The Big Valley

Infobox Television
show_name = The Big Valley


caption = The cast of "The Big Valley"
genre = Western
creator =
starring = Barbara Stanwyck
Richard Long
Lee Majors
Linda Evans
Peter Breck
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 4
num_episodes = 112 ( [http://www.tv.com/the-big-valley/show/648/episode_guide.html?printable=1 List of episodes] )
producer =
executive_producer =
runtime = 60 min.
network = ABC
picture_format =
first_aired = September 15, 1965
last_aired = May 19, 1969
imdb_id = 0058791
tv_com_id = 648

"The Big Valley" is a television Western which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman. The producer was Levy-Gardner-Laven. Associate producer Lou Morheim performed the same function on the 1960 film "The Magnificent Seven". The stirring theme was composed by George Duning. Paul Henreid, of "Casablanca" fame, directed a number of episodes. Four Star Television produced the series.

Historical Background

The TV series was based loosely on the Hill Ranch located at the western edge of Calaveras County, not far from Stockton (one episode places the Barkley Ranch a few hours ride from town while another has Jarrod riding past a Calaveras County sign on his way to the TV series' ranch). The Hill Ranch existed from 1855 until 1931, exceeded 1,000 acres, and had the Mokelumne River running through it. Lawson Hill ran the ranch until he was murdered in 1861. His wife Euphemia (aka "Auntie Hill") then became the matriarch. During their marriage they had four children, one daughter and three sons. Today, the location of the ranch is covered by the waters of Lake Camanche. A California State historical marker standing at Camanche South Shore Park mentions the historic ranch.

Major Characters

*Victoria Barkley, portrayed by Barbara Stanwyck, was the widowed matriarch of the wealthy, influential Barkley family living in 19th century Stockton in California's central valley. Victoria Barkley was the undisputed master of the Barkley ranch. In fact, Stanwyck's refusal to portray Barkley as fragile was controversial at the time. Barkley's husband, Thomas, had been killed several years prior in the universe of the series.

*Jarrod Thomas Barkley, the eldest son, was a respected attorney. Richard Long played the role as the more intelligent and calmer of the Barkley sons. While Jarrod preferred the law to settle disputes, he was known to resort to frontier justice and violence when necessary. Jarrod was briefly married in one episode only to see his new wife killed off almost immediately.

*Hot-tempered younger son Nick Barkley, who managed the family ranch, was portrayed by Peter Breck. Nick was well-known for his leather vests and large black hat. He was also notorious for getting into fist fights. At times, he would fight with his brothers as well.

*Linda Evans played Audra, Victoria's only daughter. Much like her mother, Audra was no wall flower and often was involved in daring stunts and did not ride side-saddled.

*Heath Barkley was the illegitimate son of Victoria's late husband. Lee Majors portrayed Heath, who gradually gained acceptance from the rest of the Barkley clan. Although Nick initially detested Heath, they eventually became close. In fact, Nick eventually became closer to Heath than Jarrod.

Minor Characters

*The youngest Barkley son was Eugene, a medical student studying at Berkeley, played by Charles Briles. He was seen sporadically in only five first season episodes and then written out. Only once was his name ever mentioned again. Eugene Barkley is an example of the Chuck Cunningham Syndrome.

*The regular cast was rounded out by Napoleon Whiting, as Silas, the Barkleys' majordomo.

Trivia

* A morbid running gag was that every time one of the Barkley children fell in love or were married, the wife or beau (for Audra) would suffer a horrible end or tragic death never to be mentioned again.
* Dell Comics published a short-lived comic book for six issues in 1966-69. (the last issue reprinted the first, and came out two years after issue #5). All issues had photo covers.
* Both Long and Breck had been regulars for a short time on another classic Western series, "Maverick", although in different seasons; Long played "Gentleman Jack Darby" to pick up the slack when Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. began "77 Sunset Strip" and could no longer play "Dandy Jim Buckley," while Breck assumed the role of "Doc Holliday" when Gerald Mohr was unavailable.
* Lee Majors later recounted on "The Tonight Show" how he was justly taken to task by Barbara Stanwyck after a star complex he had developed adversely affected the series.
* This show marks the debut of new actors Lee Majors and Linda Evans, who both went on to fame on other shows. Majors, went on to have a successful acting career: "", "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Fall Guy". Evans went on to work on the popular 1980s prime-time soap opera, "Dynasty".
* While "The Big Valley" is set primarily in and near the city of Stockton, the filming of the series took place in Southern California.
* Wilfred M. Cline, A.S.C., Technicolor Associate Cinematographer on "Gone with the Wind" (1939), was director of photography of several Big Valley episodes, together with Chas E. Burke, A.S.C.
* "The Big Valley" and Barbara Stanwyck is mentioned in the film "Bug" in a chat between the characters Peter and Agnes. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470705/movieconnections]

Guest Stars

"The Big Valley" was well-known for its plethora of guest stars. Among others:
*Julie Adams
*Jack Albertson
*Claude Akins
*John Anderson
*Richard Anderson
*R. G. Armstrong
*Lew Ayres
*Diane Baker
*Joe Don Baker
*Anne Baxter
*Milton Berle
*Charles Bronson
*John Carradine
*Royal Dano
*Bruce Dern
*Colleen Dewhurst
*Bradford Dillman
*Richard Dreyfuss
*Maurice Evans
*Paul Fix
*Harold Gould
*Robert Goulet
*Lee Grant
*Ron Howard
*Dennis Hopper
*Jill St. John
*Russell Johnson
*L.Q. Jones
*George Kennedy
*Martin Landau
*Cloris Leachman
*Strother Martin
*Leslie Nielsen
*Warren Oates
*Susan Oliver
*Regis Philbin
*Stephanie Powers
*Lou Rawls
*Wayne Rogers
*Katharine Ross
*William Shatner
*Susan Strasberg
*Dub Taylor
*Adam West
*Robert Walker Jr.
*James Whitmore

References

External links

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* [http://home.aol.com/MG4273/lewis.htm The Films of Joseph H. Lewis]
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