The Guns of Will Sonnett
Encyclopedia
The Guns of Will Sonnett is a Western
television series set in the 1870s which ran on the ABC
television network
from 1967 to 1969. The series was the first production collaboration between Aaron Spelling
and Danny Thomas
, who would later go on to produce one of ABC's most-memorable hits, The Mod Squad
. Today, the series is distributed by King World (now CBS Television Distribution
), and, when telecast, is usually seen in tandem with Branded.
Walter Brennan
as Will Sonnett, and Dack Rambo
as his grandson, Jeff, who were searching for Will's son and Jeff's father, James. Disgusted with his father's being absent on army-scout business more often than not, James (also called Jim) had disappeared at the age of seventeen. A few years later, a baby boy was delivered to Will, with a letter identifying him as James' son. It went on to say that his mother had died in childbirth, and that not very many people get a second chance in life, but this was one for Will. The young boy was raised by his grandfather, who was grateful for the opportunity and did the best that he could.
The elder Sonnett was very capable with firearms and often spoke to strangers about this prowess in a way that intimidated them. In the first episode, he mentions that his son is an expert with guns, while his grandson is better, "and I'm better than both of 'em -- no brag, just fact." This last phrase appeared frequently on the show, and became a catch phrase
with many of the show's younger fans.
Apparently Will's absences had been significantly less than total, as he had taught James how to handle a six-shooter, and the younger man had become renowned as a peerless gunfighter. Hearing so much of his father's repute, Jeff decided he had to find him. Will agreed, and they rode across the West looking for their common relative. They often arrived at places which had been recently vacated by James. The inhabitants of those communities had mixed opinions of James, some seeing him as a ruthless killer, others as the only man brave enough to take the side of justice against other men far more ruthless. The middle Sonnett did in fact appear in several scattered episodes, invariably played by Jason Evers
. One of those segments, entitled "The Man Who Killed Jim Sonnett" guest starred character actor
Robert F. Simon
.
Judson Pratt
appeared as John Hardwick in the 1969 episode "One Angry Juror".
Unlike most series with a similar premise, the problem was resolved during the life of the series. In the second season finale, "Three Stand Together", Will and Jeff eventually located and linked up with James. The three became lawmen together in a small town, Will as town marshal and the other two as his deputies. Had there been a third season for this series, it would have been as a much more conventional Western.
The Guns of Will Sonnett aired two years after Brennan's previous ABC series The Tycoon
failed to develop sufficient audience in the 1964-1965 season.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
television series set in the 1870s which ran on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
from 1967 to 1969. The series was the first production collaboration between Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
and Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor, best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy . He was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...
, who would later go on to produce one of ABC's most-memorable hits, The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews...
. Today, the series is distributed by King World (now CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution is a global television distribution company, formed from the merger of CBS Corporation's two domestic television distribution arms CBS Paramount Domestic Television and King World Productions, including its home entertainment arm CBS Home Entertainment...
), and, when telecast, is usually seen in tandem with Branded.
Synopsis
This series starred veteran character actorCharacter actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
as Will Sonnett, and Dack Rambo
Dack Rambo
Norman Jay Rambeau , professionally known as Dack Rambo, was an American actor, most notable for appearing as Walter Brennan's grandson Jeff in the ABC series The Guns of Will Sonnett, as Steve Jacobi in All My Children, as cousin Jack Ewing on CBS's Dallas, and as Grant Harrison on the NBC soap...
as his grandson, Jeff, who were searching for Will's son and Jeff's father, James. Disgusted with his father's being absent on army-scout business more often than not, James (also called Jim) had disappeared at the age of seventeen. A few years later, a baby boy was delivered to Will, with a letter identifying him as James' son. It went on to say that his mother had died in childbirth, and that not very many people get a second chance in life, but this was one for Will. The young boy was raised by his grandfather, who was grateful for the opportunity and did the best that he could.
The elder Sonnett was very capable with firearms and often spoke to strangers about this prowess in a way that intimidated them. In the first episode, he mentions that his son is an expert with guns, while his grandson is better, "and I'm better than both of 'em -- no brag, just fact." This last phrase appeared frequently on the show, and became a catch phrase
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
with many of the show's younger fans.
Apparently Will's absences had been significantly less than total, as he had taught James how to handle a six-shooter, and the younger man had become renowned as a peerless gunfighter. Hearing so much of his father's repute, Jeff decided he had to find him. Will agreed, and they rode across the West looking for their common relative. They often arrived at places which had been recently vacated by James. The inhabitants of those communities had mixed opinions of James, some seeing him as a ruthless killer, others as the only man brave enough to take the side of justice against other men far more ruthless. The middle Sonnett did in fact appear in several scattered episodes, invariably played by Jason Evers
Jason Evers
Jason Evers was an American actor.Evers was born Herb Evers in New York City, New York. After quitting high school to join the United States Army, Evers was so inspired by stars like John Wayne that he decided to try acting...
