Bonanza: The Julia Bulette Story

Air Date

October 17, 1959

Production Code

Unknown

Top Episodes

• Forever (1)
• Forever (2)
• Between Heaven and Earth
• The Flapjack Contest
• Springtime
• The Boss
• Justice Deferred
• The Secret
• The Wooing of Abigail Jones
• The Hostage

•  

  9.6 Superb

  Joe falls for Julia Bullette, the owner an upscale saloon. Ben doesn't approve of the relationship, but Joe refuses to break it off. When an epidemic strikes the town, the true colors of all the towns people are revealed. hide show

  This episode has some great moments of the early days of the series. There are a number of classic "brother" moments, as well as scenes that set the tone for the relationship between Ben and his youngest son, Joe. This episode also was one of the primary early episodes that established Little Joe's personality traits for being hot-headed and volatile where his emotions were concerned.
  
  One of the great scenes of this story, and one of my personal favorites, is one in which the villain, Jon Millain, challeges Joe as he is leaving Julia's room at the saloon. Adam and Hoss show up in time to take Millain's gun and force him to settle his dispute "like a gentleman", meaning with his fists, rather than a firearm. Adam and Hoss stand by, while Millain rather soundly whips Joe, making no move to interfere. Adam then throws the unconscious Joe over his shoulder, while Hoss pays their beer tab and gives Millain back his gun and coat.
  
  I also really liked the history that was woven into this episode. While the timeline might not have been entirely accurate, Julia Bullette was an actual person and they did have the basic facts about her demise correctly depicted. Which is what leads to this story being a tearjerker.
  
  This is a very entertaining episode. Michael Landon's acting is really excellent, particularly considering how young and relatively inexperienced he was. He really demonstrated his natural talent, as he had little if any formal education in acting and had only been an actor forthree years or so, since he had come to California on an athletic scholarship, right after high school. He was only 22 when he bagan the role of Joe Cartwright.

  Do you agree?

    2 1

  Report Abuse

  midniteeve Added May 10, 2006 All my reviews

• Guest Cast

  • Jane Greer Julia Bulette
  • Kay E. Kuter Mr. Finch
  • Kem Dibbs Sheriff Olins
  • Alexander Scourby Jean Millain
  • Harry Seymour Piano Player
  • Rush Williams Pete
  • Mary Munday Gladys

• Stars

  • Dan Blocker Eric "Hoss" Cartwright (1959-1972)
  • Lorne Greene Ben Cartwright
  • Pernell Roberts Adam Cartwright (1959-1965)
  • Michael Landon Joseph "Little Joe" Francis Cartwright

• Set Decorators

  • Sam Comer Set Decorator
  • Robert Benton Set Decorator

• Recurring Roles

  • Roy Engel Dr. Martin
  • Robert Williams Tom
More Episode Cast and Crew »

• The music in the background in some of the scenes is "Aura Lee" - Composer: George R. Poulton; Lyricist: W.W. Fosdick (1861). [edit]
• Featured Cartwright: Joe [edit]
• Saloon of choice: Julia's Palace [edit]

• A. Earl Hedrick was credited as Earl Hedrick. Robert Stevenson was credited as Robert J. Stevenson. Robert Williams was credited as Robert B. Williams. [edit]

• Julia: Having faith in no one carries a special kind of security. You and your son have destroyed it. I'll never forgive you that, Ben. [edit]
• Ben: I'm not going to have that woman beating me over the head with my own son! [edit]
• Hoss: You know, that kid's got lots of grit. One of these days, he's gonna be able to whup that Frenchman.
  Adam: Yeah... but this wasn't the day. [edit]

• Julia Bulette (1838-1867)
  Moved to Virginia City around 1863 and was murdered in the "entertainment" district, four years later. [edit]