I can't say this was one of my favorite episodes, but I did like the undercurrent of Nick's friendship with Mariano Montoya, dating back from when they were boys. Mariano's mother worked for the Barkleys but always admonished Mariano that he was not to play with "Señor Nick." It didn't sit well with Nick that a boy his own age wasn't allowed to play with him and had to call him "Señor." To Nick, two kids should have been allowed to be two kids. How they were treated as children affects Nick's actions and feelings toward Mariano as adults, but he needs the assistance of baby brother Eugene to help out in this episode - the only time Eugene got to shine very much because Charles Briles got his draft notice and left the show.
6 Reviews
rare Barkley brother appearance
franlorin16 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Warning: Spoilers
the reviews by jarrodmcdonald-1 & bkoganbing explain very well the combination of the "HISTORICAL SCIENCE" of the "Big Valley" time period, i.e., late 1800s or so
Martin Landau's performance was quite convincing, although I couldn't help noting that there were plenty of other actors in this episode that seemed to be more convincingly hispanic or maybe even mexican than Landau with his contrived accent
nevertheless, I am very impressed with how the historical importance of microbiology was carefully intertwined with the needs of the 'cattlemen'
this episode even provided a fairly good idea of how the now-discredited 'medical theory' that lasted centuries all over this planet, called "TRAIL FEVER" or "MIASMA" (the previous theory that there is some negative presence, ether, etc., in nature that simply makes some cattle sick and can even suddenly, inexplicably make some of them better again) was being tested
not too much 'action' as kfo9494 may have wanted to see, but an educational and entertaining episode anyway
the reviews by jarrodmcdonald-1 & bkoganbing explain very well the combination of the "HISTORICAL SCIENCE" of the "Big Valley" time period, i.e., late 1800s or so
Martin Landau's performance was quite convincing, although I couldn't help noting that there were plenty of other actors in this episode that seemed to be more convincingly hispanic or maybe even mexican than Landau with his contrived accent
nevertheless, I am very impressed with how the historical importance of microbiology was carefully intertwined with the needs of the 'cattlemen'
this episode even provided a fairly good idea of how the now-discredited 'medical theory' that lasted centuries all over this planet, called "TRAIL FEVER" or "MIASMA" (the previous theory that there is some negative presence, ether, etc., in nature that simply makes some cattle sick and can even suddenly, inexplicably make some of them better again) was being tested
not too much 'action' as kfo9494 may have wanted to see, but an educational and entertaining episode anyway
Those new fangled theories of Louis Pasteur
bkoganbing19 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the few Big Valley episodes to feature young Charles Briles as the youngest Barkley son. He'd be leaving the series in its first year so I'm betting this is one of his favorite episodes even though he does have to share the spotlight with Peter Breck.
An old friend of the Barkleys whose mom used to clean the Barkley estate is bringing up a small herd from Mexico. Martin Landau also gets to pasture his herd on the Barkley ranch, but their could be trouble brewing when a couple of steers collapse and die. Could it be the dreaded anthrax or some other lesser disease that can be weathered.
All the Barkleys take different positions on what to do. Peter Breck is most affected because he and Landau were close as kids.
But it's college educated Eugene Barkley who comes up with the solution involving what he's studying in college about those theories that Louis Pasteur has been talking about. Still it's a close run thing.
Peter Breck's character Nick Barkley takes very little guff if any from most people. That's important to emphasize how close he and Landau were and because Landau is hot tempered and irrational. With anyone else Nick Barkley would have shot all the cattle and buried them in quick lime.
I'd watch this for Charles Briles's moment to shine and the dynamics between Breck and Landau.
An old friend of the Barkleys whose mom used to clean the Barkley estate is bringing up a small herd from Mexico. Martin Landau also gets to pasture his herd on the Barkley ranch, but their could be trouble brewing when a couple of steers collapse and die. Could it be the dreaded anthrax or some other lesser disease that can be weathered.
All the Barkleys take different positions on what to do. Peter Breck is most affected because he and Landau were close as kids.
But it's college educated Eugene Barkley who comes up with the solution involving what he's studying in college about those theories that Louis Pasteur has been talking about. Still it's a close run thing.
