MovieChat Forums > Bonanza (1959) Discussion > Anyone prefer Adam to Hoss and Lil Joe?

Anyone prefer Adam to Hoss and Lil Joe?

posted 6 years ago by snepts (11123)
21 replies | jump to latest

I do. Mostly I think it's because I missed Pernell Roberts in this role the first go around. so his episodes are fresh for me. However, both Hoss and Joe are sort of caricatures, Joe a little less so.
Adam seems like a mature and educated man who is still tough enough for the Ol' West. The other guys seem to just react to situations and they do a lot of stuff for laughs. I saw an ep recently where Hoss intimidated Adam into dunking himself in a water trough, which I thought was weird. He and Joe had that sort of relationship, but I can't see the older Adam letting him get away with that. However, since the other guys would pull these hi jinks, I suppose Adam had to join in too.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 6 years ago

There are many Adam fans out there!

When I was very little, Adam was my favorite character. Years later when the show was syndicated I was able to see all the Adam episodes. I was surprised to realize that he was in six seasons. I thought he was only in two or three. I didn't remember much about those early episodes at all, so they were fresh to me too.

There were a number of comedy episodes. So all the Cartwrights did "stuff for laughs". There are episodes such as "Ponderosa Matador" and "The Hayburner" when all three brothers got into funny situations. "Woman of Fire" and "A Knight to Remember" featured Adam getting involved (against his will) in comical situations.
Adam was the most serious of the brothers. But even he could be drawn into some silly stuff courtesy of his brothers. In "The Wooing of Abigail Jones", he follows his brothers' advice to plead the romantic case of one of their lovesick ranch hands. The woman misunderstands and thinks that Adam is speaking for himself and wooing her. Very funny episode.

When the show premiered, Hoss did seem like the "big and slow witted" guy. But he was far from a caricature! Dan Blocker gave a very nuanced performance as the biggest Cartwright with a heart just as big. He did some silly stuff with his little brother Joe. But Hoss had great character. Many episodes display his kindness, honesty and just plain goodness.

[–] snepts (11123) 6 years ago

Dan Blocker was a very appealing fellow. When I say caricature, I don't mean he was a lousy actor. It's just with his size and "just plain goodness", he doesn't seem to have much dimension. I think it's more a writing issue. But he's a beloved character, for sure.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 6 years ago

I didn't think you meant that Dan Blocker was a bad actor. In fact, at first the show played up the idea that other characters looked down on Hoss for his size. People saw him as a caricature because he was so big.

In one of the first episodes, "The Newcomers", Hoss is helping Miss Emily down from a wagon.

She says something like, "Don't touch me, you big ugly brute."

Hoss says, rather good naturedly, "Now I can hardly help being ugly, can I ma'am?"

There are a number of episodes which show different sides of Hoss. But essentially, he was a good guy. He was just a very decent person. I've often compared him to Edith Bunker. They were two of the few TV characters who were so beloved. They were those rare individuals who just don't have a mean bone in their bodies. They got angry for sure. But it was never malicious.

[–] snepts (11123) 6 years ago

Well put ! I didn't think about Edith, but you are so right. Some might cal her an Enabler, but I think she was doing what she felt was right. Love Edith, and thank you for mentioning her.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

One really good episode for Adam was the one where he went into business with that woman to open a restaurant for some miners. It almost felt like a stage play starring Pernell Roberts and the actress, who I can't remember much about. I only remember that her fiance was played by the skipper from Gilligan's Island.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 6 years ago

Oh that's a favorite among a lot of Adam fans! The Saga of Annie O'Toole. Ida Lupino who went on to become a director played Annie. Yes, her fiance "the Swede" was played by Alan Hale, Jr.

Ida Lupino's husband, Howard Duff, also appeared in a first season Bonanza episode. He played Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 6 years ago

Disclaimer to my post - The sons are only as rich as Ben allows them to be and all three were caricature to a degree.

I'm a guy, but I always thought in real life that Hoss would be more appealing to women than his brothers. He's big, strong, good-hearted, and rich.

Joe was good looking, charming in a boyish way, and rich, but immature, impulsive, hot-headed, and violent. I realize those "qualities" are impressive to a certain type of woman, but not the women Ben would allow to get a hold of his wealth.

Adam was fairly handsome, intelligent, and rich , but dour and lacking a sense of humor.

,

[–] ATG6 (3000) 6 years ago

nope.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Yes, I did like Adam, but he had a tendency to be a bit of an intellectual snob from time to time. However, he is still my favorite.

He was the only Cartwright not governed by his passions. Every move Ben made was driven by money. Hoss was a slave to his own belly. And Little Joe's lust for the women of Virginia City was plain for all to see.

Adam used his mind. He planned his work and worked his plans. The man really could have given the inventors of those days some real competition, but he was a poet and artist at heart.

