matchettja

I never saw "High Chaparral" when it was originally aired from 1967 to 1971. It was only recently that I found reruns on H & I TV and discovered what a wonderful series it is, quite different from other Westerns of the time. Those featured single male leads and women only showed up in guest roles. All had similar plot lines. In this one, we have not only Caucasian men, but Hispanic men and women as well. All the leads have distinct characters: Big John, the fair but narrow minded boss of the ranch, his tender but strong wife Victoria (played by wonderful Linda Crystal), his inexperienced son Blue, his wandering, hotheaded brother Buck and Mano, Victoria's savvy, always laughing brother. The interaction of these well played characters leads to a variety of stories. The supporting players such as Joe, Sam, Pedro and Vaquero contribute to make this series a notch above others. In this particular episode, Big John seeks an alliance with neighbor Don Sebastian Montoya to protect each other from threats by Indians and other marauders. Recently widowed John gets the alliance but something quite unexpected as well; a new wife. How will she fit in as the new mistress of the "High Chaparral?" How will they deal with numerous plots to take possession of that ranch? Watch this marvelous series to find out.

Two young men, Blue and Chatto, the son of an Apache chief, fight for the ownership of a beautiful black stallion. Chatto ropes the horse first but can't hold on to him, a task Blue is able to complete. Blue wins that struggle and tames that horse, but things take a turn when Chatto steals the horse back. Of course, Blue takes off after Chatto, not even waiting for men from the ranch to assist him. All that the two single-minded men can focus on is their selfish desire for ownership. Neither of them realizes the danger they are creating for the people of both sides if war breaks out, something both John and the Indian chief want to avoid if possible. Another thing Blue and Chatto fail to realize is that the horse might have ideas of his own. A very enjoyable episode of "High Chaparral".

This is one of the best episodes of "Chaparral." When Buck and Blue bring in four orphaned Apache boys, Big John immediately tells them to take the boys back to where they came from. He thinks only trouble can come from keeping them at the ranch. However, Victoria, looking at the sad, hungry faces, pleads with him to change his mind so she can at least feed them. Much to his better judgement, he succumbs to her pleas and takes them in. The situation becomes more complicated when more Apache orphans show up at the ranch and John learns that one of them is the grandson of Geronimo. Of course, Victoria wants to take care of all of them and again asks for more time to do so. They are faced with danger on two sides. One is that Pima Indians, enemies of the Apaches, might try to get that boy to keep him for ransom. The other is that Geronimo himself might try to attack for the boy's return. There is no easy answer for the dilemma John faces... This episode is full of frolic and fun. A very amusing moment occurs when Big John walks off trailed by a very young Apache girl who has taken a shine to him.