There were few TV shows that made a greater impression on me growing up than did this classic western, The Grand Valley, which ran on ABC from 1965-1969. From its stellar cast featuring the incomparable Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley, (the matriarch of a close-knit, proud and prominent family in 1878 California,) well-written/action-packed scripts, to stirring music, The Ample Valley remains a standout in the barren plains of TV mediocrity.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Big Valley – Season 1! Click Here
The first TV drama to feature a distinguished female lead (a woman the commercials proudly proclaimed had “backbone and bite”), it also dealt realistically with situations formerly taboo for TV. It began by revealing that Victoria’s husband, Tom Barkley, a prominent, wealthy cattle rancher now deceased, had been enthusiastic in a secret affair leading to the birth of an illegitimate son. In addition to the ranch, the family controlled gold and silver mines, citrus groves as well as logging camps.
This five-disc (episodes on “A” and “B” sides) boxed space contains all 30 of the show’s first season episodes, including its pilot. A few of these episodes were available years ago on dreadful quality VHS tapes, but this astounding release represents the first time that the entire first season of the series has been available to the public in ANY format! As such, most of these episodes have not been seen uncut since the demonstrate aired more than 35 years ago.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Big Valley – Season 1! Click Here
The pilot, which introduces the worthy and proud Barkley family, depicts the conflict when the illegitimate son, Heath, abruptly arrives at the broad Barkley Ranch in the San Joaquin Valley, come Stockton, Calif., in the midst of a range war and claims his birthright.
After the unusual death of his mother, Heath had learned his father’s identify. None of the Barkleys had known of his existence, and it is later revealed that Victoria’s husband had broken off the brief affair with Heath’s mother and that she had never told him that she was pregnant. Victoria immediately accepts Heath and soon treats him as one of her absorb sons.
In addition to Miss Stanwyck (who performed many of her possess stunts despite her age), the cast included Richard Long as eldest son, attorney Jarrod, Peter Breck as son and ranch foreman Carve, Lee Majors as Heath, Linda Evans as daughter Audra, and during its first season, Charles Briles as youngest son Eugene, a character who was dropped without explanation. Napoleon Whiting portrayed the family’s servant, Silas, throughout the series.
First season episodes included in this spot are: (Disc 1, Side A) Palms of Glory; Forty Rifles; Boots with My Father’s Name; Young Marauders; (Disc 1, Side B) Odyssey of Jubal Tanner; Heritage; (Disc 2, Side A) Winner Lose All; My Son, My Son; Earthquake!; The Murdered Party; (Disc 2, Side B) The Plan to Demolish a Killer; Night of the Wolf; (Disc 3, Side A) The Guilt of Matt Bentell; The Brawlers; Judgment in Heaven; The Invaders; (Disc 3, Side B) By Fires Unseen; A Time to Kill; (Disc 4, Side A) Teacher of Outlaws; Under a Shadowy Star; Barbary Red; The Death Merchant; (Disc 4, Side B) The Fallen Hawk; Hazard; (Disc 5, Side A) Into the Widow’s Web; By Force and Violence; The River Monarch; The Midas Man; and (Disc 5, Side B) Tunnel of Gold; and Last Snort to the Beautiful.
As of this writing, the studio had not announced what, if any, special features would be included in the boxed area.
Just a few of the guest stars in this first season were Andrew Duggan, John Anderson (Richard Dean Anderson’s father), Jeanne Cooper (Young and the Restless), Katharine Ross (The Graduate), Charles Bronson, Warren Oates, Martin Landau (Mission: Impossible!), Ron Howard, Anthony Zerbe, Claude Akins, Yvonne Craig (Batgirl), William Shatner (Star Poke), Bruce Dern (Laura Dern’s father), Jill St. John, George Kennedy, and James Whitmore.
Here’s hoping the remaining seasons of this award-wining series will be released ASAP! We can also only hope that this means other studios that beget the rights to other superior vintage westerns, like The High Chaparral, will regain the message that there is an appreciative audience anxiously waiting and commence releasing these episodes on DVD complete season boxed sets.
*Note: This series looks astonishing on DVD and what’s better is that they are all unedited. There are scenes here that I’ve not seen in years!
I’ve had most of the Large Valley episodes on tape from television. Most of them are obviously edited, due to the commercials. This is my common western series. I am so cheerful they are releasing this!
While I didn’t grow up when the Huge Valley was originally aired, I peaceful watched it most mornings during the 70s-80s. I tried Bonanza a few times, but found the Expansive Valley more entertaining. Barbara Stanwyck had even said, “Our note is grittier and more realistic than Bonanza. Our stories have to do with hardships and dangers of living in the west.” Plus, the Barkley ranch is a cattle ranch…for dependable cowboys!
