In 1861 East Texas, young farmer Stewart Petersen (as Jimmie D. Richardson) wants to marry maturing "Brady Bunch" daughter Maureen McCormick (as Rose of Sharon). Her big brother Buck Taylor (as Bovey Kingman) does not approve. The prospective couple also has trouble obtaining permission from Ms. McCormick father, wealthy rancher and politician Henry Wilcoxon (as Trevor Kingman). He has a rivalry with Mr. Petersen's poorer goat-herder father Ken Curtis (as Jed Richardson). A fatal gunshot triggers Petersen becoming a "Pony Express Rider" in search of justice...This is mainly Petersen versus Mr. Taylor, with a series of "guest stars" acting expectedly. Dub Taylor (as Boomer Riley) was my pick for best. Petersen might have done well with a Disney contract. Director Robert Totten and the gang would have had more mileage if this were a CBS-TV Monday night movie special - grabbing some of the recently departed "Gunsmoke" audience, who were moving in droves to "Little House on the Prairie". Of course, they may have tried that… **** Pony Express Rider (11/76) Robert Totten ~ Stewart Petersen, Buck Taylor, Henry Wilcoxon, Maureen McCormick

Pony Express Rider is the story of vengeance quest by young Stewart Petersen who takes a job as a rider to get the man who shot down his father in cold blood. The only thing he knows is that his quarry is going west, so he'll take the mail west because it's in his general direction and Petersen gets paid besides.Somebody tuning in on this film in the middle might have gotten a feeling that this was a Gunsmoke episode run totally amuck with mutiny in the marshal's office in Dodge City. Petersen's dad is Ken Curtis formerly Festus on Gunsmoke and the man he's seeking is Buck Taylor who was Matt Dillon's other deputy, Newly. Topping that all off is the director Robert Totten did many a Gunsmoke episode from television.Taylor is the spoiled son of cattle baron Henry Wilcoxon who's just been appointed territorial governor of Nevada and after Taylor does the deed, he seeks refuge with his father.Sad to say, here's where the plot gets a little dumb. For the life of me I can't understand why Ken Curtis wants to farm goats. He's leasing a small piece of Wilcoxon's land and Wilcoxon can toss him off any time he wants. Just that they go back aways is the only reason he hasn't up till now. I can't understand how Curtis got himself involved in such an arrangement or what his passion for goats was.Also working here is the fact that Taylor does not think Petersen is fit company for his sister Maureen McCormick. And there's also a poorly developed secondary plot where some latent southern sympathizers have maneuvered Wilcoxon into that appointment in Nevada in order to grab off the west for the Confederacy to be.Pony Express Rider would have been a lot better film if it had just stuck to the one plot line about revenge and not dragged a lot of extraneous elements into it. Makes for one big mess.

In 1976 I was 8 years old. I'll admit I was one of those who watched the Brady Bunch a lot only to see Maureen McCormick. So when my dad took us to see this movie and I realized she was in it I loved the movie. It could have been the worst movie of all times and I wouldn't have known the difference. This movie came out in 1976, and I have no doubt that even as early as 1980 movies were much better. So this could be a good or bad movie but what would it compare with movies that are out in todays world? (2007) There is much better talent and movie equipment and special effects etc. but I sometimes think that movies and TV shows from that era were better just because there was more true meaning involved. There was a movie around that same time with a similar story line and I read one review that said they don't make family movies like this anymore. It is my intention to purchase this movie via the internet and watch it with my 12 year old daughter to see if I like it or not, and see what her opinions are. There is no way I can remember the story from way back then. All I remember is having a crush on Maureen McCormick and enjoying the movie for that reason.

I was 14 years old when I had the opportunity to watch part of this film being made in Kerrville, Texas. My cousins and I spent several weeks during the summer of 1976 at my grandfather's house that was used as the Nevada governor's mansion. All of the actors were great to be around. The only person who was not friendly was Maureen McCormick, but she had just finished the Brady Bunch and was the "star". At the party after the premiere I had a chance to talk with Ken Curtis about his acting career - he told me of the blessing and the cure of being "Festus". I ran into Buck Taylor about six years after the movie and not only did he remember me but for several years thereafter we hang out when he was in town.Most of the rest of the film was shot in and around the Texas Hill Country. The Kingman XXX Ranch was shot at the YO Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas. The YO is still in operation as a ranch and is also an exotic game ranch.The film has the feel of an episode of `Gunsmoke' because the director Bob Totten directed many shows of that series.So, yes the acting is bad, the photography is dark but for me this film is a classic as it takes me back to that time in 1976 when all was still good in my world.