Bonanza

TV Series
1959–1973
PG
49m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

12K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

744

Play clip1:39

Watch Bonanza: The Official First Season

2 Videos

99+ Photos

Drama Western

The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

12K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

744

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 3 Primetime Emmys
- 9 wins & 16 nominations total

Episodes430

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Lorne Greene was only 13 years older than his on-screen sons, Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker.

Goofs
During the first season opening credits, the Cartwrights can be seen galloping on horses on a dirt road that contains an unmistakable set of tire tracks from the truck carrying the camera in front of them.

Quotes
Ben Cartwright: You and your education.
Adam Cartwright: Education is progress! Now what have you got against it?
Ben Cartwright: I don't have anything against education - as long as it doesn't interfere with your thinking!

Crazy credits
The opening and closing credits show a picture on the screen that corresponds with whatever credit is being given ("Music by" is accompanied by a man playing a violin, "Written by" has a Mark Twain-inspired writer type holding a book with "Bonanza" written on its cover, etc.)

Alternate versions
Many television broadcasts and DVDs of public domain episodes currently in circulation replace the famous title theme music with generic music. Only official videos and DVDs from Artisan/Republic are uncut and contain the music as intended.

Connections
Featured in Zenith Presents: A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary (1972)

User reviews60

Featured review

The Great Western

"Bonanza" aired on NBC in September of 1959. Filmed in color, it was put in the 7:30 PM slot on Saturday nights so that people in the appliance stores could see it on the television sets and be convinced to buy an RCA color television. The ploy worked.

In 1961 it was moved to Sunday nights after NBC realized they had a hit on their hands. It lasted another 13 or so years before being canceled. But it is a landmark in television history.

One suggestion - if you ever find a DVD of "Bonanza" and an episode titled "To Die in Darkness" is listed, don't hesitate to buy the DVD. The episode guest-starred James Whitmore and was filmed in about the mid-1960s. All I will say is that the episode was probably the best of the series.