This is one of my favorite episodes of Big Valley due to the acting of both Barbara Stanwyck and Colleen Dewhurst. Both play mothers who have three sons and, as mothers, both have tried to do what they thought was best for their children. The difference is that Dewhurst's character, Annie Morton, has found herself on the wrong side of the law in the process. In the end, it leads to Victoria Barclay, Stanwyck's character, facing down Annie Morton at gunpoint. It is such a twist on the classic, testosterone-driven quick draw of the western-genre. Each woman, both of whom are mothers, is willing to kill the other in order to do what they believe is best for the children, proving that doses estrogen-based action can be just a deadly (and riveting to watch). In addition to the showdown between the two mothers, it would have been nice to see the three Barclay sons face off against their counterparts, the three Morton sons (but I guess you can't have everything).
6 Reviews
Bible class of terror
bkoganbing3 August 2016
It's Linda Evans's first day teaching bible class at the Stockton church and Barbara Stanwyck has gone along to play the organ. Among Victoria Barkley's many hidden talents. In any event a 19th century version of Ma Barker comes riding in thinking the church was empty on Saturday.
Colleen Dewhurst is the leader with her fine sons Ross Hagen, Ken Swofford, and a wounded Michael Burns. Dewhurst is seeking medical attention for Burns and she's holding the Barkley women hostage. It's Victoria who gives said attention to Burns. Another of Victoria's talents.
Colleen Dewhurst dominates this Big Valley story as the leader of this trailer park trash family gang. She's one bitter and mean woman whose love of her sons is a whole lot different than Barbara Stanwyck's.
Dewhurst is what you'll remember from this Big Valley story.
Colleen Dewhurst is the leader with her fine sons Ross Hagen, Ken Swofford, and a wounded Michael Burns. Dewhurst is seeking medical attention for Burns and she's holding the Barkley women hostage. It's Victoria who gives said attention to Burns. Another of Victoria's talents.
Colleen Dewhurst dominates this Big Valley story as the leader of this trailer park trash family gang. She's one bitter and mean woman whose love of her sons is a whole lot different than Barbara Stanwyck's.
Dewhurst is what you'll remember from this Big Valley story.
Baby Boomer Delight
summerfields14 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Although a bit contrived as a previous reviewer noted - this episode is one which lingered in our memories as kids growing up in the sixties.
Annie Morton is played with magnificent relish by that great Canadian-born performer - Miss Colleen Dewhurst.
Simply a variation of the 'Ma Barker' theme - an 1870's version.
Colleen plays Annie with her usual relish and she's the whole show - although Barbara matches her with her expertise in her delivery of lines.
I am not going into the plot: this is a classic episode.
I personally think that Linda Evans was never more beautiful that she was in this episode: those scenes where is is boiling water in the Church vestry for the son of Annie's bullet-induced injury!
She is just breath-taking in the gorgeous arena!...
Annie Morton is played with magnificent relish by that great Canadian-born performer - Miss Colleen Dewhurst.
Simply a variation of the 'Ma Barker' theme - an 1870's version.
Colleen plays Annie with her usual relish and she's the whole show - although Barbara matches her with her expertise in her delivery of lines.
I am not going into the plot: this is a classic episode.
I personally think that Linda Evans was never more beautiful that she was in this episode: those scenes where is is boiling water in the Church vestry for the son of Annie's bullet-induced injury!
She is just breath-taking in the gorgeous arena!...
Heavy Hitter Females Here
spiritof6728 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Right off the top, what do you think you'll get when you co-star Colleen Dewhurst with Barbara Stanwyck? Well, that's what you get here. Strong story, plenty of room for the two female stars to stretch out, and Colleen wearing her gun slung low like a gunfighter.She was 42 here and a gleaming mature beauty lurks under that dirty, hardened character.
Spoiler alert here..
That said, Colleen plays a psychopathic killer and land pirate who'd sooner shoot you in case you might mess up the grift. It;s a good episode of a good series
Spoiler alert here..
That said, Colleen plays a psychopathic killer and land pirate who'd sooner shoot you in case you might mess up the grift. It;s a good episode of a good series
Ma Barkley
jarrodmcdonald-118 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Colleen Dewhurst is a Ma Barker type who holds Victoria and Audra hostage inside a church with the help of her deranged sons. I had vaguely remembered this episode from watching it on the Family Channel years ago. But I had forgotten Michael Burns played her injured youngest boy. Of course, his injury is neatly taken care of when Victoria must step in as a temporary doctor.
The story had some very suspenseful moments. In particular, there are the scenes when the children are having their bible study with Audra. It's ironic to see their innocence surrounded by the wickedness of the grown ups hiding in the choir loft and inside the bell tower. Fortunately, Dewhurst and her brood's reign of terror will only last so long. It eventually culminates in a scene where she plans to go into the other room to kill Audra. The way Victoria stops her has to be singled out as one of The Big Valley's greatest moments. Not only does Victoria get to remove a bullet in this episode, she gets to blow Dewhurst to smithereens. That's right-- you don't mess with Ma Barkley.
