The High Chapparal

The High Chapparal

1967 - United States

Created by David Dotort, the man behind television's most famous Western family, the Cartwright's, this series attempted to recreate Bonanza's success by following a similar format. Big John Cannon (Leif Erickson) was the head of The High Chaparral, a ranch in the Arizona Territory that was beset by drought, Mexican outlaws and Cochise Indians. 

In the first episode John's wife was killed during a raid, leaving him to live with his son Billy Blue Cannon (Mark Slade), and brother Buck (Cameron Mitchell). Big John's widowerhood was short lived though, as he was soon married off to the daughter of Mexican nobleman Don Sebastian Montoya (Frank Silvera) -the beautifully elegant Victoria (Linda Cristal). 

Accompanied by his new wife's brother Manolito (Henry Darrow), Big John and the Cannon clan settled in to a series of adventures that reflected the political liberalism of the late 1960's and maintained a sympathetic and well-balanced attitude towards White - Indian relations. When Mark Slade was written out of the series towards the end of its run he was replaced by Wind (Rudy Ramos), a half-breed who came to live with the Cannon's after helping Big John avert a disaster. Although not enjoying the longevity of Bonanza or many other TV Westerns, (the genre had, by the early 1970's, become a television diet of the past), The High Chaparral came across as a highly polished product that included a stirring theme tune and stylish photography. In the UK it was one of the first series to be broadcast in colour.

Published on December 21st, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Bonanza

Running for 14 years on it's native NBC network, Bonanza was set on the vast Ponderosa timber and cattle ranch in Nevada in the 1860's. The show was notable for being the first TV Western to be shot in colour.

Also tagged Tv Western

Danger Island

A 12-year old boy overhears two sinister men plotting to assassinate their country's ruler.

Also released in 1967

All Gas and Gaiters

One of the first TV series to poke fun at the clergy (albeit in a very gentle manner), All Gas and Gaiters is the fondly remembered sitcom that elevated Derek Nimmo to household-name status in Britain and also spawned two spin-off series as well as a radio show.

Also released in 1967

The Big Valley

Set in California's San Joaquin Valley, The Big Valley was what the series 'Dallas' may have looked like if it had been set in the 1870s.

Also tagged Tv Western

At Last the 1948 Show

An early outing for many of the team that would eventually form 'Monty Python', the '1948 Show' allowed the writers to indulge in a zany style of comedy that had been considered the domain of 'The Goons' for so long, but which hitherto had failed to make much headway on British television.

Also released in 1967

Wyatt Earp TV Series

Consistently good Western Series starring Hugh O'Brian about the famous US Marshal, whose trademark was a pair of "Buntline Special" pistols with extra-long barrels with which he kept the peace.

Also tagged Tv Western

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

In the year AD2068, Earth's elite Spectrum force is bought into action when war is declared on the planet by the Mysterons.

Also released in 1967