Only "Bonanza" completists and Leonard Nimoy fans will appreciate this post-"Bonanza," made-for-television oater, director Mark Tinker's "Bonanza Under Attack" with Ben Johnson, Richard Rountree, and Jack Elam. Oddly enough Dan Blocker's son Dirk doesn't play a Cartwright, but Michael Landon, Jr., does play a Cartwright. The body count is absurdly low but in keeping with a television western. Trouble looms like pine trees on the Ponderosa Ranch again as notorious outlaw Frank James (Leonard Nimoy of "Catlow") shows up wounded with renegade Pinkerton Detective Agency stalwart Charley Siringo (Dennis Farina of "Get Shorty")and his posse hot on his trail. Frank is riding back to see his old Civil War partners Bronc Evans (Ben Johnson of "The Train Robbers") and Buckshot (Jack Elam of "Support Your Local Sheriff") who are supervising and cooking for the Ponderosa. Charley vows to kill Frank James, and nothing will thwart him from his goal until he crosses trails with Bronc and the younger generation of the Cartwright clan. Johnson, Nimoy, Roundtree, and Farina give this tame,lame horse opera some substance, but not enough for to make it worth watching more than once. The oddest thing is Richard Roundtree works for Bronc as a cowhand; this diversity was only occasionally exploited in the TV series. Mind you, some profanity is uttered, but it is nothing that will incinerate your ears, depending of course on your ability to tolerate this colorful diction. Purist of the venerable "Bonanza" series should probably see it just for the sake of having said that they have seen everything. The messages that abound concern unity of family, the meaning of genuine love means letting those you love leave, and the error of being an outlaw. The shootout at the line-shack is nothing to memorable like most of this 89-minute yarn.
Review of Bonanza: Under Attack
