Bonanza (TV Series) The Sound of Sadness (1972) User Reviews

Abandoned

[bkoganbing · 9/10 · 7 May 2016]

Probably the best episode of the last Bonanza season, Jack Albertson gives a touching performance as a widower farmer who takes in two runaway orphans and bonds with them like no other since their parents deserted them.

The two kids are in the orphanage because of parental abandonment and there's a young couple who is willing to adopt one, but not the other because the younger boy has just stopped talking.

Many years ago I knew a brother and sister who had that situation, both were taken from their parents and made wards of the state. But the girl was adopted and the boy wasn't. I knew the issues he faced in his life and that rejection scarred his soul for the rest of his life.

Orphan director John Randolph is really not a bad person, but definitely thick. Both Lorne Greene and Tim Matheson have to set him straight.

Albertson is wonderful in his role. His scenes with the two orphans are truly sublime.

Heartwarming Drama

[jomor6 · 9/10 · 6 September 2021]

I had to see who wrote this episode after watching it unfold on MTV. It's a tale that tugs at the heartstrings. Two orphaned boys are threatened with separation, as was often the case in American history. A kindly retired farmer offers them refuge when they run away from the orphanage. As the story unfolded, I thought I recognized the storytelling of Michael Landon. He was a master of the style on Little House on the Prairie. It turns out I was correct, and it is a very entertaining episode, aided with dome fine acting by Jack Albertson.

Great Story, but Bonanza's downfall is clear.

[bonifan · 7/10 · 11 June 2024]

This is a wonderful, warm and tender story of a lovely old man played perfectly by Jack Albertson and two capable child actors who find love and friendship in his home. Most of the main characters deliver, but clearly this was an episode for Hoss. And while Dan Blocker's untimely passing was not the fault of the producers, if the situation had only been handled differentlly the show may have lived on even longer.

Instead of replacing Hoss, the producers went and found themselves another "Adam" in Tim Matheson. Not to put all the blame on Matheson. When the script called for an edgier Cartwright, he filled the bill well. But in this episode, he was awkward and out of place as the big hearted hero. A better choice would have been Lou Frizzel as top hand Dusty Rhodes, especially when you consider they already had a capable and proven "Adam" with Canary. It's a shame to think of the success they could have reached.

The Sound of Sadness

[richard-67429 · 10/10 · 7 September 2021]

I just watched this episode on MeTV in September 2021 and I thought it was a very touching episode. Although Bonanza was not the same without Hoss, I thought the plot and character development was excellent in this episode. Michael Landon deserves credit for writing this.