everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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.

This show had everything you could ever want from a TV Show. Drama, comedy, and action. Even a touch of horror, I can still hear Bradford Dillman creepily calling "Audra". Social biting commentary on issues that were important then, now and forever. Racial tensions, poverty, labor disputes, sexism and ageism. The cast was first class and does not need me to sing their praises. So lets look at the guest stars and bit parts: Charles Bronson, William Shatner, Ronnie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Richard Dreyfuss, Jo Ann Pflug, Regis Philbin, Cloris Leachman, Karen Black, Harry Dean Stanton, John Carradine, Wayne Rogers, Charles Grodin, George Kennedy, Leslie Nielsen, Joe Don Baker, Anne Baxter, Adam West, Lee Grant, Robert Goulet, Julie Harris, Robert Loggia, Carol Lynley, Ellen Burstyn, Milton Berle, Jill St. John, Buddy Hackett, Katharine Ross, Martin Landau, Dennis Hopper, Warren Oates... But of course my personal favorite was James Gregory as Simon Carter. In Short: Good Family Show, Watch It.

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.

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????