Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

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.

One of the great western series of all time. With her husbands passing mrs.Barkley (Barbara Stanwyck) is the glue that holds the family together with love,compassion Richard Long plays lawyer and oldest son Jarrod. Peter Breck plays quick to fight Nick Barkley, Lee Maijors plays Heath Barkley tough and rugged.Linda Evans plays Audra Barkley beautiful and pure. Youngest son Eugene isn't in but first 8 episodes and is off to college. What separates Big Valley is the strong cast also Heath Barkley was recently passed Tom Barkleys son . Twist is he didn't know he existed. Heath enters the Barkleys lives and becomes part of what he has wanted his whole life a real family. Some very good episodes very entertaining truly classic television. They show a toughness and family bond that cannot be broken.

This was a wonderful show that had an all star cast. The writing and directing were also well done and that made the show a western classic. Barbara Stanwyck was perfect as the head of the Barkley family. She was petite but she could be mean when she had to be. Richard Long was her oldest son Jarrod. He was an attorney as well as being more citified. You could see that he didn't care that much for the day to day workings of the ranch. Peter Breck was her younger son Nick. He could brawl with the best of them. He and Jarrod could argue and never stop but if something happened to one of them the other one knew it. Lee Majors was Tom's son. He made the show interesting in exploring unfaithfulness in a television show. Linda Evans was her daughter Audra. She didn't seem to have very good luck with men. Charles Briles was the baby Eugene. He only appeared in a very few episodes and was eventually dropped. I wish he had been kept. He could have been a vital part of the family. The show was a super western and I hope that the remaining seasons of it are released on DVD.

My husband recently gave me the 1st season on DVD for my 50th birthday present. What a surprise and a treasure! I grew up on a small farm in Pennsylvania and The Big Valley came into my life around my 9th birthday. It never left me! I always loved horses but loving the show opened up a wholesome, healthy world of pretend and play. Our big old barn was transformed (in my mind) into the gorgeous Barkley home, and I usually played Nick on Coco. When I look back to how much time I spent playing with my horses, and bringing my friends and siblings into my Barkley world, I'm so thankful. I remember creating new story lines and acting them out. I often recruited other kids to be the rest of the Barkleys, and also Fred the Sheriff, Silas, and other neighbors. Those who wouldn't ride were usually Audra and Victoria. When some kids went on to become interested in not-so-safe ventures, I began writing screenplays and stories, some of which I used as reports for English Comp. class in High School. I have so many good memories of this wonderful show. I believe my own kids watch it out of kindness to me, but I know the underlying moral issues of the stories may take root in their minds too and someday they will appreciate it too. How thankful I am to everyone responsible for bringing this wonderful piece of my personal history to life, and a special thanks to Victoria, Jarod, Nick, Heath, and Audra. And thank you to so many folks, just like me, who take the time to write such positive messages about such wonderful entertainment, and to share your memories too.