Bonanza: The Return

Bonanza: The Return is a 1993 American Western made-for-television film. It is a sequel to both the 1959-1973 television series Bonanza and the 1988 made-for-television film Bonanza: The Next Generation. The film was directed by Jerry Jameson and featured noted character actors Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, Dean Stockwell, Linda Gray, and Richard Roundtree. The film premiered on NBC on November 28, 1993.

Production

None of the characters from the original series appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts and David Canary, were dead. Michael Landon Jr. and Dirk Blocker, sons of the original series's stars, do appear, although Blocker, who looked and sounded almost exactly like his father, was cast in a different, smaller role but his face and voice were featured prominently in the commercials advertising the film. Bonanza: The Return was followed two years later with the TV-movie Bonanza: Under Attack. David Canary, who portrayed Candy Canaday on the original series, was not involved with either TV-movie.

Plot

The setting is The Ponderosa in the year 1905. Augustus Brandenburg, a land baron, attempts to take the Ponderosa first by legal, and then by illegal means, in order to strip the land of its natural resources. The story includes several flashbacks to the original series.

Reception

Variety said, "Barring a big-screen version, it may be time to let the Cartwrights ride off into the sunset."