MovieChat Forums > The High Chaparral (1967) Discussion > Favorite characters and episodes

Favorite characters and episodes

posted 12 years ago by justalottapage
10 replies | jump to latest

Back when originally aired, I only liked Buck, he was a bad ass. Blue was a big baby, I was jealous of Mono, and Victoria seemed kind of whiny. John was too strict. I was only able to watch maybe a dozen episodes until now...

Now as an adult and having the pleasure of watching all seasons:

Victoria: I absolutely am in love with her, her long back combed jet black hair with various ribbons, her dresses, and her loving compassion. She's a real firecracker.

Buck: Still a bad ass and also 'sneaky', but I now see a kind hearted compassion within him. Would die to protect Victoria, as would Mono of course.

Mono: A scoundrel for sure, but he's the best shot of them all. The most familiar of the area and people of them all. I now see him as the ultimate protector of Victoria.

John: I see now the responsibility of running the entire ranch and how it weighs on his shoulders. A hard man, who defers to Victoria when she insists.

Blue: Still the same, not entirely a man yet. Though he has a certain innocence about him I like.

Buck/Mono relationship: Very strong, I like. Again, both are the top protectors of all the rest.

Buck/Blue relationship: Passionate and endearing.

Buck/Victoria relationship: some sexual tension, and again, he would also die to protect her.

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I love any episode with Victoria and/or Buck as the primary role.

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My all time fave episode: "The Firing Wall" season one, with supporting actor BarBara Luna as Conchita, the most stunning of guest stars.

This episode has the very best intro over all others..

(Mono rescues Conchita from her runaway horse)

Mono to Conchita: "On my my, calma calma, you are alright now, Monolito is here.

(some dialog, then...)

(Mono tosses Conchita from his horse to the ground)

Chonita to Monolito: (laughs) "Senor, welcome to Mexico."

A very fun episode with another Mono/Conchita ending.

[–] slackersmom 11 years ago

Even as a kid, I always liked (and had a crush on) Manolito. He has the nicest dimples, and I love the way he wears his hat. I don't really watch it now, only see occasional glimpses once in a while, but I love when he's on my TV screen! (After that I think Buck was my favorite.)

[–] mlbroberts 10 years ago

Interesting thing about Manolito - originally the character was only supposed to appear in about half the episodes, but he caught on so well and so fast with the audience that he ended up being in all the episodes except one, which was more than any of the other characters. Can thank Henry Darrow for that - he really made the character both a scoundrel and lovable, and yeah, the dimples make your heart melt.

[–] ecanarensis 9 years ago

Slackersmom, you & I are in tune... Manolito was my first crush ever. I was 7 when the show started & even as a little girl his smile just slayed me. I haven't seen the show since the late 70s, but I bet I'd still love him!

I would sorta like to see the show as an adult, see what the rest of it was (the 'other than Mano' stuff).

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 11 years ago

OP,
That would be "Mano", not "Mono", Mano being short for Manolo, a Spanish name. "Manolito", means "Little Mano", a big sister's nickname for her naughty little brother, in the context of the show.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

[–] mlbroberts 10 years ago

Except according to Henry Darrow's biography, Manolito was 30 and Victoria was in her late 20s. He called her "hermanita" a couple times, too, like in "Ghost of Chapparal." I think everyone called him Manolito because he declined to grow up.

Darrow's biography is very good, by the way. Lots of history about High Chaparral and about the efforts of Latinos to get more work in Hollywood, Darrow being on the forefront of that effort with Ricardo Montalban and the lobbying group called Nosotros. Really good reading.

[–] mlbroberts 10 years ago

I really liked "Filibusteros." Don Sebastian's speech to his neighbors when he urges them to fight back, and Buck's speech at the end urging his friend not to go outside, are absolutely stunning. Best writing of the series IMO.

[–] makesmewantoholler 9 years ago

I liked Buck and Monolito.

[–] edestci 9 years ago

"Tulsa" ( Richard Bradford ) in " It takes a smart man ", really a tough guy....

[–] regg5 8 years ago

Tulsa was a great episode, and Bradford played a real bad ass in that one.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

❤️️
I have always loved Manolito. Buck comes in a close second.
I have several favorites, but one that really stays with me is the one called The Stallion.
It's the one where Blue and the Indian boy both spot the stallion when they are out riding and the fight over it. Such a beautiful horse, and such a good story.
There are many other really good episodes, but I like that one a lot.