Pilot 

A newspaper reporter quits his job and travels across America by motorcycle.

Director:

William A. Graham

Writer:

Denne Bart Petitclerc

Stars:

Michael Parks, Bonnie Bedelia, Akim Tamiroff

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Parks	...	Jim Bronson
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Temple Brooks
Akim Tamiroff	...	Papa Bear
Gary Merrill	...	Inspector Otis
Sheree North	...	Gloria Oresko
Martin Sheen	...	Nick Oresko
Bert Freed	...	Editor Carson
Bruce Mars	...	Troy
Ted Gehring	...	Diner Owner
Lawrence Hauben	...	Eddie
Michael Bell	...	Petty
Gene Dynarski	...	Boots Kowalski
Art Metrano	...	Barker
Peter Brocco	...	Stationmaster
Stanley Schneider	...	Deputy

Storyline

Jim Bronson is a young newspaperman who quits his job following the suicide of his best friend, and sets out on a cross-country trip on his motorcycle in his quest for the meaning of life in which he befriends a runway bride, another searching soul, in this pilot for the TV series of the same name.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | topless female nudity | beach | sea | peeping | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1969 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Fort Point, Presidio, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

We learn from the Pilot, Jim Bronson is a Taurus, April 21 to May 20, 21, and Michael Parks was born 24 April.

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Goofs

During the hill climbing you can see that the bike Jim is on is not a Sportster, the exhaust pipes give that away.

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Quotes

Temple Brooks: Jim, I want to be your friend.
Jim Bronson: Ya know, when you take on a friend, you take on a lot.

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Alternate Versions

The TV pilot did not have nudity. That was included in the version that was released to theaters on April 1, 1970.

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Connections

Referenced in Morirás con el sol (Motociclistas suicidas) (1973)

User Reviews

An inspiration.

As I watched this TV show back in 69' I didn't realize at the time what kind of an impact it would have on me. I was only 17 at the time so the "Zen" part about it didn't influence me at all. What never left me was his traveling around the countryside on a motorcycle. It got me thinking what it might be like to wander around so freely. Almost 10 years later I found out. That's when I purchased my 78' Goldwing, which carried me to 49 States, every Province in Canada and a little bit of Mexico. Some of the stories my riding produced and the people I met reminded me so much of "Then Came Bronson".

The great importance of this show was that it portrayed a biker who was mild mannered and not the wild drunken criminal that the biker movies were about at that time. He was a likable guy who you could trust. That's who I try to be when I'm out there traveling around. I really wish I could see the show again.