The Brady Bunch (TV Series) Ghost Town, U.S.A. (1971) User Reviews

Next Stop: Ghost Town

[sambase-38773 · 6/10 · 1 November 2022]

The whole family hops in a station wagon and heads for the Grand Canyon. That's 9 people and the camping bags on top so I hope that the wagon has good suspension! After driving all day they decide to camp in a ghost town that's 20 miles off the main road. Very soon they run into a crusty old prospector who seems very friendly at first, but then does them a dirty turn by locking them in jail! After they shared their fried chicken with him and everything! What a jerk. The jerk is played by Jim Backus, the actor who played Mr. Howell on Gilligan's Island. It seems odd that Mr. Brady would be so friendly and trusting of a crazy old guy who is dirty as can be and looks like a total bum, but that's what Mr. Brady does. Oops. No good deed goes unpunished as they say. The Brady family uses the key hanging on the wall to let themselves out. Then Mr. Brady decides to walk the 20 miles back to the main road and flag somebody down for help. That's where the episode ends and we now await part two.

I've always liked the Hawaii trilogy much better than the Grand Canyon trilogy so that's why I only gave this episode 6 stars. It's not bad, it's just not as fun and enjoyable as the Hawaii episodes.

A Town without pity

[safenoe · 8/10 · 20 January 2024]

Jim Backus, famous for playing Thurston Howell III plays against type in Ghost Town, U. S. A, where the Bradys are on the road. Backus plays Zaccariah T. Brown, a gold prospector who thankfully doesn't exhibit the same level of maliciousness that Mick Taylor (played by John Jarratt) in Wolf Creek.

Anyway, I like it when The Brady Bunch travelled, for example to Hawaii. I would have loved for The Brady Bunch to travel to New York City or Amish Country or Disneyland or Detroit or Philadelphia or Mount Rushmore or Florida, as I think that would have helped extend The Brady Bunch for another season or two.

GOOD GHOST TOWN STUFF WITH THE GANG

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 6 November 2023]

Howard Leeds wrote this extended episode, co-producer of the series, later to produce DIFFERENT STROKES and SILVER SPOONS. It was a super change of pace to get the cast on the road, including some sightseeing. There are some pictureque scenes here.

Mike hooks a trailer to the station wagon and everyone heads to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, and an unexpected detour to a ghost town. The Paramount western backlot was also used, which served as a backdrop for classic westerns and tv shows. Frequently used by MANNIX in some memorable episodes.

The best thing about this story is the appearance of comedian Jim Backus, who worked for Sherwood Schwartz on GILLIGANS ISLAND. But instead of playing fabulously wealthy Mr. Howell, he plays a devious polecat called Zachariah, a desert rat who is looking for gold. He sees an opportunity when he craftily locks the gang up in an abandoned jail and steals the station wagon!

One question: Zachariah, who presumably spent years in the desert with his mule, knew how to drive the Brady's car? He hops in and speeds off in the sunset.

This was adventurous stuff, especially for all us kids back in the day. Jim Backus steals the show, and with good reason, a master of characterizations and voices. A class act.

Lot of good dialogue and a rather clever way the gang escapes the jail cell. You have to admit, it's a long shot, but possible.

Best line dept: Zachariah stares at Alice's plate of fried chicken. "I haven't eaten in three days, ma'am." Alice glares at him, "There's crumbs in your whiskers!" Answer: "I haven't washed in three days either!"

Stay tuned for more high adventure.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 remastered dvd ABC/Paramount dvd box set.

Part 1 Of The Grand Canyon Trip

[Jimmy_the_Gent4 · 21 July 2020]

Mike and Carol get a camper and tell the kids and Alice they are all going on a trip to the Grand Canyon.

A good beginning to a three parter and a nice start to Season Three. One of the biggest laughs comes when Mike asks everyone if they forgotten anything, it turns out he forgot to attach the camper to the station wagon. The family decide to camp out at a ghost town for a night. Greg tries to film a movie on an old stagecoach with the rest of the kids. Then we find an old prospector Zachariah Brown (Jim Backus) watching them, he thinks they are trying to steal his gold claim. He locks the whole family in an old jail and drives off with their car. There is a good scene as Mike devises a way to break out. The show ends as Mike and Peter set out on the road to get help, setting up Part 2.

Boring

[bradycat-16855 · 1/10 · 1 January 2021]

Nothing good about this one. Boring form start to finish