User reviews

I just read a biography of Barbara Stanwyck and one thing that was made abundantly clear, the woman really liked westerns. She loved doing them from the earliest time in her career right up to her stint with The Big Valley. In fact one of the great disappointments in her life was not doing a film with John Wayne. Who knows why that didn't happen because the two of them were in sync politically.

But she did a bunch of them with co-stars like Joel McCrea, Ronald Reagan, Walter Huston, Barry Sullivan, Ray Milland, etc. So when it came time to choose a television project, Barbara went west.

The Big Valley cast her as Victoria Barkley, matriarch of the Barkley ranch with three sons and a daughter to hold the fort against all comers. The pilot of the show introduced her husband's illegitimate son into the household played by young Lee Majors. Her children were Richard Long, Peter Breck, Linda Evans, and Charles Briles.

Briles got dropped after eight episodes as the youngest, Eugene. They just sent him off to college in the east and he wasn't heard from again. Reading the IMDb notes on him, I find he got himself drafted. All I can say is BUMMER.

Richard Long as Jarrod was also college educated, an attorney, which was a good plot device allowing the show to get off the ranch and into town. Peter Breck was Nick, who was a tough son of a gun. I met Peter Breck a few years before The Big Valley. His family lived in Rochester, New York across from my grandparents house and he was visiting while starring in another shortlived series Black Saddle. My siblings and cousins got to meet him then. A very gracious and nice man.

Of course Linda Evans and Lee Majors both had really great careers after the show. Linda as Audra was a sweet and innocent child, not anything like Crystal Carrington. And Lee Majors got to be The Fall Guy and The Six Million Dollar Man after he was Heath Barkley. I would love to have that man's residuals.

Richard Long did Nanny and the Professor and tragically died right after the run of that show. He was always a player of great class and I enjoyed seeing him in anything he did.

The Barkleys ran into all manner of people and were constantly helping them out of their various predicaments. They were pretty rich of course, as rich as Bonanza's Cartwrights. But I really think they outdid themselves even more than Ben and his sons. Every episode seemed to end with some financial assistance to help somebody get on their feet. I'm surprised Jarrod didn't run for office with all those potential voters available.

With Lee Majors, Linda Evans, and Peter Breck still with us and even Charles Briles, I'm not sure why a Big Valley reunion hasn't been attempted. I'd like to see the Barkleys ride the range into the 20th century.

The series, which ran on ABC for four seasons from 1965 until 1969, followed the adventures of the Barkleys, the millionaire family that held (with a wise and caring hand) great power over the San Joaquin Valley and neighboring Stockton, California, during the 1870s. Miss Barbara Stanwyck stars as matriarch Victoria Barkley, sophisticated, warm, but no stranger to adventure in her youth; the wise eldest brother Jarrod (Richard Long) has returned home to practice law; hotheaded Nick (Peter Breck) runs the family businesses with a hands-on approach; young Audra (Linda Evans) is the naive little sister. Into their lives comes Heath (Lee Majors), the illegitimate son of the late Tom Barkley.

"The Big Valley" gained plenty of momentum from a series of first rate guest stars, among them: Lynn Loring( Wildcat) Maybelle E15. Martin Landau, James Whitmore, William Shatner (!), Bruce Dern (appearing in two episodes as two separate characters), Charles Bronson, Ron Howard, Anthony Zerbe, Claude Akins, Yvonne Craig, George Kennedy, and Jill St. John, just to name a handful. All of those listed, and many more, pack so much into their performances, leaving us captivated episode after episode.

"The Big Valley" one of those rare television series that remained consistently entertaining, intelligent, and impressive throughout. The show's first season is hit after hit after hit, episodes that even rival Hollywood's theatrical output of the time. Every single episode is a standout. The Barkleys and their San Joaquin Valley were larger than life, and "The Big Valley" does them plenty justice.