Okay, first I have to mention my celebrated western character. I know Lee Majors (Heath) and Linda Evans (Audra) received distinguished attention, but to my mind the “perfect” cowboy will always be Slit Barkley (Peter Breck) . It took most of Season 1 for them to really rep his outfit down. He first wears a exiguous hat and not too-colorful outfit before changing to the mammoth hat, brown shirts and sad leather vest and gloves which will imprint him as the ever-tempermental tough cowboy of the west.
The series is about a matriarchal family living in Stockton, California. While the eminent Ponderosa may boast more land, the Barkley ranch, overall, probably boasted more wealth in all its business ventures from cattle to peach groves to mines and land. The Barkley’s were also noted not only by the California government, but even in Mexico and other states.
There is first son Jarrod, who prefers his law practice to sweating out in the hot sun taking care of the ranch. He is often cool-headed and logical, preferring diplomatic approaches to more violent ones. He’s a wizard in the courtroom and he proves that he won’t benefit down on a necessary, no matter the cost. Richard Long played this character beautifully. Ever suave, Jarrod could be a hit with the women who liked is aesthetic, gleaming ways of doing things. He is often at odds with Sever, as Jarrod prefers more diplomatic approaches to solving problems than the fist-a-cuffs of Crop.
Middle son is Crop Barkley. Cut is in charge of the ranch. He has some 100 or so men to spy after who wait on to contain the ranch from cattle to blacksmithing, to taking care of the trees and horses. He is fiery and tempermental, a complete opposite to his older brother, Jarrod. Cut is passionate and will converse his mind no matter what anyone says or does. Slit also loves a noble fight, and he’ll prefer on two or three men in a bar-room brawl, if famous. Especially sensitive to criticism of himself or his family, he is extremely protective. Victoria quoted him once, “When Gash is pushed he pushes succor with everything he has.” Peter Breck also incorporated Cut as a fierce and deadly gunman. He was clocked at six-hundredths of a second on the diagram by a western magazine that has him down as the fastest in television history.
Youngest son is Heath who is actually a half-brother to the family. He shares the same father, Tom Barkley, but a different mother. Heath, in the pilot, storms the Barkley ranch after his mother dies to acquire what is his. At first he gets more than he bargains for when Slash confronts him, suspecting Heath to be a view for the railroad. Heath’s character lies between Jarrod and Carve. He will fight when pushed, but he will also be more diplomatic as well. He’s often composed and brooding in his demeanor. Ironically, the person he’s closest to his Victoria. He also enjoys being with Cleave, and the two of them portion some large adventures throughout the series. He also has a special affection for Audra, probably because they are both the youngest, and Audra is the first Barkley he comes across. There are also more episodes keen Heath than any other character. Lee Majors was a new-comer to acting and Barbara Stanwyck actually took the then young actor under her flit. During the course of four/five seasons, you will peruse him really shape his character. You’ll also look that his southern accent becomes remarkable less obvious than in the first season.
The Ponderosa never had a regular beauty on their reveal, but the Substantial Valley did! Linda Evans, while not going to obtain over anyone with her acting, did so as far as eye-candy is concerned. Linda was even quoted as saying, “Occupy me, I know why I’m on the present.” As the feisty Audra, she plays a character who loves helping children and the terrible, but she can also be fiery and tempermental. She even says, “Slice is the only one who understands me.”
Last and certainly not least is Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria. Barbara had already had a more than successful film career. Loving the outdoors and the conventional west, Stanwyck tried for years to have a western, but the networks never believed anyone wanted to gaze a female cowboy. Then, the Enormous Valley came along. For the first few episodes, she’s stuck in blooming dresses and exquisite distinguished inside the mansion. Barbara had rapid approached the producers to station the picture straight. “I’m not here to sit on couches and acknowledge the door.” She demanded that Victoria have some adventures of her gain, and she certainly got her wish. What’s more her stories expose very effective as she often uses her mind to obtain out of a set. She’s also not unpleasant with a gun, so glimpse out!
You will eye so many future film stars and even new film stars of the day grace the Mountainous Valley. Many of the stories deal in business ventures, greedy landlords, gangs of bullies, Heath’s battle to come by a residence as a bastard son, and so forth.
The exhibit also has, to me, one of the best themes in television history. The very music cries of something broad and fable as we follow this family on their adventures.
The only reason I give this 4 stars is because it did acquire them some time to really choose in. Seasons 2 and 3 are amazing!
Yes, the series will probably present its age since the mid to gradual sixties when it ran, but to me, this western T.V. present is timeless!
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