User Reviews

Of all the episodes of "High Chaparral" I recall watching when I was a kid, and believe me I think I saw all of them, this particular episode still lives in my memory. There was a great ballad of the Johnny Rondo character sung throughout the episode reminding western fans of the elegiac songs from movie westerns of the 50s. I had forgotten Steve Forrest was the actor who portrayed Johnny Rondo, but I always thought this was one of the best individual western episodes I'd seen. The series itself was one of my all-time favorite westerns and it galls me to have it lumped into the "Bonanza" knockoff criticisms, especially when the same folks produced this show. I actually liked this show better than "Bonanza" because the conflict in the family often made you believe (and this was back when few characters were ever killed off in a TV show) there was serious jeopardy involved in every episode. The theme song may have well been one of the last great theatrical-sounding television themes and is surely a classic of its type.

This was another entertaining episode of THC.Johnny Rondo(Steve Forest),a former gun-for-hire wants to start a new life with his son(Kurt Russell),one devoid of guns.This episode always struck me as a possible pilot/spin-off for its own TV series.Generally most TV shows do employ the method of having one of their episodes serve as a pilot for a new show.Some succeed,most do not.My other favorite western alongside THC,Laredo,was originally first presented on an episode of The Virginian.Laredo itself had two of their episodes utilized as pilots:One with Jack Lord,pre-Hawaii Five-O,another with the popular singing team of Chad & Jeremy.Star Trek offered Assignment:Earth as a possible spin-off,Maude was first introduced on an episode of All in the Family & The Jeffersons also spun-off from AITF,Good Times from Maude.Its a technique still employed by TV to this day.

I love High Chapparal. I look forward to it every night. I'm enjoying this episode very much. Unlike the rest of y'all, I'm enjoying the ballad. I love old western ballads. This one explains the history of the man instead of leaving you in the dark. It helps you understand why he is the way he is. It helps you understand why he acts the way he does towards his son. So, I love it. I look forward to the rest of the episode.

I truly love this show, every night is different and exciting. I wish it came on TV more often. I just discovered it this season, season 1 episode 1. I'm watching it straight through. I do think Blue gets into too much trouble and is a little too soft hearted.

It's old story dragged down by distracting filler. An infamous gunfighter (Steve Forrest as Johnny Rondo) who's killed sixteen men, as the meandering ballad reminds over and over again, is trying to leave his past behind. But he inevitably runs into trouble.

Johnny Rondo is looking for work as he and his son make their way to California. After meeting Buck in a bar, Rondo accepts a job on the High Chaparral.

Rondo's desire to leave his past behind is complicated by a teenage son (Kurt Russell as Dan Rondo) who wants to learn how to handle a pistol against his father's wishes. Rondo understands the name alone will make the young man a target.

Rondo's past does indeed catch up with him when the brother of a man he killed vows revenge. As usual, Manolito and Buck are on the scene with their clever lines and wit that is quick when the stakes are highest.

The maudlin ballad that ran on at the beginning and end of the show as well as before and after every commercial break ruined the episode. I like The High Chaparral a lot, but I never would've watched this particular episode if I'd known that ridiculous racket was going to take up so much time.

The story probably could've been a solid thirty minute episode without all of that nauseating filler. I love music, but only when it's decent or better and apropos.

Do yourself a favor. Even if you love The High Chaparral, sit this one out.

I have to agree with those who thought the ballad ruined the episode. It wasn't in the same mood as the theme song, which made it jarring at the start and finish. It was also jarring in the middle because it didn't fit the tone of the episode, coming out blaring in moments when the music should have been subtle, the same way a loud laugh track will make a mild comedy seem repulsively unfunny.

MASH tried a balladeer for a few episodes and while it wasn't as obtrusive as in this show, it didn't fit the series, either. Cat Ballou showed how balladeers could advance the plot successfully, but it has been very difficult for TV shows to accomplish. Ballads are best left to theme songs, good in small doses and not interfering with the rest of the show. There isn't enough time in a TV episode to have both dialog and ballads explaining the easily understood plot. It's a gimmick that hurt the show.

I've always been a fan of "The High Chaparral", even more than I was of "Bonanza", but this particular episode I found to be mediocre at best. Steve Forrest is Johnny Rondo, a notorious gunfighter who has hung up his guns and is on his way to California with his teenage son (Kurt Russell). He gets a job at the Chaparral to make some money for his journey, but three brothers are following him to get revenge for his killing of their fourth brother. Forrest is OK, Russell is OK, the story is OK. The whole episode is just OK--except for the extremely irritating "Ballad of Johnny Rondo" that gets sung almost every few minutes (it seems) by Faron Young for no apparent reason; it does nothing to advance the story and pretty much repeats the same lines over and over, about "16 holes in 16 souls from the guns of Johnny Rondo" and some other lines that are even more trite. It had the same effect on me that the hideous "It's a Small World After All" caterwauling you hear at Disneyland.

As another poster has noted, the episode looks more like a busted pilot for a spin-off than anything else. One of the things I liked abut the series was that much of it was shot on location, but much of this episode seems to have been shot on a soundstage, which makes it look cheap. All things considered, this isn't one of the series' better episodes.