In some ways, this show was better than Bonanza. Nick Barkley was a loose cannon, whereas the Cartwright brothers were relatively stable with their emotions. Most of the plots were more cerebral than Bonanza, and more realistic. The fight scenes were more violent in the Big Valley. Like Bonanza, they made a mistake in the fact that none of the siblings ever married, which is odd. Granted, Jarrod on the Big Valley as well as Little Joe and Adam Cartwright were married for a day before the bride was tragically killed. Audra remaining single was crazy, considering her beauty and the fact that almost all women were married by age 18 back then. In both shows, some of the siblings could have found a spouse and lived on the acreage in a house they had built, even having kids. It would have made things more interesting. Instead, we are led to assume that all were still virgins in their late twenties and thirties.

It's hard to believe that a mid-1960's western could be the favorite TV show of a preteen boy in the 1970's but it's true. This was in reruns at 4:00pm daily and I could not WAIT to get home and see it. My sister felt the same way. I know, based on www pages out there, that I am not alone in my love for "The Big Valley", but I have to admit that it's a strange thing to be addicted to. There's something about the camera-ready cast, the quality of the stories and guest stars, the majestic opening theme and background music in the episodes and the overall aura of "The Barkleys" that is just irresistible to me. The series was just one of many, many TV westerns, but what sets this apart is the female slant and the striking use of color. Was there ever a bluer shirt than Victoria Barkley's? Hair more golden than Audra's? Leather more black than Nick's? Watching reruns of "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza", they really look like dusty, brown, more authentic (especially with "Gunsmoke") presentations. "BV" started out that way, but soon progressed into an almost surreal blend of authentic locales mixed with '60's styles and colors. How else to describe Lee Majors' sideburns, the clean lines of the womens' riding gear or the ladies' false eyelashes? But I wouldn't change any of it for the world. The Barkleys' world is a world I'd want to live in. Everything is beautiful and they stand for truth, justice and the American way! They are defenders of right and will suffer to preserve integrity. (Kinda like The Super Friends, but with less wacky costumes...) The blend of types in the show is expert. You have scholarly, level-headed Jarrod, tough, explosive Nick, sensitive, handsome Heath, thoughtful, gloriously beautiful Audra and stern, fair, in charge Victoria (...oh, and then some poor kid who was let go right off the bat and never heard from again. That's the breaks, Eugene!) Together, in any combination, or separate, they are a captivating lot. Certain images burn the memory......Victoria cocking her rifle and ordering outlaws away, her croaking Audra's name when the girl has stumbled into trouble, Heath anytime he removed his shirt, Nick raging through the front door, Audra's black riding hat with chin string sitting atop her mane of the most beautiful hair in Hollywood...... Some of the stories were rehashes of other previous works (including Stanwyck's own movies! See "Jeopardy" some time!), but most of the time they were compelling and always they were filmed with skill and class. This is one of the best TV shows ever made.

i'm really a 10 year old girl and i absolutely love that show!I'v always wanted to look like Audra.my mom and watch the big valley all the time on encore westerns.we love watching it.we always try to think that Audra and heath really are not related so they can be together.we have the first season on DVD,and we are probably gonna get the rest of it on DVD too.i'm always searching for episodes where there are a lot of Audra/heath moments.my mom and i just watched the Caesar's wife episode.it was pretty good.and i just saw some recent pictures of Linda Evans and Lee Majors,and i felt depressed,but i always think of them in the 60's.

Well thats all i have to write,now i think i'm gonna go watch an episode on DVD.bye!

I've been watching Bonanza recently and don't like it as much as The Big Valley. It seems like Bonanza is shot in a small building. The background always seems to be painted on the walls and sound seems to echo. I'm unable to see BV anymore (can't get Hallmark) but I remember most outdoor scenes looking like they were indeed outdoors (probably because they were). I also loved their house and have often wondered where it's located, what it was originally used for and if it's still standing today.

I liked the cast and the fact that most of them were in most episodes, although Audra seems to be missing from many episodes near the second half of the last season. I don't think Eugene was ever supposed to be part of the regular cast since he never appeared in the opening theme. Not sure why they had him in there to begin with.