Peter Breck's character Nick Barkley takes very little guff if any from most people. That's important to emphasize how close he and Landau were and because Landau is hot tempered and irrational. With anyone else Nick Barkley would have shot all the cattle and buried them in quick lime.
I'd watch this for Charles Briles's moment to shine and the dynamics between Breck and Landau.
Very weak episode.
qormi4 August 2020
It was dumb when they released the prize bull into an anthrax infected herd to prove a point. The point being that the anthrax vaccine worked. So the bull wanders into the small herd, promptly gets anthrax in a matter of minutes, falls over, and appears dead. The professor runs over there and injects the bull with the anthrax vaccine. A minute later, the bull twitches, then gets up. He's just fine!
Vaccines do not work that way. They are a preventative measure, not a cure.
Story was long and the episode lacked action
kfo94944 January 2013
This offering did not seem to have the same flare as many other episodes as it dealt with anthrax cattle scare in a herd belonging to a visiting Mexican cowboy that is an old friend of the Barkleys. In fact this show that started with much hope had lost most interest by the time we got to the middle of the show.
Martin Landau plays, Mariano Montoya, a Mexican rancher that brings his cattle to Stockton to sell. Mariano is an old friend of the Barkleys since his mother had cleaned their house many years ago. The Barkley's kind of helped him get started with a few cows and now he has a chance to make money by selling the cattle.
But it will be difficult and put a strain on relationships when the cattle disease 'anthrax' is found in the herd. The only remedy for a herd with anthrax is to kill the herd so that it will not spread to other ranchers in the area. This will place Mariano Montoya back to where he was many years ago.
But with Eugene attending college, he advises that his professor has just been given an serum to cure anthrax. Eugene, in his largest role on the series, returns to college to get the professor. Will Eugene get back with the professor before the killing of the cattle begins?
Even with the fine acting by Landau and the regular cast, the story was lacking in excitement and interest. The story got long as we were placed in-between the Mexican trying to make a name for himself and the Barkleys not wanting their cattle diseased. Not one of the better shows from an otherwise excellent Season one.
Martin Landau plays, Mariano Montoya, a Mexican rancher that brings his cattle to Stockton to sell. Mariano is an old friend of the Barkleys since his mother had cleaned their house many years ago. The Barkley's kind of helped him get started with a few cows and now he has a chance to make money by selling the cattle.
But it will be difficult and put a strain on relationships when the cattle disease 'anthrax' is found in the herd. The only remedy for a herd with anthrax is to kill the herd so that it will not spread to other ranchers in the area. This will place Mariano Montoya back to where he was many years ago.
But with Eugene attending college, he advises that his professor has just been given an serum to cure anthrax. Eugene, in his largest role on the series, returns to college to get the professor. Will Eugene get back with the professor before the killing of the cattle begins?
Even with the fine acting by Landau and the regular cast, the story was lacking in excitement and interest. The story got long as we were placed in-between the Mexican trying to make a name for himself and the Barkleys not wanting their cattle diseased. Not one of the better shows from an otherwise excellent Season one.
The Barkleys and science
jarrodmcdonald-14 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I didn't mind this episode and found it somewhat satisfying to watch. It has a good combination of real-life details, related to the history of diseased animals and immunizations.
Another plus is the way we see the merging of the Anglo and Latino cultures in California during the late 1800s, which I think is a good thing. Specifically, we watch a meaningful friendship develop among Nick and the ex-thief Mexican (played by Martin Landau).
The plot is not too rushed, nor is it really dragged out like some of the show's other stories. Before the end of the episode, the Barkley family must be willing to sacrifice their own prized bull in the name of science. It's a risky episode, but it pays off...it not only entertains, but it educates us too.
Another plus is the way we see the merging of the Anglo and Latino cultures in California during the late 1800s, which I think is a good thing. Specifically, we watch a meaningful friendship develop among Nick and the ex-thief Mexican (played by Martin Landau).
The plot is not too rushed, nor is it really dragged out like some of the show's other stories. Before the end of the episode, the Barkley family must be willing to sacrifice their own prized bull in the name of science. It's a risky episode, but it pays off...it not only entertains, but it educates us too.
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