. One of those segments, entitled "The Man Who Killed Jim Sonnett" guest starred character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
Robert F. Simon
Robert F. Simon
Robert F. Simon was an American character actor, often portraying military or authority figure roles. Though his face was recognized by audiences, he was mostly unknown by name...
.
Judson Pratt
Judson Pratt
Judson Pratt was an American actor whose longest continuing work was in thirteen episodes of ABC's Walt Disney Presents and NBC's Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. A native of Hingham in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Pratt appeared in numerous television westerns and drama series from...
appeared as John Hardwick in the 1969 episode "One Angry Juror".
Unlike most series with a similar premise, the problem was resolved during the life of the series. In the second season finale, "Three Stand Together", Will and Jeff eventually located and linked up with James. The three became lawmen together in a small town, Will as town marshal and the other two as his deputies. Had there been a third season for this series, it would have been as a much more conventional Western.
The Guns of Will Sonnett aired two years after Brennan's previous ABC series The Tycoon
The Tycoon (TV series)
The Tycoon is a 32-episode American situation comedy television series broadcast by ABC. It starred Walter Brennan as the fictitious businessman Walter Andrews...
failed to develop sufficient audience in the 1964-1965 season.
Season 1
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "Ride the Long Trail" (pilot) | September 8, 1967 |
| 1-2 | "A Bell For Jeff Sonnett" | September 15, 1967 |
| 1-3 | "A Grave For James Sonnett" | September 22, 1967 |
| 1-4 | "The Natural Way" | September 29, 1967 |
| 1-5 | "Of Lasting Summers and Jim Sonnett" | October 6, 1967 |
| 1-6 | "Message At Noon" | October 13, 1967 |
| 1-7 | "A Son For A Son" | October 20, 1967 |
| 1-8 | "Meeting At Devil's Fork" | October 27, 1967 |
| 1-9 | "First Love" | November 3, 1967 |
| 1-10 | "The Favor" | November 10, 1967 |
| 1-11 | "Ride the Man Down" | November 17, 1967 |
| 1-12 | "The Turkey Shoot" | November 24, 1967 |
| 1-13 | "And A Killing Rode Into Town" | December 1, 1967 |
| 1-14 | "Find A Sonnett, Kill A Sonnett" | December 8, 1967 |
| 1-15 | "Sunday In Paradise" | December 15, 1967 |
| 1-16 | "The Secret Of Hangtown Mine" | December 22, 1967 |
| 1-17 | "The Hero" | December 29, 1967 |
| 1-18 | "What's In A Name?" | January 5, 1968 |
| 1-19 | "End Of The Rope" | January 12, 1968 |
| 1-20 | "And He Shall Lead the Children" | January 19, 1968 |
| 1-21 | "Look For the Hound Dog" | January 26, 1968 |
| 1-22 | "Stopover In A Troubled Town" | February 2, 1968 |
| 1-23 | "Alone" | February 9, 1968 |
| 1-24 | "The Sins of the Father" | February 23, 1968 |
| 1-25 | "The Warriors" | March 1, 1968 |
| 1-26 | "A Fool and His Money" | March 8, 1968 |
Season 2
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | "Reunion" | September 27, 1968 |
| 2-2 | "The Trap" | October 4, 1968 |
| 2-3 | "Chapter and Verse" | October 11, 1968 |
| 2-4 | "Pariah" | October 18, 1968 |
| 2-5 | "Joby" | November 1, 1968 |
| 2-6 | "The Straw Man" | November 8, 1968 |
| 2-7 | "A Difference Of Opinion" | November 15, 1968 |
| 2-8 | "Home Free" | November 22, 1968 |
| 2-9 | "Guilt" | November 29, 1968 |
| 2-10 | "Meeting In A Small Town" | December 6, 1968 |
| 2-11 | "The Fearless Man" | December 13, 1968 |
| 2-12 | "Where There's Hope" | December 20, 1968 |
| 2-13 | "Join the Army" | January 3, 1969 |
| 2-14 | "Time Is the Rider" | January 10, 1969 |
| 2-15 | "Robber's Roost" | January 17, 1969 |
| 2-16 | "Trail's End" | January 31, 1969 |
| 2-17 | "A Town In Terror" (Part 1) | February 7, 1969 |
| 2-18 | "A Town In Terror" (Part 2) | February 14, 1969 |
| 2-19 | "Jim Sonnett's Lady" | February 21, 1969 |
| 2-20 | "The Trial" | February 28, 1969 |
| 2-21 | "One Angry Juror" | March 7, 1969 |
| 2-22 | "The Sodbuster" | March 14, 1969 |
| 2-23 | "The Man Who Killed James Sonnett" | March 21, 1969 |
| 2-24 | "Three Stand Together" | September 15, 1969 |