Bonanza – The Quality of Mercy | Episode 143 | Best Western Series | Wild West | English

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Free Western Classic: Bonanza – Episode 143 – The Quality of Mercy – Little Joe struggles with his conscience, trying to believe that his friend, Seth Pruitt, did the right thing after Seth admits to the mercy-killing of his fiancée’s father when the man was in agony from a broken back and begging for death

The Quality of Mercy
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Writer: Peter Packer
Stars: Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker
Genre: Western
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 17 November 1963 USA
Filming Locations: Paramount Studios – 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Storyline:
Investigating a mine cave-in, Joe Cartwright finds his friend Seth Pruitt (Richard Rust standing over the dead body of Seth’s future father-in-law. Admitting to murder, Seth explains that the dead man suffered extensive injuries in the cave-in, and begged to be killed rather than live out his life as a cripple. Seth then swears Joe to secrecy, out of respect for the feelings of Seth’s intended bride Sara (Nancy Rennick). Throughout the rest of the episode, Joe agonizes over his promise to Seth, wondering if his decision to remain silent is morally defensible. A surprise ending caps Peter Packer’s riveting teleplay.

Reviews:
“Michael Landon as Little Joe takes center stage in this Bonanza episode which involves a daring topic for its time, mercy killing.

It’s not any Dr. Kevorkian doing in terminally people, but Richard Rust who during a mine cave-in kills his future father-in-law. Little Joe who heard the shot was the only witness. Rust tells him that he did it because the man’s back was broken in the disaster and that he was in agony. He did it like anyone would do for a suffering animal.

This was certainly an unusual topic for a western, but Landon goes to Lorne Greene for some sage advice and if there’s one thing Ben Cartwright was always handy with was sage advice. He talks quite seriously about the difference between people and animals and the force of nature in a struggle to survive.

It might have been a better episode if the plot hadn’t been tilted towards the fact that the killing was not as it appeared to be. More I won’t say, still this is an interesting and thought provoking Bonanza episode.” Written by bkoganbing on IMDb.com

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44 Replies to “Bonanza – The Quality of Mercy | Episode 143 | Best Western Series | Wild West | English”

  1. This episode discusses quite an important topic. One has to try his or her best to save someone's life. Every option humanly possible has to be tried until the person heaves the last breath. The story has been handled quite well.

  2. Assisted suicide is a very controversial topic. For a show in the 60s to discuss it was quite daring. Like Ben said, there are no easy answers. When is it right to put a suffering human being out of their misery? Bonanza did a great job in helping viewers understand such topics and really look at both sides of an issue.

  4. Adam is 12 years older than Joe.

    From this scene you can just see how older brother Adam must have often taken care
    of his much younger brother when he had nightmares, tending to him as a loving older brother…
    28:32
    Beautiful!😮

  5. Therapy for me!
    The way bonanza helps me to assume these actors and actresses promote decent and honorable people.
    I hope more people watch and get some of the many values they portray!
    I learned a lot myself. Thanks!

  8. My grandfather was a truckers and his cousin was a trucker also. They had a special bond. His cousin was in a bad accident, and his rig was burning. He begged the trooper to shoot him. The trooper refused to do so. When my grandfather got to the burn unit to see his cousin, he had already passed. The trooper told my grandfather the story as he was crying his eyes out. He wanted my grandfather's forgiveness for something that wasn't his fault. I believe the trooper did the right thing. No matter how hard it was.

  13. This episode would have been a quality episode if they just left it an open question opposed to trying to prove a debate by swinging the characters code of ethics at the end. Should have just left it open to discussion, would have been an easy script to convey.

  15. If you remember when bonanza first comes on TV is that all the brothers were grown up because they were New to Virginia City because they was fighting for the Ponderosa how did all the other people grow up together

  16. Interesting topic now that some countries are going too far with euthanasia. There are stories from the Canadian health care system when social workers have tried to talk people into being killed. One woman was just trying to get an lift for her stairs because she was old and weak.

  17. “Ain’t it funny when a man dies how he cry for his wife and his momma. It don’t matter what he done or how brave he is. He’s sweet again, just like a little child”

  19. Sort of an obvious question, but I see no one else has brought it up. If the man supposedly died in a mine collapse, why was there a bullet wound in him? Joe should not have been the only person to know.

  24. I'm not sure about this one. My grandfather had a brother in law he was so close to and the brother in law got in a horrific car crash up in Alaska. They were both truckers, and they had a special bond. The brother in laws crash was on fire, and he was burning alive. He asked the trooper to put him out of his misery, but the officer couldn't. They eventually took the brother in law tp the hospital and he died before my grandfather could get to Alaska to say goodbye. I can't say what I would do, but I wouldn't tell someone either way.

  27. Ah,so, Master, Sir Jonathan🪽 Swift, as the Crown👑of his Merry🇬🇧England, believed that all horses were like people, so then, in The Light🕯️of♾️T'ruth🕎 (Ruth = Hebrew 4⚖️ Compassion) why would Hu shoot horses all because they can't Hip Hop/e 4 the Man so darn right away, That's like trying to shoot ME=mc2 & Mohammed🥊Ali's🇺🇲 version of🫶WE=mc2🏆in💃his #1👶🙆daughter's🧏laughter about how ME=mc2🦸in ♂️ Ms.🎺 ♀️Bobbi🗣️McGEE=mc2, like Masterful BRUCE=mc2🥇LEE mc2 just W👁️N👀ONE=mc2 to 3 4 Ya M👁️M, 5🥋 🎸6🪕7🥁8🎷9🎹Zen🗣️🎺💃🥇⚖️🕯️✨🫶🌅⚡🌄🌍🌠🌎🌠🌏🌌GOOD 💯 G🌝D + Back 2 from1☝️2🌚1 Beautiful🧏 Motherly❤️‍🔥Goddess💃🙋💋😂!

  31. Little Joe Cartwright learns how to make his confession. ( One of The Queen 👑 of The Pondersa Ranch also kearns a important lesson on how to make her confession that is Alia Mohammed, because Pa Benjamin Cartwright Isabella Sampourni knows her strength & weakness.).

  33. now that i have finished the episode, it seems obvious to me that this was not just a mercy killing. i think the show would have been better if they had left it as one, and caused everyone to really think about it. as it is, everyone could come to the conclusion that seth was in the wrong. too many "coincidences" to think that the only reason for killing the father was to do as the father asked, and relieve him of pain. there is a lot of doubt in me that the father even asked, now that all the facts are out.

  34. i dont think this is as easy as ben is making it out to be. i hope i never get into that situation, cuz i know i could never do the killing. but i am consistent, in that i could never put my cat or dog down, either. bonanza portrays the shooting of horses when they are maimed, etc. i do not think one can be consistent by having different conclusions about different lives.

  43. Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ :39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. :40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. :41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. :42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

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