The Saddle Stiff

Name: The Saddle Stiff
Genre: Western
Released: 1972-01-16
Duration: 1 h
Rating: 8.1

Episode aired Jan 16, 1972
TV-PG
1h

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

119

YOUR RATING

Western

Cactus Murphy, an embittered ranch whom Ben fired, suggests that the Cartwright patriarch is getting a little old to "put in a real week's work." Ben's response: Take a job under the assumed... Read allCactus Murphy, an embittered ranch whom Ben fired, suggests that the Cartwright patriarch is getting a little old to "put in a real week's work." Ben's response: Take a job under the assumed name Ben Brown and show Murphy that he is still more than capable of sweating out the job... Read allCactus Murphy, an embittered ranch whom Ben fired, suggests that the Cartwright patriarch is getting a little old to "put in a real week's work." Ben's response: Take a job under the assumed name Ben Brown and show Murphy that he is still more than capable of sweating out the job of a rancher.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

119

YOUR RATING

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews1

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Ben Brown

One thing that Ben Cartwright will not tolerate is crime committed in his name. But that's what a gang of rustlers is doing with a little big city extortion on the side.

It all starts out as a rather contentious bet from Lorne Greene with Buddy Ebsen who Greene fires from the Ponderosa. Ebsen says that being the boss man has made him fat and lazy so Greene starts looking for work under the name of Ben Brown. He finds it with small rancher Don Collier who's being put upon by Charles Gray and his gang. And they say they're working for the Ponderosa.

Greene and Ebsen have a nice easy chemistry between them. I would love to have seen Ebsen and his character in more Bonanza stories. I'd watch this Bonanza episode for Ebsen and Greene and to see them both try to ride an ornery bucking horse.

At their age?

Trivia
David Rose's soundtrack for this episode consists largely of variations on two themes, the 19th century western standard "Red River Valley" and the early 20th century folk song "Down in the Valley" (also known as "Birmingham Jail").