Bonanza (TV Series) Elegy for a Hangman (1963) User Reviews

A one man Warren Commission

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 10 September 2020]

The Cartwrights are entertaining Judge Otto Kruger at the Ponderosa who has a good but strict reputation on the bench. At the same time young Keir Dullea comes into Virginia City accusing the judge of an unfair trial in regard to his father who the judge sentenced to hang some months ago.

When the chief witness at the trial Kevin Hagen is wounded and when gunman Ron Soble tries to pick a fight with Dullea it's Adam Cartwright who appoints himself a one man Warren Commission to investigate the whole matter. The results point to a lot of corruption in high places.

This episode belongs to Pernell Roberts who conducts himself like a prosecuting attorney in that last scene. The guest cast is uniformly fine and that includes William Zuckert as a smarmy senator.

One for Pernell Roberts fans.

Adam missed his calling

[rgxdzrybr · 9/10 · 20 June 2023]

Adam takes center stage in this episode as he gets to the truth of a case involving a man who was convicted and hanged perhaps unjustly. Oh who are we kidding it was unjust . The whole thing might never have been solved if not for the dead man's son and Adam . The presiding judge is a friend of Ben's of course and not a bad person but he neglected his duties as judge in that trial. The interesting thing is it's haunting him even as he for much of the episode remains somewhat indignant. Adam however presses the matter and points out the judge's conscience is troubling him. There is a little action in this one as someone ( who is obvious early on) is trying to sweep the case away but it only makes it more obvious something went horribly wrong. Adam really should have been an attorney and then a judge. That would have used his strengths so much better than the show ultimately did. Adam with the judge's willingness convenes an informal hearing and questions various individuals connected to the matter at hand.

The guest cast is solid and adds interest to the story. The plot also centers the expansion of the west and the role the railroad played in it.