User Reviews

"Desperate Passage," written by John Hawkins is noteworthy primarily for its action (one of the most violent episodes) and dramatic intro that leads into a story line which really allows the characters to stretch from their normal roles in surprising ways. With Ben Cartwright as chief protagonist leading the desperate group which includes guest star Tina Louise (Ginger from Gilligan's Island) as a woman kidnapped and terrorized by natives on the war path, with the resulting resolution of course being a brilliantly devised plan by Cartwright. "Desperate Passage" is one of the few episodes that in it's entirety was actually filmed in Tahoe in the "real fictitious" Ponderosa environs! Additionally, screen writer John Hawkins penned 85 of the 430 episodes of this 14 year long series (see link) all of which qualify as a consistent 8 out of 10 stars: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0370152/filmoseries#tt0052451

Dag Gummit

There's this B western called Copper Sky with the same plot premise where the only survivor of a massacre is Jeff Morrow who is locked up in jail. The Cartwrights returning to Virginia City also discover that Tina Louise a woman separated from her husband has been captured by the Paiutes.

There's history between Louise and the man in jail in this case Steve Forrest. And thereby hangs more of the premise on which this fine Bonanza episode is based.

The Cartwrights and Forrest show some real character. Lorne Greene devises a plan of rescue that is similar to what John Wayne does in She Wore A Yellow Ribbon. If you've seen that you know what happens to the Paiutes.

One fine story.

I'd never seen Tina Louise before without gobs of make-up on. In this episode her natural beauty was revealed, what a revelation!!! Some women definitely look better without too much makeup, and she's one of them.