Johnny Bravo is an interesting episode that compares and contrasts loyalty, honor, prejudice, and love.
Cheyenne is offered a job as a ranch foreman by Matt Crowley (Harry Shannon), who is also looking for a husband for his daughter, Molly (Penny Edwards). However, Molly has long been in love with one of her fathers hands, Johnny Bravo. Unfortunately Matt Crowley harbors a hated for all people of Mexican descent, including Johnny. Cheyenne finds himself embroiled in not only the Crowley's personal affairs, but also a deadly conflict involving a group of hardcases headed up by Ben Taggart (Mort Mills) that are squatting on the Crowley ranch.
I'll get straight to the point, this is another good one from Season 1. Director Richard L. Bare directed more episodes of the series by far than any other director at 21 entries, including the first (Mountain Fortress) and the last (Showdown at Oxbend) episodes of the series. He handles the assignment deftly, skillfully managing multiple plot lines with ease while coaxing some excellent performances from his cast. Bare also directed two famous episodes of The Twilight Zone, Third from the Sun and To Serve Man.
One theme of the story is related to loyalty, as Cheyenne again shows he is unwilling to break a commitment to a friend simply for money when he refuses Matt Crowley's lucrative foreman job initially. Cheyenne shows clearly that his word is a bond not to be dissolved. Cheyenne also shows his loyalty again when he accepts the foreman's job after Johnny discovers he'd been beaten badly by Taggart's men and rescues him. A bond developed between Cheyenne, Molly and Johnny, and he is loyal to them as a result. And finally, Cheyenne proves his loyalty further when he stands with Matt Crowley in the final showdown against Taggart and his men. Love is another theme in this episode, as Cheyenne refuses to court Molly as he doesn't know her and is not in love with her. Molly and Johnny have long been in love deeply, which prompts Johnny to change his mind about filing a claim on a homestead as he knows the life would be extremely hard on Molly. Honor is another thread, as Johnny feels strongly about his personal honor and refuses to marry Molly as he has no land and nothing to offer her other than himself. Johnny's honor runs deep as his family were once wealthy landowners and he craves the status afforded a land owner. And finally prejudice is another theme, as Matt Crowley carries a deep seated hatred for all Mexicans after his son was supposedly killed by his Mexican partner. Crowley is forced to face his hatred and prejudice when Johnny and Molly confess their relationship to her father.
Mix in the Taggart storyline and all the pieces are there for a quality episode.
The cast list included a number of familiar faces to fans of the Golden Age of TV Westerns including one other very famous actress, as well as quite a few extras that specialized in playing uncredited bit roles. Carlos Rivas and Penny Edwards are well cast, and their onscreen chemistry is palpable.
Carlos Rivas makes his only appearance in the series as Johnny Bravo in his seventh role as an actor. Rivas appeared frequently during the 50s and 60s in productions in the US as well as south of the border. He was a character actor, playing roles both villainous and sympathetic, appearing frequently in Hispanic or Native American roles. Although he never really entered the upper echelons of stardom he worked steadily throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, playing a variety of characters.
Penny Edwards also makes her only appearance in the series, in her second role after a short lived retirement from 1953-56. She appeared in dozens of western films and TV series, and was Dale Evans' choice to step into her role in the Roy Rogers film series when Evans was pregnant. Ms. Edwards continued to appear in westerns throughout her career, with her last onscreen appearance in Death Valley Days in 1961.
Mort Mills and Charles Horvath head up the Taggart gang, and they chew some serious scenery in the process. These guys are just terrific here, playing some really nasty characters. Mills was another regular in countless westerns, and he appeared three times in Cheyenne, playing both villainous and sympathetic roles with ease. He also handled comedy with equal ability, appearing in series such as Maverick, Bewitched, My Favorite Martian and with the Three Stooges in their film The Outlaws is coming. Charles Horvath is one of my favorite villainous character actors, along with contemporaries Jack Lambert and George Keymas. Anytime you see these guys' names in a cast list you know you're not gonna be disappointed, and Horvath plays this role to the hilt.
Nancy Kulp appears in the first of her two roles in the series some years before hitting the bigtime in The Beverly Hillbillies with her hilarious role as somewhat pompous Jane Hathaway. Kulp shows her comedic chops beautifully as the proprietor of the local diner. She appeared twice on Cheyenne and once on Maverick in basically the same role, and had appeared earlier in the classic film Shane. The look of longing on her face as Cheyenne departs the restaurant is just great.
Not much more to mention other than another bit role for Kermit Maynard, brother of once famous but fallen westerns star Ken Maynard.
