Episode 70 - THE LONELY HOUSE

[Episode Guide]

Date: October 15, 1961

Summary: Little Joe comes to the home of Lee Bolden, the young widow of a family friend. The reason for his visit is to present her with a bank draft – payment for her late husband’s business deal with Ben. While Joe is there, a wounded man, Trock, crashes into the house with his friends and holds them both hostage. Joe recognizes them as the gang that robbed the local bank earlier that day.

Written by: Frank Chase
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: Trock...Paul Richards Lee Bolden...Faith Domergue Gavin...Jim Beck Pooch...Vito Scotti Banker...Ray Hemphill


Slideshow image courtesy of Bejules

[littlejoenice]

Anyone ever notice that the widow's house is exactly like the Ponderosa ranch from the outside? Looks to me like Joe didn't really have far to go after all!

[CowgirlAtHeart]

Haha, I've noticed that. They sure liked to re-use the sets they already had.

[littlejoenice]

Well, in a way, it did save money. And time. Why rebuild a set when they could re-use it? It is rather a smart idea, though it does get funnier the more you think about it.

[PlatoofthePonderosa]

Andy Klyde brought this episode up in another thread recently, mentioning that it was originally an Adam story but was rewritten because of an injury that prevented Pernell Roberts from filming that week. I've often thought that this episode still feels like an Adam story: off alone on business for Pa, getting tangled in an attempt to help a random widow, and giving the bad guy a bona fide sermon on the relation between ethics and finance. That speech is 100% Adam.
I've never heard Joe so passionate about the value of money and work before.

[PJudith]

True about all that. Adam WAS the one who liked to come to the rescue of widows. Usually he favored blonde, empty headed ones though!

Joe never seemed as serious about money either. He did like to spend freely in town. Probably since he was born after Ben was successful, he took his wealth a little more for granted. Adam had been there from the start during those early lean years.

[daisy60]

Anyone ever notice that the widow's house is exactly like the Ponderosa ranch from the outside? Looks to me like Joe didn't really have far to go after all!

I notice that in a lot of episodes. Even Roy's jail looks like it was part of the Ponderosa. Sometimes Joe's bedroom seemed to be in the dining room!

[Julianna]

I don't understand why they couldn't have postponed this episode. They did with All Ye His Saints and then rewrote it for Joe. I agree with Plato and PJudith that this episode did not suit Little Joe. Michael Landon acted well in it but it did seem off the mark for his character's attitude and age. Joe rarely went for older women. And I don't recall him chasing any widows.

[daisy60]

I don't understand why they couldn't have postponed this episode. They did with All Ye His Saints and then rewrote it for Joe. I agree with Plato and PJudith that this episode did not suit Little Joe. Michael Landon acted well in it but it did seem off the mark for his character's attitude and age. Joe rarely went for older women. And I don't recall him chasing any widows.

Actually, All Ye Saints was not 'rewritten' for Joe. Pernell had left the show so it was given to Joe, as is. He may have been a different actor and little training but as David Dortort once said about Michael 'he's a natural actor with quick responses' Pernell's acting was terrific but so was Michael's, just differently.

[Julianna]

I don't understand why they couldn't have postponed this episode. They did with All Ye His Saints and then rewrote it for Joe. I agree with Plato and PJudith that this episode did not suit Little Joe. Michael Landon acted well in it but it did seem off the mark for his character's attitude and age. Joe rarely went for older women. And I don't recall him chasing any widows.

Actually, All Ye Saints was not 'rewritten' for Joe. Pernell had left the show so it was given to Joe, as is. He may have been a different actor and little training but as David Dortort once said about Michael 'he's a natural actor with quick responses' Pernell's acting was terrific but so was Michael's, just differently.

Right here on this site is a copy of that script. Daisy I read it. It is different from the episode. After reading the script I watched the episode online unedited. It was not the same. Similar but different. Adam swims in the river and Joe does not. The boys father dies in Adam version and in the Joe version he is gravely Ill, but gets better. They supposedly postponed the episode since it was to cold to shoot and have PR swim in the river. But they changed it for Landon anyway. I never said Michael did not act good. I said the part didn’t fit his character Joe. The episode above is okay to watch.