Tom Tryon stole the show as Scott Breckenridge in this episode. Before he became a very successful writer of some exceptional fiction, Tom Tryon had roles in several television westerns and he also had a movie career. His portrayal of Scott Breckenridge turned a character that could have been a villain straight out of an old serial into a nuanced performance that was enjoying to watch. He and Linda Evans were wonderful together. Another good Barkley family episode.
6 Reviews
About as adult as a 60s western would get
mlbroberts10 February 2021
The theme in this episode - a "successful" businessman lending money to farmers in trouble due to a drought and how Audra falls in love with him - could have gone a lot more innocent than it did, but it turns out Scott Breckenridge wants something other than the marriage that Audra is hoping for. She is upset, shocked, ashamed - but then things get worse for the farmers and Breckenridge plans to foreclose on them.
A very moving episode for Linda Evans as Audra, as she offers a gigantic sacrifice to save her neighbors. Very nicely done, and very adult.
A very moving episode for Linda Evans as Audra, as she offers a gigantic sacrifice to save her neighbors. Very nicely done, and very adult.
Linda Evans with Tom Tryon steals the show in this episode
kfo949423 January 2013
This episode starts out as any young man's dream as we get to see Audra undressing as she is going to take a swim by a rural creek. But to our anger there is a man already swimming in the creek named Scott Breckenridge. Little does anyone know, at this point, but Scott will be the villain of this story.
What has happened is there is a drought in the area of Stockton. With nearly everyone being farmers there is a run on the local bank shutting everything down. With local farmers unable to get loans to cover things needed for the drought, Scott will provide them a loan, at a high interest, and all they need to put up is their land. Even with Jarrod advising against the loans, the local farmers had no other option.
As expected rain never comes and the farmers are called to settle their loans. Audra will offer herself as a sacrifice for the local farmers in return for Scott extending their loans. It becomes terrifying when Scott takes her up on her offer.
Linda Evans is as beautiful as ever in this episode that will have any red-blooded male glued to the screen. She does an excellent job of acting during this episode as well as the other regular characters on the set. Not really the most interesting show of the series but one that stands out, mainly due to chemistry of Linda Evans and Tom Tryon (Scott), as a show to remember. Both were well cast for the parts. Good watch.
What has happened is there is a drought in the area of Stockton. With nearly everyone being farmers there is a run on the local bank shutting everything down. With local farmers unable to get loans to cover things needed for the drought, Scott will provide them a loan, at a high interest, and all they need to put up is their land. Even with Jarrod advising against the loans, the local farmers had no other option.
As expected rain never comes and the farmers are called to settle their loans. Audra will offer herself as a sacrifice for the local farmers in return for Scott extending their loans. It becomes terrifying when Scott takes her up on her offer.
Linda Evans is as beautiful as ever in this episode that will have any red-blooded male glued to the screen. She does an excellent job of acting during this episode as well as the other regular characters on the set. Not really the most interesting show of the series but one that stands out, mainly due to chemistry of Linda Evans and Tom Tryon (Scott), as a show to remember. Both were well cast for the parts. Good watch.
Nice mood to this episode
PrometheusTree644 October 2011
I like the tone to this episode of BIG VALLEY.
Directed by one of the producers (Arnold Laven) "The Midas Man" is a gentle, slightly haunted tale of a dashing -- if low key -- rapscallion of a guy, Scott Breckenridge, who comes to Stockton to take advantage of the valley's increasingly severe drought, with the intention of bilking vulnerable ranchers of their land.
Until he meets Audra, and the pair are smitten with one another -- only Audra is unaware of what mother Victoria and brother Jarrod very much are: Scott is a serial womanizer and a Man of the World not to be entirely trusted.
In the end, both Audra and Scott leave an indelible impression on one another.
This installment nicely reflects the early potential of THE BIG VALLEY series: the direction is solid -- a little cinematic, the writing fairly smart for the time, and the effect is rather quietly poignant...
I kind of wish the show had maintained this feel a bit longer and more consistently, instead of quickly becoming by rote and eventually a tad schlocky.
Directed by one of the producers (Arnold Laven) "The Midas Man" is a gentle, slightly haunted tale of a dashing -- if low key -- rapscallion of a guy, Scott Breckenridge, who comes to Stockton to take advantage of the valley's increasingly severe drought, with the intention of bilking vulnerable ranchers of their land.
Until he meets Audra, and the pair are smitten with one another -- only Audra is unaware of what mother Victoria and brother Jarrod very much are: Scott is a serial womanizer and a Man of the World not to be entirely trusted.
In the end, both Audra and Scott leave an indelible impression on one another.
This installment nicely reflects the early potential of THE BIG VALLEY series: the direction is solid -- a little cinematic, the writing fairly smart for the time, and the effect is rather quietly poignant...
I kind of wish the show had maintained this feel a bit longer and more consistently, instead of quickly becoming by rote and eventually a tad schlocky.
Merely Adequate
summerfields14 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The beginning of this one is cute and sexy: Audra meets a man named Scott Breckinridge whilst skinny dipping in the local stream.
But the storyline kind of fizzles out and i ain't gonna tell anymore.
Tom Tryon was a far more successful writer of fiction than as an actor.
His looks are ugly/handsome and his speaking voice is oddly unique - and not very appealing.
Our noble Audra was going to do something which she needn't bothered.
Like watching this episode, unfortunately.
A stronger male lead (a more fascinating actor) would have made the difference here. Tryon hardly has charisma in the acting department.
But the storyline kind of fizzles out and i ain't gonna tell anymore.
Tom Tryon was a far more successful writer of fiction than as an actor.
His looks are ugly/handsome and his speaking voice is oddly unique - and not very appealing.
Our noble Audra was going to do something which she needn't bothered.
Like watching this episode, unfortunately.
A stronger male lead (a more fascinating actor) would have made the difference here. Tryon hardly has charisma in the acting department.
Giving her all
bkoganbing16 July 2016
In the testosterone driven Big Valley Linda Evans sometimes got lost in the shuffle. But this one was her story. Her's and that of guest star Tom Tryon in a rather old fashioned Victorian morality story.
Tryon is a speculator come to take advantage of a drought in the Big Valley where all but the Barkleys are without water and the Barkleys running low on that. He gives out mortgages for ranch supplies and looks to pick up some bargains when the ranchers can't pay.
The other thing Tryon likes in the Big Valley is Linda Evans. Despite Barbara Stanwyck's warnings about men like Tryon, Evans is charmed by him.
This story has a rather unbelievable ending that would never fly in today's television market. Still Tryon and Evans do stand out for their performances and Evans for her willingness to sacrifice all for peace and prosperity in the Big Valley.
Tryon is a speculator come to take advantage of a drought in the Big Valley where all but the Barkleys are without water and the Barkleys running low on that. He gives out mortgages for ranch supplies and looks to pick up some bargains when the ranchers can't pay.
The other thing Tryon likes in the Big Valley is Linda Evans. Despite Barbara Stanwyck's warnings about men like Tryon, Evans is charmed by him.
This story has a rather unbelievable ending that would never fly in today's television market. Still Tryon and Evans do stand out for their performances and Evans for her willingness to sacrifice all for peace and prosperity in the Big Valley.
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