Lancer (1968–1970) User Reviews (23)

Lancer: A Brilliant Western Drama from the late-1960's

[raysond · 8/10 · 15 May 2009]

"Lancer" was one of the most excellent western-adventure series to come out of the late 1960's. This was a great show that unfortunately wasn't provided the budget that it deserved to stay on the air,due to the powers to be over at CBS. This was a western that was compared to "Bonanza" and "The High Chapparral",but it offer a lot more. Produced by Alan A. Armer("The Fugitive","The Untouchables",and "The Invaders"),under the executive in charge of production William Self for 20th Century-Fox Television and Kent Productions,this was a series that ran for two seasons on CBS-TV,producing 51 episodes all in color that was on the air for September 24,1968 until May 19,1970.

"Lancer" was an impressive series with great writing and direction along with stunning photography not to mention exciting western action and adventure. "Lancer" was about a man Murdoch Lancer(played by Andrew Duggan,who was a less wholly admirable patriarch than Lorne Greene's Ben Cartwright of Bonanza),who emigrated from Scotland in the mid-1800's,owns and operates a 100,000 acre ranch where he raises cattle and horses. When land pirates kill his foreman and seriously wounded him,he sends for his two sons whom he hasn't seen in years. Scott Lancer(played by Wayne Maunder),was the educated older son and was a veteran of the Union Army(who served in a cavalry unit during the war and rose to the rank of Lieutenant while serving under General Phil Sheridan). The youngest son Johnny Lancer(James Stacy)was a half-hispanic gunslinger who was also known as Johnny Madrid. Johnny's mother was Murdoch's second wife-a Mexican woman named Maria. Johnny,unlike Scott,was born at Lancer and spent approximately the first two years of his life there. For reasons known only to herself Maria deserted her husband and left Lancer with Johnny in the company of strangers,according to Murdoch's ward,Teresa O'Brien(Elizabeth Baur). The brothers knew nothing about each other's existence until they are "introduced" to each other by Teresa when they arrive on the same stage in Morro Coyo. After a rough start the boys,along with their father Murdoch and Teresa eventually become a close-kint family and share the trials and tribulations of cattle ranching and the occasional visitor from the past-either Johnny's past as a gunfighter,or Scott's past as a soldier or scion of Boston society or Murdoch's own past.

This series was compared to "Bonanza",but was a lot more. It was more down to earth in its approach to solving each problem in some of the episodes. It was brilliant western drama at its finest. The father let his sons be themselves and treated them with dignity and respect. And it shows in some of the episodes,with some of the best writing in a western drama ever presented. Also on board this series was Paul Brinegar,formerly the cook Wishbone on another CBS-TV western series "Rawhide",also appeared as Jelly Hoskins,a series regular.

The guest star roster included on this series were Joe Don Baker,Ellen Corby,Dub Taylor,Jack Elam,Sam Elliott,Bruce Dern,along with actor/director Ron Howard(as Ronnie Howard from the Andy Griffith Show),Cloris Leachman,Scott Marlowe,Stefanie Powers(The Girl From U.N.C.L.E),Frank McHugh,along with Lloyd Haynes(Room 222),Vic Tayback(Griff and later on for Alice),and Manuel Padilla,Jr.(aka Jai from the TV-series Tarzan).

Don't miss the best episodes from this series from season one:(the 1968-69 season)"The Pilot Episode:The High Riders","Death Bait","Glory","Yesterday's Vendetta","The Measure of a Man",and "The Devil's Blessing".

Also the best episodes from its second and final season:(the 1969-70 season)"Blind Man's Buff","Legacy","Cut The Wolf Loose","Shadow of a Dead Man","Blue Skies for Willie Sharpe","The Lion and the Lamb","The Rivals",and the final episode of the series "Lifeline". After CBS canceled this series in the Spring of 1970,the network repeated all 51 episodes in the summer of 1971 as a replacement. The summer replacement was for the variety-series "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" which the western "Lancer" replaced.

A happy childhood memory.....

[poettesse · 8/10 · 20 September 2007]

What about 'Lancer' was not to love, especially for prepubescent elementary school girls? It was a story about a ranch and featured a grumpy patriarch, a cute female 'ward' and two gorgeous, non-threatening young men, one dark, one fair.

Johnny, the son of a Mexican serving-wench, was my favorite.

