I was a teenager when this series was made, did not watch it back then, tv was not what it is today, I just discovered this show Lancer,i I just told my grandkids that tonight as we were watching it, years later, 2019, you can't beat those actors and and this series, they just do not make TV like this anymore !!
To everybody who is interested in Maria's and Johnny's history: I wrote a comment to it in "Legacy" to tell you what was published in a book 1970 by the Twentieth Century Fox Television about Maria's death. According to this Johnny knew that she was dead and the hate against Murdoch based on a misunderstanding of her last words to Johnny when he was just a little boy of about 10.
What a well developed hour -- with Murdoch in the limelight, yet with enough screen time with the family, Johnny, Scott and Teresa, so that "Lancer" fans are entertained. And, James Stacy fans, Wayne Maunder fans and Elizabeth Baur admirers should not be disappointed. It's not like Murdoch, solo, remained in Sacramento with just Phyllis Thaxter's widow character Marcy and son Johnny Crawford -- and none of the Lancer family. That scenario happens quite often on any number of series. NO ONE missed Jelly (Paul Brinegar), who unfortunately was soon to appear/debut and destroy the Lancer "magic"; unnecessarily clutter the quartet's perfect set-up, IMO. "Thank You," Lancer Fan, for posting. Years ago most episodes were available in their entirety like here (minus main titles, probably not to infringe on music copyrights). And as "Lancer" fans sadly came to discover, all were subsequently removed. Then we had a few years of two-to-five minute clips generously and thoughtfully prepared by JMLLover. And NOW, full episodes, with Main and End Titles are back, in rather good quality, near-network-length prints. Imagery: The director, 20th TV staff director Sobey Martin, took full advantage of the diverse terrain of the beautiful and magnificent 20th Century Fox Studios' Century Ranch (aka, Fox Ranch; today, Malibu Creek State Park) by staging much of the action there. And, gave plenty of screen time to the exteriors of the ranch itself -- carriage entrance, barn, corral, out building. The music is good throughout; I give a shout-out to Hugo Friedhofer for the gentle, three-minute underscore of Murdoch and his past love Marcy at the lakeside picnic, from 9:00 to 12:00, approximately. So nice. Scenery/setting, dialogue, wardrobe, music. The brief theme heard earlier while Scott unsaddles his horse and walks towards the house is thankfully used/"tracked" in later episodes. I like it. Okay, Johnny's (James Stacy, not Johnny Crawford) noticeably missing in the second half. Inside the house, at night, Scott announces he's going to bed to read a book. Walking away from Murdoch, James Stacy's line delivery is too soft to be clearly heard/understood. BUT, playing it back a few times, I think he says, "I'm going to town." (She must have been quite a woman! - ed.) If more episodes in the second season were crafted as well as this, the cast and viewers would be considerably more content; and happy enough to stick with the show, i.e., each episode to fade-out and the series overall. Speaking of subsequent episodes to "The Prodigal" over the next season and a half, a very few can be summarized as a (another) love story for Murdoch. If the writers had taken to heart his "I don't wanna marry again" speech to Phyllis Thaxter, they would create love interests, but well short of marriage proposals, as here Murdoch makes clear his interests in that are over. Finally, if "Three Magical Miles" author Brian Rooney or Hollywood historian Marc Wanamaker wants to answer this, please! Where is the small, scenic lake where Andrew Duggan and Phyllis Thaxter skip rocks and have a picnic? It's definitely not Fox Ranch. Potential candidates are Lake Sherwood and Malibou Lake. Thanks to all for reading -- to fade-out.
It was clever of them to not have Murdoch be a widower like Ben Cartwright. It explains why a handsome, wealthy man was still unattached. Since he didn't know if his second wife was alive or dead, that would keep him from initiating any other relationship. Notice that his would-be romance with Marcy occurred before he married Johnny's mother. Even if the law would allow a deserting spouse to be declared legally dead, i like to think Murdoch lived in hopes of Maria someday returning to him. Which also makes me wonder - why didn't Murdoch have the Pinkerton Agency search for her as well as the boys?
@@sharonpolikoff7282 I've only seen about half the Lancer episodes so far, so it's possible I haven't heard everything about Maria just yet. But ... what about Johnny? Doesn't he know what happened to his own mother? He never seems to mention her, so I had assumed she was dead. Do we know anything at all about their history before he became a 'pistolero'?
It's cute how Scott and Johnny 'look over' Murdoch's lady friends (here and also in 'Goodbye Lizzie') - almost like they're the parents inspecting the 'date' their son has brought home! And of course it was clever of the show's producers to have Murdoch not be a widower like Ben Cartwright. He considered himself still married, even though Maria had long ago deserted him and he'd probably be legally free to marry. But this handsome, wealthy man who'd be quite a catch for any woman is still unattached, I like to think, because he's always hoping for Maria's return.
