Bonanza (TV Series) Dead and Gone (1965) User Reviews

"One of a kind"

[gary-64659 · 8/10 · 27 July 2023]

Unlike a couple of the other reviewers I can easily accept this effort of Adam (Pernell Roberts) on behalf of the perceived underdog, or rather the odd man out, as part of his particular idealism. He took the same stance with another new acquaintance played by charming murderer Rory Calhoun in an October 1964 episode. His explanation was that Rory's rule-breaking outlaw was "one of a kind" and that was enough for him.

I can see why in retrospect Pernell Roberts later regretted leaving "Bonanza" after six series (with seven and a half still to go). As Michael Landon put it, the four stars were on $10,000 a week up to that time and merely split Adam's share three ways. Roberts' complaint at the time about the quality of the scripts can hardly refer to the ones he was given. This was the fifth (and last) episode centring on him as Adam in the space of 13 weeks screening up to early April 1965 -- and all meaty, dramatic roles. There was a good whimsical episode with him too, facing Henry Jones as a would-be knight-of-old. Dan Blocker as Hoss and Michael Landon as Little Joe meanwhile carried on mainly as the goofballs of the family. Roberts' departure gave them and Lorne Greene more room for drama, though from memory the not-very-well-done meatball episodes continued unrelenting.

Disturbing, Too Melancholy

[samwa-27311 · 6/10 · 12 August 2018]

Well, yes, firstly, Adam would never have helped the drifter.

Then, most of the plot, is predictable.

Further, the episode had four distinct times, that almost certainly looked like the final scene, then continued on with so many plot twists.

Extremely hard to believe that the brother and sister, would allow Howard in their own house, after he attempted armed robbery.

Further, for the girl to fall in love with him? No way. Not a cultured woman with a fairly good background.

Pa said it best. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Adam gave him about five separate chances.

Disturbing episode, at best, and by the way, the singing was not too good.

A stranger comes to town with a guitar and a past

[bnmo-1 · 9/10 · 20 July 2009]

One of the finest episodes in the first six years of the series. Uncompromising script, fine direction, unique camera angles, and an excellent performance by Hoyt Axton (Are the songs original?). And Pernell Roberts always giving the proceedings a touch of the bizarre. Little Joe was almost always given first crack at the young starlets who came and went from Virginia City and/or the Ponderosa. The quirky or novelty episodes were generally reserved for Hoss (i.e. "Hoss and the Leprechauns"). Ben was always there to counsel, advise and tell the boys to get their boots off the table. Adam had the more unique confrontations. Most of the time with other men: ("Thanks for everything friend" with Rory Calhoun, "Broken Ballad" with Robert Culp, "The Crucible" with Lee Marvin.) "Dead and Gone" is one the best.

Loved this one!

[lyekka-29385 · 9/10 · 18 September 2021]

It was Hoyt Axton's performance and singing that drew me in. He was marvellous. Nice duet with Pernell Roberts too. As for the story, I liked it, even if it wasn't realistic. In reality, I can't see Adam getting tricked by anyone twice. However, the way I looked at it, Adam felt some kind of connection with Howard (Axton) so he wanted to believe he had good in him. The thing is Howard was a charmer. I too kept wanting him to redeem himself. But for all his charm, he really wasn't a good guy.

BONANZA Episode with Susanne CRAMER

[ZeddaZogenau · 10/10 · 30 March 2024]

Susanne CRAMER (1936-1969) from Frankfurt am Main became known as a film star in the West German film industry in the 1950s. For example, she had beautiful appearances alongside Heinz ERHARDT and her later short-term husband Helmuth LOHNER in WITWER MIT FÜNF TÖCHTERN / WIDOW WITH FIVE DAUGHTERS (1957) and alongside Hans ALBERS and Hansjörg FELMY in DER GREIFER (1958). From 1963 until her untimely death in 1969, she lived in the film metropolis of Los Angeles and worked there primarily for American television.

In the 27th episode of the 6th season of the western series BONANZA she played the German-born Hilda Brunner. Together with her very pious brother Johann (Steve IHNAT), Hilda wants to start a new life in the West. The two are attacked by a drifter (country singer Hoyt AXTON). Luckily, Adam Cartwright (Pernell ROBERTS) is there...