My friends and I were so crazy about 'Lancer' it was a frequent subject of our conversations for most of the week, and the ONLY topic of conversation on Tuesdays (anticipation of that night's episode) and Wednesdays (the aftermath.) Fancying myself a writer even back then, I would write stories about 'Lancer,' the first of which introduced my pals and I as new 'wards' of the Lancer family. My friend Penny, the artist, illustrated the stories. We made probably the first and only 'Lancer' graphic novel. I'd give anything to have those stories back..... It's nice to visit this page and discover that 'The Lancer-ettes' and I were not the show's only fans.

Estranged brothers return to their father's ranch for 51 episodes of drama and conflict

[shirleyjones-1 · 2 June 2005]

Widower Murdoch needs his sons to return home to help him protect the ranch - but he needs detectives to find them! Scott, the elder, is a city boy brought up by his maternal grandpa in refined Boston following the death of his mother in childbirth. Johnny is a gunfighter south of the border, the result of a liaison with a Mexican beauty who hid her son from his father. What will lure them to a different life of cattle ranching in the west? How will these different men get on together? Throw into the mix a pretty young ward and a host of guest appearances and the outcome is a sensational TV western series with great scripts, strong performances and superb plot lines that truly shape out character as well as move the story along.

Lancers

[leatrice54 · 10/10 · 7 December 2016]

Just wanted to say, I had the good fortune of being on the Ranch in Carmel, California when they filmed the series. My Uncle was Foreman of the Ranch. I made lifelong friends with several of the cast. Mostly the stuntmen, as that's where my heart lies. We wrote letters for years. Especially Jack Williams. We actually dated, and called each other on the phone. He was an amazing man ! I dated one of the stuntmen named Mike Spencer. I have many pictures of the whole experience. One is a picture of Joe Don Baker standing with me. He had kissed me on the head and bent his head over on top of mine. Swoon ! (Joe Don, or anyone else in the cast, if you read this I'd be happy to send you copies of the pictures). For a teenager this whole thing was so special. Being there while they were filming was such a treat ! I wish everyone could have this experience. Just hanging around the stars, eating with them, being so quiet when they were filming. Nothing like it. Memories I'll never forget. Thanks for letting me share my experience~~~

This was a great show!

[dorothy-lee · 10/10 · 5 September 2007]

I loved watching this show as a teenager and I've watched a few episodes in the past few years that would come on late at night. I really loved the character of Johnny Lancer/Madrid, played by James Stacy. He was very cute! The show had good story lines and each episode was stand alone. All the characters in the show were very believable and seemed to work together real good. Lancer was one of the better westerns on at that time. I wish we had better writers now that could come up with as good a show! If you haven't seen this show and get a chance to watch it you won't be disappointed if you're a fan of westerns.

Lancer still a favorite

[jenrejoice · 10/10 · 19 August 2019]

I've just discovered Lancer as an older adult and am very enthusiastic about it! I love the stories and the setting and James Stacy, Wayne Maunder and Andrew Duggan do a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life. It's become my favorite western TV series.

It's amazing how many Lancer fans there are after 50 years! I'm proud to be one of them.

I hope to see this series offered on DVD in the future!

what could have been

[sandcrab277 · 1/10 · 18 October 2020]

Possibly a great western series except for james stacy ... this boy had too many problems ... in the end it did him in ... a lebanonese immigrant by birth that changed his name ... his smart mouth and demeanor ruined whatever he was cast in ... he was way too smug for his age ... a very poor excuse for a man

Lancer TV Western

[Cachemeersqueen · 10/10 · 1 January 2007]

I grew up watching this great western as well. It was the best of all the westerns on TV when compared to Bonanza, High Chapparral, Laredo, Big Valley, etc. And I used to watch them all! I just loved the two brothers and their love/hate relationship. The wholesome family environment in the midst of the turbulence of that time era. It is a shame that we cannot have this type of wholesome programming back on the television. Nothing we have today can compare to the shows that were released in the late 1960's. I have looked for it to appear on channels such as TV Land and have not been able to locate it. I plan on looking to see where I can purchase these if they are on DVD as well. Thanks for the information! This is a great site.

Lancer an excellent western

[rwoody01961 · 22 January 2005]

This is a excellent western. I grew up watching it and I still love to watch it. James Stacy is my favorite actor and his portrayal of Johnny Lancer was really good. Any one who likes westerns should enjoy this show too!!! This program did not last long enough in my opinion. If anyone gets a chance to see this western on the western channel or TV land if it is ever offered again should do so. I believe that all western fans will enjoy this program. If you want to find a place to buy this old TV series check out Classic Video LLC on the internet. That is where I am purchasing mine at. Check out this great program. All the characters on the show are good, but the character of Johnny Lancer portrayed by James Stacy is the best.