We never do know if Johnny's mother is dead, do we? Just the fact that she left Murdoch, to go off with 'some gambler,' according to Teresa, and took Johnny with her. Then she poisoned her son's mind against his father, so that he grew up thinking Maria was abandoned by Murdoch, while in reality he loved her and always hoped she'd come back to him. Aside from actually being a widower, that would explain why an attractive, wealthy man like Murdoch would remain unmarried, as he was quite a 'catch'!
Johnny had only just begun to enjoy having a father and brother, and he was very protective of this little 'circle' of his, and clearly didn't want anyone invading it. He was a little put off by Scott's grandfather in the 'Legacy' episode, for the same reason, although in that case the grandfather was rude and condescending to Johnny.
They should have put a different blouse on her or a jacket. At 48:20 when she turns, you clearly see she's wearing a bra long before they were made. She should be wearing a corset. Stupid i know, but it really stood out to me. A little more Johnny would have been nice.....it always is....but a good episode
Hey I noticed it too. My theory is that when these shows were made no one had any idea we would have the ability or desire to pore-over every scene.. Thankfully they were oh so wrong.
@@RockerH2526 I spotted the bra too. And as good as the show was, they made some other costuming errors too, as well as a 1960s flip hairdo worn by Brenda Scott in her episode.
My favorite western theme song.
Way more better than anything on tv nowadays..! Excellent and thank you..!
I was a teenager when this series was made, did not watch it back then, tv was not what it is today, I just discovered this show Lancer,i I just told my grandkids that tonight as we were watching it, years later, 2019, you can't beat those actors and and this series, they just do not make TV like this anymore !!
What a little creep, Johnny had him pegged, that slip away look around the eyes. Mother's can't help being mothers.
Exactly what is a "soft kind of slip away look?" Whatever it is I love the way he says it.
Andrew Duggan a great actor rip
To everybody who is interested in Maria's and Johnny's history:
I wrote a comment to it in "Legacy" to tell you what was published in a book 1970 by the Twentieth Century Fox Television about Maria's death.
According to this Johnny knew that she was dead and the hate against Murdoch based on a misunderstanding of her last words to Johnny when he was just a little boy of about 10.
What a well developed hour -- with Murdoch in the limelight, yet with enough screen time with the family, Johnny, Scott and Teresa, so that "Lancer" fans are entertained. And, James Stacy fans, Wayne Maunder fans and Elizabeth Baur admirers should not be disappointed. It's not like Murdoch, solo, remained in Sacramento with just Phyllis Thaxter's widow character Marcy and son Johnny Crawford -- and none of the Lancer family. That scenario happens quite often on any number of series.
NO ONE missed Jelly (Paul Brinegar), who unfortunately was soon to appear/debut and destroy the Lancer "magic"; unnecessarily clutter the quartet's perfect set-up, IMO.
"Thank You," Lancer Fan, for posting. Years ago most episodes were available in their entirety like here (minus main titles, probably not to infringe on music copyrights). And as "Lancer" fans sadly came to discover, all were subsequently removed. Then we had a few years of two-to-five minute clips generously and thoughtfully prepared by JMLLover. And NOW, full episodes, with Main and End Titles are back, in rather good quality, near-network-length prints.
Imagery: The director, 20th TV staff director Sobey Martin, took full advantage of the diverse terrain of the beautiful and magnificent 20th Century Fox Studios' Century Ranch (aka, Fox Ranch; today, Malibu Creek State Park) by staging much of the action there. And, gave plenty of screen time to the exteriors of the ranch itself -- carriage entrance, barn, corral, out building.
The music is good throughout; I give a shout-out to Hugo Friedhofer for the gentle, three-minute underscore of Murdoch and his past love Marcy at the lakeside picnic, from 9:00 to 12:00, approximately. So nice. Scenery/setting, dialogue, wardrobe, music. The brief theme heard earlier while Scott unsaddles his horse and walks towards the house is thankfully used/"tracked" in later episodes. I like it.
Okay, Johnny's (James Stacy, not Johnny Crawford) noticeably missing in the second half. Inside the house, at night, Scott announces he's going to bed to read a book. Walking away from Murdoch, James Stacy's line delivery is too soft to be clearly heard/understood. BUT, playing it back a few times, I think he says, "I'm going to town." (She must have been quite a woman! - ed.)
