IMDb > "Bonanza" (1959)
"Bonanza"
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"Bonanza" (1959) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1959-1973

Photos (see all 148 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
"Bonanza" (1959): :  -- Clip: Original episodic promo
"Bonanza" (1959): :  -- Clip: Opening credits

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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,156 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for Bonanza on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 full episode list
Release Date:
12 September 1959 (USA) more
Plot:
The adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch while helping the surrounding community. full summary
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 6 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(18 articles)
Actor Maross Dies
 (From WENN. 11 November 2009, 8:11 AM, PST)

[TV] Bonanza: The Official First Season
 (From JustPressPlay. 25 September 2009, 2:14 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Quality Production, Character Stories; A Memorable Family Western more (37 total)

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 4 of 688)
Lorne Greene ... Ben Cartwright / ... (430 episodes, 1959-1973)

Michael Landon ... Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright / ... (429 episodes, 1959-1973)
Dan Blocker ... Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright / ... (415 episodes, 1959-1972)
Pernell Roberts ... Adam Cartwright (202 episodes, 1959-1965)
more

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Ponderosa (USA) (rerun title)
more
Runtime:
50 min (430 episodes)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-11 (DVD) (2006) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G (some episodes)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
During the first season of the show, the guest stars were paid far more than the stars of the show because the producers didn't think that the stars were well-known enough to pull in viewers. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: During the first season opening credits, the Cartwrights can be seen galloping on horses on a dirt road that contains an unmistakable set of tire tracks from the truck carrying the camera in front of them. more
Quotes:
Adam Cartwright: Let's go back to the Ponderosa, Pa. This isn't any of our affair.
Ben Cartwright: We can't ignore the rest of the world. We're the only stabilizing influence in the country.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Ponterosa (2001) more
Soundtrack:
Bonanza more

FAQ

How did the characters Adam and Hoss leave the series?
Little Joe's middle name
more
14 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
Quality Production, Character Stories; A Memorable Family Western, 29 September 2005
Author: silverscreen888

"Bonanza" was the first hour-long TV show in any genre produced in full-color. The continuing cast for the first 6 years featured essentially five persons--Benjamin Cartwright, his three sons and their Chinese cook, along with the local sheriff. Cartwright had been a seaman, who went west and married three times; each time he produced a son and lost his wife. Reaching the ponderosa pine country near Virginia City, Nevada and Lake Tahoe, he built up a large landholding, with cattle, timber, and mines, becoming an important man in the territory. Ben Cartwright was played by Canadian announcer-actor Lorne Greene, who was much younger than the part he played but had Shakespearean training and a powerful speaking voice. Pernell Roberts played his eldest son, Adam, a thoughtful but restless man, 1959-65. Eric "Hoss" Cartwright was portrayed huge Dan Blocker as a man of gentle ways and grit but ordinary intelligence. Attractive Michael Landon played "Little Joe", fast with a gun and learning to be a man; he also write and directed episodes for the series. Victor Sen-Young was Hop Sing, and veteran Ray Teal played Sheriff Roy Coffee. Later, others were added to the series for various stretches, once Adam's part was written out; these included David Canaray as Candy, Bing Russell, Harry Holcombe, Guy Williams, Kathie Browne, and Remo Pisani. Each week guest stars were hired, and a few actors were used in dozens of shows. Among the most memorable guest stars were John Larkin, Ruta Lee, Joan Hackett, Frank Overton, Bruce Yarnall, Inga Swenson as Inger, Ben's second wife, Felicia Farr as his third wife, Grandon Rhodes, Patricia Donahue, Robert Lansing, Lisa Lu and Steve Forrest. Titles such as "The Honor of Cochise", "The Eden Train", "Inger, My Love I,II", "Right is the Fourth "R"", and "The Mountain Girl" among many others bring fond memories. Many directors toiled on "Bonanza", whose title referred to the rich ore found in the Virginia City area during the nineteenth century. The list included Lewis Allen, Leon Benson, William F. Claxton, Herschel Daugherty, Don McDougall, Christian Nyby, Leo Penn and William Witney. Principal writers for the series, with 5 or more credits, included Robert V. Barron, Frank Chase, Suzanne Clauser, Frank Cleaver, the producer David Dortort, Warren Douglas, John Hawkins, Ward Hawkins, Arther Heinemann, Michael Landon, Jo Pagano, Stanley Roberts, Robert Sabaroff, Jack B. Sowards, Thomas Thompson and Al C. Ward. It is difficult to characterize the show except that it was a consistently second-rank attempt to do stories about first-rate ethical people living in an interesting era in a frontier setting. It was the first of the family-oriented westerns, and at the same time a show capable of detaching its principals for dual or independent adventures. If few of its episodes risk to great dramatic heights, many are far-above-average film-making efforts, even by feature-film standards. The production featured clean, straightforward cinematography, Nellie Manley's hairstyles, Wally Westmore's makeup, enjoyable costumes and expert sets, art direction and action scenes. If the family spent too much time at home, seldom were shown with cattle and had virtually no employees, the writers made up for such derelictions by involving the sons and the father in the affairs of town and territory. Innovatve and perhaps inimitable, this was quality dramatic western making from start to finish.

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Who sang these songs? Kanano
Questions about the season 7-14 opening credits. ortegatwins
disturbing episode rena165129
Was Adam ever mentioned again? nelson-cruz
Little Joe's mother, Marie? afsnowbird
James Coburn nelson-cruz
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