I'd love to find this on VHS or DVD but have never seen it out there anyplace.

Growing up I loved watching this show! I loved how this family worked together as a loving team to make it through the day. The episodes weren't boring, but actually enjoyable to watch. The cast chosen in this series did a great job at playing their parts. The Big Valley is a great family series with good morals and a little western action.

Barbara Stanwyck playing Victoria Barkley was the star of The Big Valley. What's with "Stars: Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors"? Could it be you list them as the stars because they're men? None of the other actors on the series holds the Hollywood status of Stanwyck. Stanwyck portrayed the Queen of the Barkley ranch. Her name was even Victoria, get it?

While I love western movies, I do not care for most western series ( The High Chaparral, Zane Grey Theatre and the James Garner episodes of Maverick are exceptions). Big Valley was better then average because of Lee Majors ( Heath) and ( especially) Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley. I do not think people really get what made the series above average which was the presence of Stanwyck. Stanwyck by many critics was one considered of the two greatest female western stars of all-time ( her and Maureen O'Hara). For example I have seen comments here about Stanwyck's dresses but overlook Barbara putting on the jeans and getting down and dirty ( like with Charles Bronson in the coal mine ( similar to when she got down and dirty in the mud with David Janssen on Zane Grey a decade earlier)). Of course, this is the actress who instead of using a stunt woman took a punch from Clark Gable in Night Nurse 35 years earlier and got knocked out ( but earned the respect of Gable, Director William Wellman and everyone else on the film). The problem with Big Valley was the rest of the cast: Richard Long (Jerrod) who could not do action scenes due to his bad heart ( which eventually killed him), Peter Breck ( Nick) who rarely had episodes that featured him and (especially) Linda Evans (Audra), who although nice to look at, simply brought nothing to the table ( it seemed like lots of her episodes were Audra as the "Damsel In Distress." Again, watch for Stanwyck. 7/10 stars.

The Barkley family led by Victoria were a close loving family sons Jarrod the well respected lawyer, Nick who ran their large ranch and daughter Audra. So understanding was Victoria that she let her late husband's son , Heath, from an illegitimate affair into the family as full son. In the first season son Eugene was seen as a college student who would be home for a few shows, but didn't return for second season. What did he do that was so terrible? Fail a course? Embezzle faternity funds?

Barbara Stanwyck on television?

After a lengthy memorable film career, Ms. Stanwyck embarked on a television series, a western, known as "The Big Valley."

As matriarch Victoria Barkley, Stanwyck etched still another unforgettable character.

With a wonderful supporting cast who made up her "children," each week brought a new exciting episode with a great host of guest stars.

There were times that Stanwyck looked her age, if not older, but her acting was her usual great self.

Another rousing theme back this show.

I'm about to turn "The Big Valley" into "The Big Landfill". In fairness... The pressure to churn out a new episode of a TV show every 7 to 10 days makes it difficult to produce consistently good work. But not impossible.

"The Big Valley" is a poor program that deserves the trashing I'm about to administer, but it's no worse than hundreds of others. The cruelest thing I can say about "TBV" isn't that it's bad (though it is), but that it's typical of too much TV programming. Outstanding programs like "Wiseguy", "Frasier", "Futurama", and "Xena, Warrior Princess" are the too-rare exceptions. *

"The Big Valley" is an obvious ripoff of NBC's successful "Bonanza". It differs in ways designed to appeal to a wider demographic -- a female movie star who can actually act, and be a role model for young women; three sons (an intellectual, a leather-clad rowdy, and a nice guy), two of whom are hunks; ** and an airhead daughter for young hetero males. "Bonanza" had a Chinese cook; "Valley" had a shuffling Negro servant, the plausibility of which apparently deflected criticism.

