Bonanza: Season 3

There's been many a time that I was tired of waiting and wanted to order these episodes from another source, but watching them now in full living color as I first saw them so many years ago Sunday nights on NBC makes me glad that I waited.BONANZA is one of the greatest television series of all time, and this set is an excellent example of why. I won't comment on the quality of the many outstanding episodes as far as story, acting, direction, etc. (because all that goes without saying), but I will say if all you know of BONANZA is edited episodes you've seen on TV Land or time-compressed episodes on MeTV, or other broadcast or computer sources, you are missing out.Each episode here is newly restored from original 35mm film materials complete with the original theme song and that beautiful peacock (at the beginning of every episode)! Most every show has extras like extensive photo galleries, and there so many special features and commentaries by performers who worked on the show that make it all worth the extra time it took for CBS Paramount Home Entertainment to release this set. The color is true (Lake Tahoe locations look spectacular!) and the sound is crystal clear (you can hear saddles creaking!).Starting with the third season, BONANZA moved to Sunday nights and Chevrolet sponsored the entire hour. (You've heard of the expression, "Mom, apple pie and Chevrolet"? Well, for many years, it was "Mom, apple pie, Chevrolet and BONANZA!") There are so many wonderful, "cast commercials" in this set. (If you've never seen the "Cartwrights" away from horses - and most of the younger fans never have - you're in for a special treat when you see the gang each take the wheel and tool around the "Ponderosa.") So far my favorite is the commercial where they all drive up in the 1962 Chevy cars. Lorne (in the full-size Chevrolet) and Michael (in a Corvair) drive up first, Pernell is in the Corvette sports car and Dan (in the Chevy II) is saying that his is man-sized. (I believe it, too. I still drive a Chevy, by the way.)There's another wonderful bonus I loved -- a humorous skit that Dan Blocker does with Henry Fonda and Cara Williams (a gifted comedienne who had her own TV show; she was billed as "the next Lucille Ball" at one time) that will take you all the way back to 1962 live television. And I love the special Christmas music and the numerous behind the scenes photos.Watching these episodes makes me feel as though I'm a youngster again sitting in front of the TV. The easy to navigate DVD menus give me a choice between watching each complete and uncut episode without interruption or watching with the original intros ("Chevrolet Presents . . . Bow -- nan -- za!") and Chevrolet commercials. The official release of Season 3 is well worth your money - it's a must have!Here's a list of many of the magnificent extras, also well worth the wait and the price of this set:Audio commentaries --Sue Ane Langdon talks about "The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch," and she still sounds as adorable as ever!Lisa Lu narrates "The Day of the Dragon" and reveals the fascinating plans producer David Dortort had for her.Audrey Dalton, "The Lady From Baltimore," explains filming techniques and what it was like to kiss both Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon!Diane Mountford shares her precious memories of the cast and her experiences working on the beloved Christmas show, "Gabrielle."DVD Executive Producer and historian Andrew J. Klyde explains so many fascinating details about Pernell Roberts' favorite episode, "The Crucible" (and many fans agree with him; this commentary makes one of the very best shows even better)."Tales of Nevada" radio show excerpt - Andrew J. Klyde again discusses the series, as does Lorne Greene's son, Chuck Greene, who lives near Lake Tahoe, Nevada."The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers" - a very funny skit with Lorne Greene and Dan Blocker (in costume as "Ben" and "Hoss") and comedy greats Buster Keaton and Ed Wynn (Wynn later guest-starred in a delightful BONANZA episode).Photo Galleries - So many I don't know where to begin! In addition to scores of photos (many in color) taken on the set of almost every episode, you'll see pictures of Pernell Roberts and his stand-in, Betty Endicott, looking like twins (almost), shots of Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts with an antique car they were trying to restore (not a Chevrolet!), and some of "the Cartwrights" making a personal appearance together at a rodeo and parade.Thank you, decision-makers at CBS Paramount Home Entertainment, for restoring and releasing these episodes in BONANZA: The Official Third Season, and thank you, Andrew J. Klyde, for doing such a great job overseeing everything. This is the treatment all classic television programs deserve, and it doesn't get any more classic than BONANZA!

Bonanza is perhaps one of my fave shows and seeing these early episodes in pristine condition is fabulous. when I was growing up, we didn't have a color TV so I saw these in black-and-white. now I can see them in rich color and enjoy these the way they were meant to be, uncut. The official release is in act the real deal, not the watered down version shown on Retro TV Network et al, which I believe are public domain copies. I love the first few seasons with a special fondness, so it is nice to have these episodes on DVD. if you love the show, get these, maybe one season at a time, but get it. BTW, I had a time getting this. the first order, along with some other items, was stolen from my house before I retrieved the package. someone apparently walked up pretending to live here and deliverer gave them the package. Amazon kindly replaced the items, so now I have my season 3.

Bonanza was a sequel series in South Africa broadcasted by the then SABC in the late 70s. it was usualy a Saturday evening treat and we as a family were looking forward every week to another episode.It normally involved my late parents, my wife, my brother and his wife.We could associate ourselves with the family values of the Carter family and the stories were always good fun and moralistic.I have bought all the series DVDs now and watches an episode with my wife and my brother's youngest son as part of Saturday night entertainment.I am not hooked on TV and use it sparingly-but nice DVD's like Bonanza is something to have as a collection and if I still a few years left, I will again later on watch them again.It remains a challenge for contemporary movie makers to write scripts with equal moral values without swear words and obscene incidents.Sad that none of the Bonanza people are alive anymore. They left a legacy which can still provide sound entertainment to may people.

I've never been much of a "westerns" fan, but this was a good series.I wish the DVD would allow straight-through playback of each episode and not have to step through the menus.

Finally, I own my favorite season! One of the "Adam years" it doesn't disappoint.As usual the Cartwright clan has to deal with whatever the post-Civil War era dishes out. There are comedic epis that I absolutely love; "Springtime", "The Burma Rairity", "The Auld Sod", "The Wooing of Abigail Jones", & my favorite: "The Mountain Girl". That never gets old.This is also a visit back not only to the 60's, but to that Western era of the U.S.,when statehood was challenged, pioneer living affected everyone no matter what. "The Gift of Water" illustrates that, & "The Jacknife" tells how desperate some were, to the choice of life or death.Lastly, "The Crucible" gave Pernell Roberts the opportunity to prove how good of an actor he was even up against Lee Marvin, the antagonist in this dramatic performance.I absolutely LOVE Bonanza, & hindsight had prepared me for such a treat. When I watched with my grandmother in those "tween" & early teen years, I just had no idea... ;o)