[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 6 years ago

I absolutely loved Adam. I genuinely didn't enjoy the series as much after he left. I don't blame Pernell Roberts at all for making the decision that he did. Back in those days, there were 33-34 episodes per season. That is a huge commitment that doesn't leave room to do any other type of work. Nowadays, TV series only make 18-22 episodes per season. Roberts made the right decision for himself at that time.

But the series suffered as a result of his departure. He was complex, interesting and (to me) the most attractive person on the show.

[–] vranger (444) 6 years ago

For YEARS after Bonanza, Pernell Roberts only got the occasional guest starring role on TV, and that because of his notoriety from Bonanza. The few movies he did were both forgettable and forgotten.

He later acknowledged that it was a big mistake to leave Bonanza, against Lorne Greene's advice.

[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 6 years ago

Yes, I remember those guest starring roles. I think part of the reason he was unsuccessful was because of the standards he set for himself. For instance, he just stropped wearing toupees after Bonanza (on that topic-- the only person in Bonanza who didn't wear a toupee was Michael Landon).

I remember Pernell Roberts in an episode of Marcus Welby MD from 1973 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0641947/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl).

I had to ask my father if I could stay up late because Pernell Roberts was the "guest star" and I was the biggest 9 year old fan girl. I was distraught by how radically different he looked. Instead of "Adam" here middle aged man. It wasn't until the late 1970's that he got to be the star of his own show (Trapper John), where he finally got to achieve some measure of the success he wanted on his own terms.

[–] vranger (444) 6 years ago

In doing some reading on the series last night, I came across information indicating that Pernell Roberts didn't like wearing a toupee, and only did so during filming on Bonanza. The report indicated that he didn't wear it during rehearsal. I agree with you though. He looked better with it.

[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 6 years ago

So many people nowadays wear toupees, hair weaves, or hair transplants. I remember reading an interview with Patrick Stewart about his own baldness. He really was very sensitive about it since he went bald at a very young age. Since he was a Shakespearean actor he tried to use it to his advantage. With a toupee, he could play the juvenile lead (Hamlet) and without the toupee, he could play an old character (Polonius).

I remember seeing an episode of "I Claudius" from the 1970's where Patrick Stewart played a romantic role wearing a toupee.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 6 years ago

Yes, Pernell Roberts didn't like wearing a toupee. I saw a show a long time ago that was pre-Bonanza. He was only about thirty or so and he was thinning on top. He didn't wear a hair piece in that show.

He actually didn't want to wear his hairpiece to play Adam but the show insisted. Pernell Roberts was only about thirteen years younger than his onscreen "Pa" and the producers thought he looked too old without his hair.

I've seen pictures of him on the set between takes in costume. It's odd to see a balding Adam. He never wore it while filming if Adam was wearing a hat in the scene. Sometimes you can notice that he keeps his hat on a lot. He really did not like wearing a rug!

[–] hoosiergirl (222) 6 years ago

I always liked Adam best and thought he was better looking than Little Joe. I've never understood the appeal of Michael Landon. I enjoy Little House on the Prairie despite him.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 6 years ago

Adam was my favorite character. However the show did remain popular without him.

Pernell Roberts had a lot of complaints about the sub-par scripts. But what was he expecting when he signed on to do a weekly series? As Jennie pointed out, a TV series back then aired over thirty episodes a season. That's a lot of material to crank out in one year. All the scripts couldn't be masterpieces.

It's funny though, after all his complaints about the show, he went on to guest star in episodic television for a long time including a lot of other westerns such as The Big Valley (twice), The Wild, Wild West, Gunsmoke (twice), Lancer,etc.

I think he had plans to make it really, really big on stage. But apparently he was no Barrymore. Some actors leave hit shows thinking that they are better, more popular or more talented than they actually are.

I remember what McLean Stevenson said about his disastrous career move in leaving MASH. He said that he thought the audience LOVED McLean Stevenson, but they really loved Henry Blake.

[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 6 years ago

I agree that I never understood the appeal of Michael Landon. But people like different "types." Michael Landon was pretty and fun-loving while Pernell Roberts was handsome and cerebral. Give me Pernell Roberts any day.

[–] liscarkat (19427) 5 years ago

I like Adam, but Hoss is my favorite. Hoss is sweet-natured and cheerful, and much smarter than he realizes he is.

[–] mikethemartian (7003) 4 years ago

I like all four of the main actors but Adam was my favorite character. Roberts appeared a couple of times on The Big Valley and I thought it would have been cool to see him playing Adam Cartwright teaming up with Nick Barkley (Peter Breck).

[–] snepts (11123) 4 years ago

I always have wondered why Breck didn't do more than Big Valley. Not that he should have been a Big Star, but I liked his tough and smirking persona, he could joke around while being a tough guy. Had an easy-going nature but a short fuse and looked tough as nails. Pretty handsome, I suppose, in a tough guy way.