This ep only has Ben and Hoss in it. Not what is so strange as many eps feature limited amounts of regulars. What is weird is the town most of the action takes place in. The guest stars matter more than the regulars.Blocker is in quite a few scenes but mostly just behind bars. It almost looked like this was a pilot for a show that did not sell--was it?
(Note: the actual bank robbers are surprisingly never caught. I thought what was going to happen was the appearance and arrest of the actual robbers at the ep's end would have freed Hoss. It never happened.)
6 Reviews
The Episode with No Cartwrights
clacura26 February 2021
This episode sums up the culture of the west back in the 1800's. There is little critical thought and a mob mentality. Rush to justice before a trial--take the law into his own hands--until the last minute solution. Yet, maybe, there is truth to this culture and we have learned next to nothing in our 'rush to justice' BLM culture! The character acting in this episode is ripe with well-known actors from TV shows...like The Andy Griffith Show--half these actors were in one of the episodes of TAGS.
Rehashed plot- that is too predictable.
kfo94948 June 2012
Here is another episode that involves one of the Cartwright boys being accused of a murder that he did not commit. This time the character is Hoss when he is arrest outside of a small town that recently had a bank robbery that involved the killing of Ed Wilson, a respected town person.
One of the local drunks is duped into fingering Hoss for the killing. And this sets off the townsfolk wanting a lynching instead of waiting for a trial.
The local sheriff, played by Denver Pyle, is not the most popular guy in town until the townsfolk believe he has captured Ed's murderer. The sheriff likes his new fame and refuses to send out a telegram that would prove Hoss's innocents. But soon he realizes that he can no longer control his town as they demand a lynching with or without any evidence.
This is again a very predictable and repeated episode. This is played out again and again during the entire series of 'Bonanza'. Without needing a spoiler we all know that the last five minutes will produce some action that could possibly save Hoss from hanging. Just way too predictable.
One of the local drunks is duped into fingering Hoss for the killing. And this sets off the townsfolk wanting a lynching instead of waiting for a trial.
The local sheriff, played by Denver Pyle, is not the most popular guy in town until the townsfolk believe he has captured Ed's murderer. The sheriff likes his new fame and refuses to send out a telegram that would prove Hoss's innocents. But soon he realizes that he can no longer control his town as they demand a lynching with or without any evidence.
This is again a very predictable and repeated episode. This is played out again and again during the entire series of 'Bonanza'. Without needing a spoiler we all know that the last five minutes will produce some action that could possibly save Hoss from hanging. Just way too predictable.
"He's my son!" "HIM?"
grizzledgeezer20 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Until the very end, this is superior fare for "Bonanza", close to "Gunsmoke" in quality. Which might not be a coincidence, as the story line is essentially the same as the story in which Festus is thrown in jail for a crime he didn't commit, and the now-popular sheriff is reluctant to telegraph for information that would confirm Festus's identity.
The "Bonanza" episode is arguably superior, in focusing on the town's reaction. Even before the sheriff's idiot assistant lies about Hoss being the robber/murderer, almost everyone is determined to "String Him Up!".
The acting and directing are -- atypically for Bonanza -- relatively understated and subdued, increasing the apparent "Gunsmoke" resemblance. The exception is the ranting, screaming widow, who makes Emma Small in "Johnny Guitar" seem mousy. Even Gloria Steinem would want to spend a good half hour slapping the (rhymes with twitch).
I won't spoil the shock/surprise ending, which is so idiotically ironic you'll ROTFLYAO. If it weren't for that, I'd give this episode a 7.
The "Bonanza" episode is arguably superior, in focusing on the town's reaction. Even before the sheriff's idiot assistant lies about Hoss being the robber/murderer, almost everyone is determined to "String Him Up!".
The acting and directing are -- atypically for Bonanza -- relatively understated and subdued, increasing the apparent "Gunsmoke" resemblance. The exception is the ranting, screaming widow, who makes Emma Small in "Johnny Guitar" seem mousy. Even Gloria Steinem would want to spend a good half hour slapping the (rhymes with twitch).
I won't spoil the shock/surprise ending, which is so idiotically ironic you'll ROTFLYAO. If it weren't for that, I'd give this episode a 7.
Another strange brew
LukeCoolHand13 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Wow !! What a weird episode. I have never seen Denver Pyle playing a part where he seems to actually in real life, be doped up or something. He is playing the Sheriff. He walks slow, he talks slow and he thinks even slower. Don't know if he was following the director's instructions or not but if I were him I would be very ashamed of his acting in this episode. If I were a Hollywood actor myself, there would be parts I would refuse to play as I might think the audience would think I was really like that, but that's just me I guess. Rayford Barnes and Lane Bradford are in this and are totally wasted with maybe 5 minutes of screen time. They usually have very good parts in other shows like Gunsmoke as baddies with lots of screen time. Hoss is locked up in jail for a robbery he didn't commit and the show ends with no mention of the real robbers. Most of the time spent is the townfolk arguing about whether to hang Hoss or not. Strange show and not very engaging.
Hoss in a jackpot
bkoganbing26 August 2020
While Lorne Greene is waiting for $12,000.00 in cash at a land office being delivered by Dan Blocker, Hoss has been arrested by Sheriff Denver Pyle in a
nearby town when he suspects the money could be part of loot from a recent
bank robbery.
There's murder involved here also as banker Roy Roberts's son-in-law was killed and the only description they have is the robber was a big fellow, Easy to see why this would be hung on Dan Blocker.
Pyle is a man not up to the job and won't let Blocker go even after he thinks he just might be innocent. A lynch mob is brewing and stoking the fires there is the widow of the deceased, Olive Sturgess. It's a recipe for the tragedy that unfolds.
Kudos going out to Olive Sturgess for a great performance as the widow whose grief is the catalyst for the events unfolding.
There's murder involved here also as banker Roy Roberts's son-in-law was killed and the only description they have is the robber was a big fellow, Easy to see why this would be hung on Dan Blocker.
Pyle is a man not up to the job and won't let Blocker go even after he thinks he just might be innocent. A lynch mob is brewing and stoking the fires there is the widow of the deceased, Olive Sturgess. It's a recipe for the tragedy that unfolds.
Kudos going out to Olive Sturgess for a great performance as the widow whose grief is the catalyst for the events unfolding.
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