"The Big Valley" is, most of the time, trashy melodrama. The "acting" is usually loud and "in your face". Characterizations are anything but subtle. Long-worn-out plots rise from the dead (brides-to-be are murdered, a blow to the head conveniently induces amnesia). And when the writers can't think of anything else, Bad People show up to harass the Barkleys for 45 minutes, then are offed in the last five.

The result is that the viewer (this one, anyway) is far more likely to laugh his/her a** off at the concocted tragedies and disasters that befall the Barkleys, et al. I refuse to apologize for laughing uncontrollably when Ma Barkley hurtles over a cliff in a stagecoach without seat belts or airbags and survives, or a wagon full of nitro (and the people driving it) blows up in a cheap faux explosion that couldn't have used more than two air cannons.

There were plans to turn "The Big Valley" into a feature film. It's ripe for an "Airplane!"-style trashing. I'm getting ideas...

ADDENDUM: This review was written after watching a bit more than the first season. I stand by my blunt criticism. However, the series improved in following seasons, with occasional solid episodes. But it is, overall, not much different from "Bonanza" -- and that's no compliment.

* The rise of cable TV created a demand for programming to fill the hours. Producers had little choice but to hire talented writers and directors whose work was "too good" for broadcast television.

** None of the Bonanza boys were particularly desirable matrimonial fodder. Little Joe appealed only to women who wanted a boy to mother. Adam was surly. And Hoss was... well, he had a nice personality.

I began watching The Big Valley back when I was seven years old. That was thirty years ago. Little did I know then that the show would become something that would help me. I went through years of abuse through two different family members. If it weren't for the show The Big Valley I probably would have committed suicide at an early age. Instead of turning to drug or alcohol abuse, or other forms of hurting myself, I focused instead on the cast of this amazing show. The affection and love they had for each other made a big impression on me. I longed to be part of a family that cared for each other like the Barkley's did. They became so real to me at times that it blocked out how bad I was feeling about what I was going through and it gave me something positive to focus on instead of the pain and shame of living with what was happening to me. I am grateful to the entire cast of the show for giving me a way out of a bad situation and focusing on something good, something that wouldn't hurt me or anyone else. They mean a great deal to me and always will. I hope that sometime I will get to see one of them with my own eyes. I don't have to meet them personally. Just to see them will be enough. The show gave me a feeling of peace just to watch. It always made me laugh at times when I really needed it, and thrilled me at other times. The men on the show were the best looking men I have seen on any show (then or since) and I've yet to see a television show that shows a family that cares the way that they did on The Big Valley. It gave me such joy to be able to come home and watch the show. Certain episodes stayed with me from the time I first started watching it. One in particular showed what a caring man Nick was. In the episode "The Prize" where Heath brings home little Joey. The scene where Nick is trying to get to sleep but can't because Joey is teething and very fussy I still remember to this day, even though I haven't seen the episode in over twenty-five years. When he referred to himself as "Uncle Nick" and Audra was watching from the doorway I thought was one of the best scenes in that series. Another episode was "The Iron Box" where Nick and Heath were arrested for cattle theft and put in a chain gang I thought was incredible acting by Peter and Lee. I have hoped for years that someday a Big Valley reunion will be filmed. I know that Barbara and Richard are gone, but I think it would be great to see Peter, Lee and Linda reunited in a Big Valley reunion. This series will always hold a special place to me. It's been a part of me for as long as I can remember and will always remain a big part of me.

When I first saw that THE BIG VALLEY was to be released on DVD, I just could not wait to get Season One. Now I have it - and was not disappointed. I used to watch this show faithfully when it was televised (was totally in love with Nick Barkley!!) and it is just as good, if not better than I remembered it. These stories - they have depth and meaning - some are heart-wrenching - all are great! The performances are way above average (I grew to love Barbara Stanwyck because of this series and have seen almost all of her films thru the years) Ms Stanwyck was so underrated as an actress - to me, she's in the top ten greatest. The others also: Richard Long, Peter Breck (pant-pant), Lee Majors and Linda Evans - all fantastic! I feel so bad that there are no more TV series of this caliber anymore. Thank goodness for whoever is responsible for releasing these old series' on DVD. My only question is.... When do we get Season Two????