All in all, a very good offering from S1 with a high entertainment level.
Cheyenne is offered a job as a ranch foreman by Matt Crowley (Harry Shannon), who is also looking for a husband for his daughter, Molly (Penny Edwards). However, Molly has long been in love with one of her fathers hands, Johnny Bravo. Unfortunately Matt Crowley harbors a hated for all people of Mexican descent, including Johnny. Cheyenne finds himself embroiled in not only the Crowley's personal affairs, but also a deadly conflict involving a group of hardcases headed up by Ben Taggart (Mort Mills) that are squatting on the Crowley ranch.
I'll get straight to the point, this is another good one from Season 1. Director Richard L. Bare directed more episodes of the series by far than any other director at 21 entries, including the first (Mountain Fortress) and the last (Showdown at Oxbend) episodes of the series. He handles the assignment deftly, skillfully managing multiple plot lines with ease while coaxing some excellent performances from his cast. Bare also directed two famous episodes of The Twilight Zone, Third from the Sun and To Serve Man.
One theme of the story is related to loyalty, as Cheyenne again shows he is unwilling to break a commitment to a friend simply for money when he refuses Matt Crowley's lucrative foreman job initially. Cheyenne shows clearly that his word is a bond not to be dissolved. Cheyenne also shows his loyalty again when he accepts the foreman's job after Johnny discovers he'd been beaten badly by Taggart's men and rescues him. A bond developed between Cheyenne, Molly and Johnny, and he is loyal to them as a result. And finally, Cheyenne proves his loyalty further when he stands with Matt Crowley in the final showdown against Taggart and his men. Love is another theme in this episode, as Cheyenne refuses to court Molly as he doesn't know her and is not in love with her. Molly and Johnny have long been in love deeply, which prompts Johnny to change his mind about filing a claim on a homestead as he knows the life would be extremely hard on Molly. Honor is another thread, as Johnny feels strongly about his personal honor and refuses to marry Molly as he has no land and nothing to offer her other than himself. Johnny's honor runs deep as his family were once wealthy landowners and he craves the status afforded a land owner. And finally prejudice is another theme, as Matt Crowley carries a deep seated hatred for all Mexicans after his son was supposedly killed by his Mexican partner. Crowley is forced to face his hatred and prejudice when Johnny and Molly confess their relationship to her father.
Mix in the Taggart storyline and all the pieces are there for a quality episode.
The cast list included a number of familiar faces to fans of the Golden Age of TV Westerns including one other very famous actress, as well as quite a few extras that specialized in playing uncredited bit roles. Carlos Rivas and Penny Edwards are well cast, and their onscreen chemistry is palpable.
Carlos Rivas makes his only appearance in the series as Johnny Bravo in his seventh role as an actor. Rivas appeared frequently during the 50s and 60s in productions in the US as well as south of the border. He was a character actor, playing roles both villainous and sympathetic, appearing frequently in Hispanic or Native American roles. Although he never really entered the upper echelons of stardom he worked steadily throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, playing a variety of characters.
Penny Edwards also makes her only appearance in the series, in her second role after a short lived retirement from 1953-56. She appeared in dozens of western films and TV series, and was Dale Evans' choice to step into her role in the Roy Rogers film series when Evans was pregnant. Ms. Edwards continued to appear in westerns throughout her career, with her last onscreen appearance in Death Valley Days in 1961.
Mort Mills and Charles Horvath head up the Taggart gang, and they chew some serious scenery in the process. These guys are just terrific here, playing some really nasty characters. Mills was another regular in countless westerns, and he appeared three times in Cheyenne, playing both villainous and sympathetic roles with ease. He also handled comedy with equal ability, appearing in series such as Maverick, Bewitched, My Favorite Martian and with the Three Stooges in their film The Outlaws is coming. Charles Horvath is one of my favorite villainous character actors, along with contemporaries Jack Lambert and George Keymas. Anytime you see these guys' names in a cast list you know you're not gonna be disappointed, and Horvath plays this role to the hilt.
Nancy Kulp appears in the first of her two roles in the series some years before hitting the bigtime in The Beverly Hillbillies with her hilarious role as somewhat pompous Jane Hathaway. Kulp shows her comedic chops beautifully as the proprietor of the local diner. She appeared twice on Cheyenne and once on Maverick in basically the same role, and had appeared earlier in the classic film Shane. The look of longing on her face as Cheyenne departs the restaurant is just great.
Not much more to mention other than another bit role for Kermit Maynard, brother of once famous but fallen westerns star Ken Maynard.
All in all, a very good offering from S1 with a high entertainment level.
