Pony Express Rider

I was 14 years old when I had the opportunity to watch part of this film being made in Kerrville, Texas. My cousins and I spent several weeks during the summer of 1976 at my grandfather's house that was used as the Nevada governor's mansion. All of the actors were great to be around. The only person who was not friendly was Maureen McCormick, but she had just finished the Brady Bunch and was the "star". At the party after the premiere I had a chance to talk with Ken Curtis about his acting career - he told me of the blessing and the cure of being "Festus". I ran into Buck Taylor about six years after the movie and not only did he remember me but for several years thereafter we hang out when he was in town.

Most of the rest of the film was shot in and around the Texas Hill Country. The Kingman XXX Ranch was shot at the YO Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas. The YO is still in operation as a ranch and is also an exotic game ranch.

The film has the feel of an episode of `Gunsmoke' because the director Bob Totten directed many shows of that series.

So, yes the acting is bad, the photography is dark but for me this film is a classic as it takes me back to that time in 1976 when all was still good in my world.

In 1861 East Texas, young farmer Stewart Petersen (as Jimmie D. Richardson) wants to marry maturing "Brady Bunch" daughter Maureen McCormick (as Rose of Sharon). Her big brother Buck Taylor (as Bovey Kingman) does not approve. The prospective couple also has trouble obtaining permission from Ms. McCormick father, wealthy rancher and politician Henry Wilcoxon (as Trevor Kingman). He has a rivalry with Mr. Petersen's poorer goat-herder father Ken Curtis (as Jed Richardson). A fatal gunshot triggers Petersen becoming a "Pony Express Rider" in search of justice...

This is mainly Petersen versus Mr. Taylor, with a series of "guest stars" acting expectedly. Dub Taylor (as Boomer Riley) was my pick for best. Petersen might have done well with a Disney contract. Director Robert Totten and the gang would have had more mileage if this were a CBS-TV Monday night movie special - grabbing some of the recently departed "Gunsmoke" audience, who were moving in droves to "Little House on the Prairie". Of course, they may have tried that…

**** Pony Express Rider (11/76) Robert Totten ~ Stewart Petersen, Buck Taylor, Henry Wilcoxon, Maureen McCormick

My son got a copy of this along with seven other movies on a DVD set. I can honestly say that this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

I could not make out much of a plot. Nothing made sense. My kids thought it was horrible as well. I noticed that there were three writers listed for it. My hunch is that they were all writing different stories.

Aside from the lack of plot, there were a lot of horses running. If you like to watch horses running and don't mind if there isn't much purpose to it, then this is the movie for you.

Some of the acting was okay, but much of it was over-acted. Probably trying to compensate for the overall poor plot and lack of good dialogue. Characters were two dimensional and flat.

One oddity is that the "killer" is actually chasing the protagonist through most of the film. Their final meeting at the end isn't too rewarding.

I was really looking forward to the end credits---knowing that the movie would be over. However, the music that played during the end credits was horrible.

For those who like Maureen McCormick (better known as Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch), she isn't on screen that much. In reading some of her history, she developed a serious drug problem in her twenties which ruined the prime of her career. However, she did not ruin this movie as it appeared to be a group effort.

Along with some of the best character actors of the period this was a flop from beginning to end. It also ended up being a bad break for an old high school buddy of mine that was cast as Captain Billings. Cliff Brand, not his real name, was an unknown at the time, remained unknown. I personally believe Cliff Brand could have evolved into a household name with the right screenplay. Murphy's law, it wasn't meant to be.

In 1976 I was 8 years old. I'll admit I was one of those who watched the Brady Bunch a lot only to see Maureen McCormick. So when my dad took us to see this movie and I realized she was in it I loved the movie. It could have been the worst movie of all times and I wouldn't have known the difference. This movie came out in 1976, and I have no doubt that even as early as 1980 movies were much better. So this could be a good or bad movie but what would it compare with movies that are out in todays world? (2007) There is much better talent and movie equipment and special effects etc. but I sometimes think that movies and TV shows from that era were better just because there was more true meaning involved. There was a movie around that same time with a similar story line and I read one review that said they don't make family movies like this anymore. It is my intention to purchase this movie via the internet and watch it with my 12 year old daughter to see if I like it or not, and see what her opinions are. There is no way I can remember the story from way back then. All I remember is having a crush on Maureen McCormick and enjoying the movie for that reason.