To the question about why Charles Briles left the show (only included in season 1) because in real life he was drafted by Uncle Sam. The way they explained his absence is he went to Berkeley to study medicine (which is somewhat lame because when Eugene was attending college in SF, he often came home to visit (Season 1) and Berkeley is way closer to Stockton than SF. They should have picked a different School.

By the mid 60's Westerns were cooling off just a bit from their peak of the late 50's and early 60's, but "Bonanza" Sunday night on NBC ["in living color!] still was on top on tv ratings. So ABC decided to copy the story of the adventures of the Cartwrights, a powerful but benevolent widowed rancher and his 3 sons on the Ponderosa ranch in Carson City, Nv. They switched the locale to Stockton, Ca. made the widower a widow and to the 3 sons added a daughter. Screen veteran Barbara Stanwyck was Victoria Barkley, a "woman of backbone and bite" as they said in the trailers. The 3 sons, Jared, Nick and Heath played were played respectively by Richard Long, Peter Breck and Lee Majors. In a bit of a twist Heath was actually the son of the late Tom Barkley who became fully accepted as son and brother by the Barkley family. The lovely young Linda Evans played their daughter Audra who was generally window dressing in most episodes, looking spectacular in a tight blouse and jeans before she went riding. Jarad Barkley was an attorney, giving TBV a chance to run several court room dramas every season. Like Perry Mason, Jarad never lost a trial.

For my money, TBV was superior to Bonanza. Better scripts, plus Babs Stanwyck was always a mesmerizing screen presence. Some great fight scenes as Nick Barkley would pistol whip bad guys nearly every episode. An incredible lists of guest stars over the 4 years, I believe some one else listed them.

My Granny and I never missed watching "The Big Valley" during its prime-time run on ABC during the 1960s. She was a major Barbara Stanwyck fan from back in the day when Miss Stanwyck was the Queen of Hollywood. I of course had no way of knowing this and I simply loved the bravado, sass and spunk with which Miss Stanwyck instilled her character Victoria Barkley. Loren Greene's Ben Cartwright is a well-meaning dud in comparison. I liked her sons better than the Cartwright boys too, especially Nick! Watching it now, I can spot a lot of inconsistencies, such as the Orlon carpeting on the staircase of the Barkley manse and the overabundance of that God awful pool cue chalk blue eye shadow so popular in the 1960s. I mean it's like Victoria and Audra had an account with an Avon lady on the prairie. Still, Miss Stanwyck is a treat and I still love to watch her in reruns. Since my Granny hipped me to her at such a young age, I made sure to catch her act from her Hollywood heyday. I think "Double Indemnity" is my favorite. My Granny's other favorites from back in the day were Bette Davis and Irene Dunne. Too bad those two ladies couldn't have had guest appearances on "The Big Valley". That would have been a hoot, maybe an episode where Bette gets to menace Joan Crawford or one where Miss Dunne out sasses Miss Stanwyck.

I'll watch anything that has one of my goons in it, no matter how bad. However the Long ride ep with Richard Anderson and Allen Jaffe and Hagen was good. Lou Rawls was on one and John Milford as always delivered 3x i believe. Never liked Heath or Jarrod, can't stand Stanwyck and miss Barbie Doll oh i was hoping she'd die but i know better. This was brutal. However i always liked Nick. Always had a thing for Villains. He wore the same outfit on his movie "A man for hanging."