The story had some very suspenseful moments. In particular, there are the scenes when the children are having their bible study with Audra. It's ironic to see their innocence surrounded by the wickedness of the grown ups hiding in the choir loft and inside the bell tower. Fortunately, Dewhurst and her brood's reign of terror will only last so long. It eventually culminates in a scene where she plans to go into the other room to kill Audra. The way Victoria stops her has to be singled out as one of The Big Valley's greatest moments. Not only does Victoria get to remove a bullet in this episode, she gets to blow Dewhurst to smithereens. That's right-- you don't mess with Ma Barkley.
Sunday School on Saturday!!!!
zardoz-1330 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This contrived episode of "The Big Valley" entitled "Day of Terror" has an okay premise but its logistics seem all wrong. Health Barkley (Lee Majors) and Nick (Peter Breck) take their mother Victoria (Barbara Stanywck of "Golden Boy") and sister Audra (Linda Evans) to their church on a Saturday so that Audra can teach a Sunday school class. The alarm bells should have gone off in the story consultant's mind or either the series producer was a non-churchgoer. Why have a Sunday school lesson taught on Saturday than on the more appropriate day of Sunday? This is the worst flaw in this otherwise suspenseful western.
As it turns out, an outlaw gang led by their mother Annie Morton (Colleen Dewhurst of "McQ") and her sons Troy (Ross Hagen of "The Devil's 8"), Lon (Michael Burns of "Journey to Shiloh"), and Wes (Ken Swofford of "Skyjacked") hole up in the church because the youngest son Lon has taken a bullet. After Health and Nick leave, the villains introduce themselves and explain their predicament to the Barkeley women. Victoria agrees to fetch the doctor and the oldest son escorts her into town, but the doctor is away on a fishing trip. Nevertheless, Victoria convinces the doctor's wife to loan her his medical bag. Back at the church, the middle son is infatuated with Audra, but the mother sends him aloft into the church tower to watch for strangers. Victoria and the oldest son return and she performs surgery on the wounded outlaw. Earlier, Victoria and the mother had agreed that once the bullet was removed from the son that the outlaws would leave. Victoria sought this deal because she believed that everything could be wrapped up before the children arrive. Meanwhile, the reverend shows up and Audra assures him that she has everything well in hand as the middle son stares as the preacher over the sights of his Winchester. The reverend leaves and then the children arrive. The outlaw mother refuses to leave until she is sure that her son is ready to travel. Health and Nick, who delivered the children, head off elsewhere to sample for soft cider. Audra teaches the class while Victoria and the mother quarrel on their broken agreement. The youngest son makes a pass at Audra while the children at having time out for recess and mom intervenes and slaps her disobedient son around for his behavior. Eventually, the doctor's wife visits the Barkley ranch and alerts Jared that something is amiss. Jared rides out to the church and the youngest son in the tower shoots at him. Predictably, since the youngest son is an outlaw, he misses Jared, and Jared plays possum long enough before he enters the church. The youngest son and he tangle. The mother intervenes and knocks Jared unconscious. The jealous mother, who hates Victoria and Audra for their fine clothes, tries to shoot Audra and Victoria guns her down. The children are safe and everything returns to normal. In the last scene, Nick proposes to open a line of cider and questions Jared about the business possibilities while pours everybody a glass of the juice. Health walks in and explains that the veterinary has discovered that Nick's cider serves a better purpose as lineament for ailing horses.
As it turns out, an outlaw gang led by their mother Annie Morton (Colleen Dewhurst of "McQ") and her sons Troy (Ross Hagen of "The Devil's 8"), Lon (Michael Burns of "Journey to Shiloh"), and Wes (Ken Swofford of "Skyjacked") hole up in the church because the youngest son Lon has taken a bullet. After Health and Nick leave, the villains introduce themselves and explain their predicament to the Barkeley women. Victoria agrees to fetch the doctor and the oldest son escorts her into town, but the doctor is away on a fishing trip. Nevertheless, Victoria convinces the doctor's wife to loan her his medical bag. Back at the church, the middle son is infatuated with Audra, but the mother sends him aloft into the church tower to watch for strangers. Victoria and the oldest son return and she performs surgery on the wounded outlaw. Earlier, Victoria and the mother had agreed that once the bullet was removed from the son that the outlaws would leave. Victoria sought this deal because she believed that everything could be wrapped up before the children arrive. Meanwhile, the reverend shows up and Audra assures him that she has everything well in hand as the middle son stares as the preacher over the sights of his Winchester. The reverend leaves and then the children arrive. The outlaw mother refuses to leave until she is sure that her son is ready to travel. Health and Nick, who delivered the children, head off elsewhere to sample for soft cider. Audra teaches the class while Victoria and the mother quarrel on their broken agreement. The youngest son makes a pass at Audra while the children at having time out for recess and mom intervenes and slaps her disobedient son around for his behavior. Eventually, the doctor's wife visits the Barkley ranch and alerts Jared that something is amiss. Jared rides out to the church and the youngest son in the tower shoots at him. Predictably, since the youngest son is an outlaw, he misses Jared, and Jared plays possum long enough before he enters the church. The youngest son and he tangle. The mother intervenes and knocks Jared unconscious. The jealous mother, who hates Victoria and Audra for their fine clothes, tries to shoot Audra and Victoria guns her down. The children are safe and everything returns to normal. In the last scene, Nick proposes to open a line of cider and questions Jared about the business possibilities while pours everybody a glass of the juice. Health walks in and explains that the veterinary has discovered that Nick's cider serves a better purpose as lineament for ailing horses.
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