If more episodes in the second season were crafted as well as this, the cast and viewers would be considerably more content; and happy enough to stick with the show, i.e., each episode to fade-out and the series overall.
Speaking of subsequent episodes to "The Prodigal" over the next season and a half, a very few can be summarized as a (another) love story for Murdoch. If the writers had taken to heart his "I don't wanna marry again" speech to Phyllis Thaxter, they would create love interests, but well short of marriage proposals, as here Murdoch makes clear his interests in that are over.
Finally, if "Three Magical Miles" author Brian Rooney or Hollywood historian Marc Wanamaker wants to answer this, please! Where is the small, scenic lake where Andrew Duggan and Phyllis Thaxter skip rocks and have a picnic? It's definitely not Fox Ranch. Potential candidates are Lake Sherwood and Malibou Lake.
Thanks to all for reading -- to fade-out.
S C Vandy, the complete series that was removed, was of poor quality,very dark, hard to see, these videos, are a great improvement.
SC Vandy .. we're make pretty good critics for ourselves. hanks, but we don't need the help.
It was clever of them to not have Murdoch be a widower like Ben Cartwright. It explains why a handsome, wealthy man was still unattached. Since he didn't know if his second wife was alive or dead, that would keep him from initiating any other relationship. Notice that his would-be romance with Marcy occurred before he married Johnny's mother.
Even if the law would allow a deserting spouse to be declared legally dead, i like to think Murdoch lived in hopes of Maria someday returning to him. Which also makes me wonder - why didn't Murdoch have the Pinkerton Agency search for her as well as the boys?
@@sharonpolikoff7282 I've only seen about half the Lancer episodes so far, so it's possible I haven't heard everything about Maria just yet. But ... what about Johnny? Doesn't he know what happened to his own mother? He never seems to mention her, so I had assumed she was dead. Do we know anything at all about their history before he became a 'pistolero'?
It's cute how Scott and Johnny 'look over' Murdoch's lady friends (here and also in 'Goodbye Lizzie') - almost like they're the parents inspecting the 'date' their son has brought home!
And of course it was clever of the show's producers to have Murdoch not be a widower like Ben Cartwright. He considered himself still married, even though Maria had long ago deserted him and he'd probably be legally free to marry.
But this handsome, wealthy man who'd be quite a catch for any woman is still unattached, I like to think, because he's always hoping for Maria's return.
We never do know if Johnny's mother is dead, do we? Just the fact that she left Murdoch, to go off with 'some gambler,' according to Teresa, and took Johnny with her. Then she poisoned her son's mind against his father, so that he grew up thinking Maria was abandoned by Murdoch, while in reality he loved her and always hoped she'd come back to him.
Aside from actually being a widower, that would explain why an attractive, wealthy man like Murdoch would remain unmarried, as he was quite a 'catch'!
Johnny all worried about Mrs. Dane ironing his shirts and socks .Didn't want her hooks in Murdoch. *-)
0000
Johnny had only just begun to enjoy having a father and brother, and he was very protective of this little 'circle' of his, and clearly didn't want anyone invading it. He was a little put off by Scott's grandfather in the 'Legacy' episode, for the same reason, although in that case the grandfather was rude and condescending to Johnny.
Thanks for sharing
You're welcome!
Good episode Phyllis Thaxter makes quality. Check out all of het episodes in the Alfred Hitchcock tv series
Mark McCain!
67,682 View's So Far:
Lancer: Episode 7.
Season 1. Episode 7. "The Prodigal".
Tuesday, February 13 - 2024.
Johnny looks like little kid who whant to keep his dady for him his eyes said :
no one going to take my father no one
Strange seeing "Doc Baker" from Little House playing a bad guy, but he played it well. Wasn't the guy who plays "Jeff" the son on Rifleman?
Yes... That's Johnny Crawford
@@mariemiller1547 ...who just died this past week.
Yes.
Amo James Stacy siempre en mi corazón, besos al cielo 😍😘😘
They should have put a different blouse on her or a jacket. At 48:20 when she turns, you clearly see she's wearing a bra long before they were made. She should be wearing a corset. Stupid i know, but it really stood out to me. A little more Johnny would have been nice.....it always is....but a good episode
The issue with the bra clearly showing was noticed by me as well. I drive my friends up a wall by commenting on inappropriate clothing and hairstyles.
Hey I noticed it too. My theory is that when these shows were made no one had any idea we would have the ability or desire to pore-over every scene.. Thankfully they were oh so wrong.
@@RockerH2526
I spotted the bra too. And as good as the show was, they made some other costuming errors too, as well as a 1960s flip hairdo worn by Brenda Scott in her episode.
Hermosa serie las que están en ingles 😢😢