I am really greatly relieved to read the previous reviews, knowing that I am not alone in being a huge fan of this great series!! There was just something about this show as a whole which really appealed to me - in a big way. I loved all the Barkley characters. Victoria was played to perfection by Stanwyck. The widow Barkley was a curious but convincing mixture of gracious elegance and guts: her Victoria Barkley is practically a cult figure of female characters of the Western genre. Richard Long was genuinely likeable as the level-headed eldest son, Jarrod, who provided a nice balance between the tough, egotistical Nick and the more sensitive half-brother Heath. Linda Evans was astonishingly beautiful as Audra (she alone kept many male baby boomers tuned in!). But there was so much else "right" with this show - artificial though it may have looked to those critical of Stanwyck being "Ben Cartwright in a skirt". The storylines were well-written & original and the shows were well-directed and well-acted. Most every episode was colourful, tasteful, upright & moral - but rarely dull, somehow: there was a larger-than-life quality to the series which appealed to its particular fans: the colour is beautiful to look at, and the score by George Duning is beautiful to hear. The series boasted many interesting guest stars: Julie Harris, Cloris Leachman, Colleen Dewhurst among many others. An embarrassing confession: as a kid, Heath Barkley was my sole hero: I thought Lee Major's playing of the half-breed illegitimate son of Tom Barkley was really inspired. Majors made Heath a really likeable character. Although Majors did many more successful TV roles, it is for his playing of Heath Barkley that I most fondly identify him with to this day.

One of the great western series of all time. With her husbands passing mrs.Barkley (Barbara Stanwyck) is the glue that holds the family together with love,compassion Richard Long plays lawyer and oldest son Jarrod. Peter Breck plays quick to fight Nick Barkley, Lee Maijors plays Heath Barkley tough and rugged.Linda Evans plays Audra Barkley beautiful and pure. Youngest son Eugene isn't in but first 8 episodes and is off to college. What separates Big Valley is the strong cast also Heath Barkley was recently passed Tom Barkleys son . Twist is he didn't know he existed. Heath enters the Barkleys lives and becomes part of what he has wanted his whole life a real family. Some very good episodes very entertaining truly classic television. They show a toughness and family bond that cannot be broken.

My husband recently gave me the 1st season on DVD for my 50th birthday present. What a surprise and a treasure! I grew up on a small farm in Pennsylvania and The Big Valley came into my life around my 9th birthday. It never left me! I always loved horses but loving the show opened up a wholesome, healthy world of pretend and play. Our big old barn was transformed (in my mind) into the gorgeous Barkley home, and I usually played Nick on Coco. When I look back to how much time I spent playing with my horses, and bringing my friends and siblings into my Barkley world, I'm so thankful. I remember creating new story lines and acting them out. I often recruited other kids to be the rest of the Barkleys, and also Fred the Sheriff, Silas, and other neighbors. Those who wouldn't ride were usually Audra and Victoria. When some kids went on to become interested in not-so-safe ventures, I began writing screenplays and stories, some of which I used as reports for English Comp. class in High School. I have so many good memories of this wonderful show. I believe my own kids watch it out of kindness to me, but I know the underlying moral issues of the stories may take root in their minds too and someday they will appreciate it too. How thankful I am to everyone responsible for bringing this wonderful piece of my personal history to life, and a special thanks to Victoria, Jarod, Nick, Heath, and Audra. And thank you to so many folks, just like me, who take the time to write such positive messages about such wonderful entertainment, and to share your memories too.

This was a wonderful show that had an all star cast. The writing and directing were also well done and that made the show a western classic. Barbara Stanwyck was perfect as the head of the Barkley family. She was petite but she could be mean when she had to be. Richard Long was her oldest son Jarrod. He was an attorney as well as being more citified. You could see that he didn't care that much for the day to day workings of the ranch. Peter Breck was her younger son Nick. He could brawl with the best of them. He and Jarrod could argue and never stop but if something happened to one of them the other one knew it. Lee Majors was Tom's son. He made the show interesting in exploring unfaithfulness in a television show. Linda Evans was her daughter Audra. She didn't seem to have very good luck with men. Charles Briles was the baby Eugene. He only appeared in a very few episodes and was eventually dropped. I wish he had been kept. He could have been a vital part of the family. The show was a super western and I hope that the remaining seasons of it are released on DVD.