Hoy) at first wants the saddle for himself, but after the ranch-hands decide to join forces when they are provoked by a cowboy from another ranch. Even Big John Cannon (Leif Erickson), despite his 'old age' takes part in the contest. Lots of funny scenes with the bunkhouse boys and exchanges between Blue and Paddy O'Binnian (Charles Aidman) who he has to fight in this episode. Very good episode for Mark Slade, but with lots of room for the other characters as well.
The High Chaparral (1967)
best western series ever
The High Chaparral was the best western series ever. It 'touched' many interesting subjects. One of them is the relationship between it's family members. The difficult relationship between Blue and his father John, was portrayed in a very convincing way by the extremely talented actor Mark Slade and Leif Erickson. It reminded many teenagers of their own problems with their parents, and was no doubt one of the reasons of the popularity of the series. Blue's relationship with his Uncle Buck (Cameron Mitchell) was one of warmth and understanding, allowing the actors to show a different side of 'their' character, often leading to humorous scenes, but also deeply emotion scenes. The inter cultural relationship between John and his wife Victoria was something very few other TV series dared to touch in the 60's. In many ways 'The High Chaparral' was ahead of it's time, and according to it's numerous fans 'timeless'. It's a pity there were only 3 seasons with the original cast. I would have loved to see more of it.