S5.E18

The Gentleman from New Orleans

Episode aired Feb 2, 1964
TV-PG
1h

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Dan Blocker and John Dehner in Bonanza (1959)

Gullible Hoss meets a flamboyant, cutlass-brandishing drunk claiming to be none other than the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. Believing Lafitte is who he says he is and remembering that hist... Read allGullible Hoss meets a flamboyant, cutlass-brandishing drunk claiming to be none other than the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. Believing Lafitte is who he says he is and remembering that history considered him a patriot for his aid at the Battle of New Orleans, Hoss chooses to tre... Read allGullible Hoss meets a flamboyant, cutlass-brandishing drunk claiming to be none other than the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. Believing Lafitte is who he says he is and remembering that history considered him a patriot for his aid at the Battle of New Orleans, Hoss chooses to treat Lafitte like a hero and invites him to the Ponderosa. While skeptical Ben contacts old ... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

109

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos4

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Dan Blocker

Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright

Michael Landon

Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright

Lorne Greene

Ben Cartwright

Pernell Roberts

Adam Cartwright
(credit only)

John Dehner

Jean Lafitte

Jean Willes

Molly Travers

Sheldon Allman

Atty. Walter A. Betts

Ray Teal

Sheriff Roy Coffee

Harry Swoger

Amos Whittaker

Bern Hoffman

Bartender Sam

Joan Connors

Sally

Victor Adamson

Barfly
(uncredited)

Bill Clark

Cowboy Helping Mr. Betts
(uncredited)

Russell Custer

Barfly
(uncredited)

Betty Endicott

Townswoman Betty
(uncredited)

Frank Green

Barfly
(uncredited)

Michael Jeffers

Barfly
(uncredited)

William McCarter

Townsman
(uncredited)

User reviews2

6.9109

Featured reviews

6kstallings100

Am I hearing things?

Is there a laughtrack during the bar girls brawl? I'm a Jean Willed fan.

6bkoganbing

Subject To Speculation

Jean Lafitte is one of those characters in history who is still shrouded in legend. After his helping Andrew Jackson win the battle of New Orleans he went back to the pirate trade, relocating to Galveston Island and then sailed off, his fate unknown but subject to speculation. It's on that speculation that this Bonanza episode revolves.

The Gentleman From New Orleans is John Dehner who arrives at Virginia City claiming to be the one and only Jean Lafitte. He's got the manner to carry it off and he makes a believer out of Dan Blocker. But later on the 70 something old pirate if that's who he is gets suspected of the murder of a rancher who was robbed of money that Lorne Greene paid him for cattle. When you call yourself Jean Lafitte you go to the top of anyone's suspect list.

This episode turns on the charm of John Dehner as the old pirate and the nice chemistry he establishes with the trusting Dan Blocker. And your speculation is as good as anyone's about the fate of Jean Lafitte.

Trivia
23rd episode without Pernell Roberts.

Goofs
Striking a diamond with a rock is not a good test for a diamond. Real diamonds are strong but brittle. The idea that a diamond can only be cut by a diamond has led to the idea they are nearly indestructible. Can be shattered by a sharp blow. So little Joe might have reduced a valuable stone to a pile of far less valuable chips.