The episode DEAD AND GONE (in German: Unforgotten Songs) is really excellent, very dramatic and surprisingly moving. The episode was broadcast on American television on April 4, 1965. The beautiful Susanne CRAMER even speaks a few words in German.

Similar to the BONANZA episode, the actual life of the German actress Susanne CRAMER was also very tragic. After six very successful years in the American television business, she died in 1969 as a result of the then raging Hong Kong flu.

His charming side

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 4 June 2015]

I'm in complete disagreement with the other reviewer of the episode. It runs contrary to the nature of the character of Adam Cartwright. Usually he was the oldest and therefore wisest of the brothers. I can see Hoss or Little Joe making the mistakes in this story, but not Adam.

One fine day Pernell Roberts happens to break up an attempted robbery by drifter Hoyt Axton of German immigrant farmers, brother and sister Steve Ihnat and Susanne Cramer. When he brings Axton he turns out to charm everyone with his singing. So much so that Cramer and Roberts drop the complaint and Axton starts paying court to Cramer. Which bothers Ihnat something fierce because he's a hardbitten case and he's never taken in. He's also one miserable soul to live with.

I won't go into the rest other than Axton does not live up to his charm. In fact he's quite a piece of work.

The guest stars, Axton, Cramer, and Ihnat do fine. But it should have been Dan Blocker's or Michael Landon's episode rather than Pernell Roberts.

Pernell's disappointing last ride

[glitterrose · 1/10 · 28 April 2022]

Looks like this is the last episode centered on Adam...it's a disappointing episode to begin with and even more disappointing that this is pretty much Adam's goodbye. I figure the couple of other episodes featuring Adam will have him barely being in the episodes. It's a shame a middle ground couldn't have been reached. But I also understand people thinking somebody constantly complaining shouldn't be bowed down to. I guess I can understand that viewpoint. I look at Michael Landon and how much he did on Little House. I've joked to myself that Michael was one step away from playing all the characters, which is pretty funny picturing how he'd look in the Nellie Oleson wig and acting like a spoiled brat. So yeah, I can't exactly blame people that point out Landon and say 'There was no stopping Pernell from taking a page out of that book. Study what's going on on the set and be there to pitch ideas, write scripts, etc.'

Anyway, let's get to the episode. I said this about an episode from Mannix's season 8 that featured characters singing throughout the episode. You're either gonna be okay with the singing, or it's gonna aggravate you to the point where you mute the singing or turn the episode off completely. I didn't mind the singing in that particular Mannix episode. Thought the actor singing had a nice voice. The character on this episode drove me nuts and I only avoided turning the episode because I wanted to see Adam's final episode centered on him. The singing just got on my nerves and it's obvious the character had issues. He clearly didn't look or act remorseful for anything he did. Just keep on singing without a worry in the world.

I was going to single the brother and sister characters out as being the best part of the episode and even that got messed up. The poor sister's trapped. I'm unclear if it's a case of the rest of the family's dead and they only have each other. The brother isn't the kindest man in the world so I feel like the sister was alone whether she had her brother or not. It's still realistic to see a family dynamic like that. Sometimes you are dealing with somebody that wants to extinguish all your happiness, joy, peace, and leave you drained and tired all the time.

The brother ends up getting killed by the annoying singing guy and it might've been nice to show the sister's worry/anxiety about having to start a new life by herself. Cause it makes sense to cling to the ideal 'My brother might not be great but he's all I got. Now I feel utterly alone and don't know which way to turn.' Instead we have the sister being more messed up than that. She loves the annoying singing guy. I know....where did that come from? The guy is a thief and killer, why do you love him? But I guess I can maybe reason it away. You live in a dysfunctional mess and you sometimes might not know your own self worth. Maybe I deserve better than a brother that's constantly taking his bad moods out on me and maybe I deserve better than being in love with a jerk who does bad things and can only sing songs instead of being remorseful and getting his act together.

I felt like there was also too much humoring of the annoying singing guy. Example: his guitar is broken so Adam gives him his guitar. No...just don't. That guy needs to be silent for awhile and do some thinking and I'm not talking about thinking of new songs to sing either.

And I'm starting to wind down. I don't want to be down on the actors and actresses. It's like what I said on other reviews about the cast for an episode. They can only do so much with a crap script. The actors and actresses did the script they were handed. That basically can sum it up. You can give it your all and you still won't turn that crap into gold.