User Reviews

I can't help but tear up when I see this family struggle when trying to succeed. My grandparents lived in shacks in the early1900 Iowa. And it wasn't much better for their kids. The coal miner Italian father's that I grew up with were sometimes volatile and controlled their family with a firm hand. But deep down inside, they loved their family immensely. And would fight for their family to their death if needed. I'm really miss my old-country families! 😢

Jack Kruschen's full blown and expansive performance as an Italian immigrant winegrower is the heart of this Bonanza episode. Kruschen's a proud guy, but as we see it might just do him in.

The Cartwright Family has its hands full with Kruschen. He's moved his family which consists of wife Penny Santon, daughter Brioni Farrell, and son Michael Stefani. Kruschen is well read on the Homestead Act and he's set up a vineyard. The problem is that it's on the Ponderosa albeit a small and little used corner of it. Kruschen likes the name so much that when his grapes are ready for crushing he's going to call it Ponderosa wine.

Lorne Greene never really had any intentions of going into the wine business, but in the end an amicable solution is worked out that most of all saves Kruschen's pride.

Kruschen and the family go through what a lot of immigrants went through in terms of mockery and derision by those already here. But he's got the right stuff even though he's stubborn and proud.

A nicely told tale with lessons about immigrants that still need teaching.