Lancer: A western to weather the ages.

[sandysha-59564 · 10/10 · 2 August 2019]

For 50 years I've loved this show. Others will summarize what the show was about. To me it was about family. A family initially torn apart by events outside one man's control, Murdoch Lancer. A family pieced back together by that same man.

Andrew Duggan played Murdoch Lancer. A man who had built an empire single handedly. 100,000 acres. A legacy for the two sons who had been taken from him.

Johnny Madrid Lancer played by James Stacy gave us riveting performances each week. His talent in finding little things to add to each scene was amazing. A gunfighter who came home for the money and stayed because of family.

Scott Lancer played by Wayne Maunder. Fresh off the set of Custer, Wayne gave his character the military bearing and strength of leadership for the show. He acted as the peace maker between Murdoch and Johnny.

Teresa O'Brian played by Elizabeth Bauer was Murdoch's ward. Her father, the foreman of the ranch was killed in the first episode.

This wasn't Bonanza as some may have compared it to. This show, had it followed Sam Peeple's vision would have surpassed them all.

I can't say enough about Lancer. There is a worldwide fan base and hundreds of fan fiction stories written about the show and its characters. If you've never seen Lancer you've missed out on the best Western out there.

A Fine Series

[nicrob-22966 · 10/10 · 24 January 2020]

My favorite tv show when I was Pony Alice's size, and I still love it. Always thought that the comparison to Bonanza, while obvious, was facile and ill-considered. Lancer had shaded characterizations, good scripts and excellent, charismatic performances. Unfortunately hard to come by, but definitely worth the search. Here's hoping it will one day appear in a proper edition.

Lancer - Still loved after 50 years

[auntybabsv · 10/10 · 2 August 2019]

I have always loved "Lancer". I recall watching it in my teen years. People want to compare this show to Bonanza and even Big Valley. This is a disservice to Lancer. This was a show where three strangers were learning to come together as a family. The actors were outstanding. Andrew Duggan was the father and played the role very convincingly. His two sons played by James Stacy and Wayne Maunder were each talented and played the role of new brothers perfectly. The bond the actors formed made them very belivable.The scripts were well written. It is truly a shame that it only lasted 2 seasons. Lancer has a large fan following even after 50 years. I fell in love with James Stacy from the first time I saw him. He remains in my heart. I still love all things "Lancer" after 50 years.

This was a good Western series.

[milwhitt702 · 9/10 · 22 July 2008]

I liked Andrew Duggan as a pappy who brought home his lost sheep, one from the city, and one was an Outlaw. My favorite episode was called "Murdock's Birthday", where the boys got his present and ended up giving the stuff to other families in need. It was too bad that James Stacy had the accident which left him crippled. Mr. Duggan was earlier connected with a large detective outfit with four offices, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, Burbon St. Beat,(Duggan and Richard Long) and something in Miami. It seemed like Family Westerns were hot during that period..and I enjoyed stories that went beyond hot lead and gunsmoke. Best part of those family westerns was the great color scenery. We know it didn't really look like those scenes in Big Valley, and Bonanza, but who cares. It gave us a nice evening.

I really liked the show "Lancer"!

[frankndee-1 · 9 January 2006]

Lancer has been compared to Bonanza. But I did not find it to be anything like Bonanza. It definitely had its own style and the characters were varied and interesting in their personalities. Lancer was down to earth in its approach to each problem presented in the episodes. Each character was flawed in some way, which made them more interesting. There was humor in the show, but the show was not clownish. There was believable drama, not stereotypical scenarios that were boring and unsatisfying. The father let his sons be themselves and treated them with respect and dignity. The fact that they had not been together as a family for many years was a major factor in a much more interesting interaction between the characters. Each character, whether in a leading role or not, had his own unique style of presenting the role in a believable way. I especially enjoyed Paul Brinegar. It was very disappointing to me when the show went off the air and I am always looking for it to reappear on the channels which feature reruns of older shows.

An under recognized show

[teatouess · 9/10 · 2 August 2019]

This show doesnt date, doesnt get old and is refreshingly well acted. Stacy, Maunder, Dugan and Bauer have an onscreen dynamic that is rare and obvious. The constraints of the times made for dificult script writing, and back stories under utilized but it was streets ahead of it's time. Until Starsky and Hutch and Alias smith and Jones, there had never been obvious bonding on screen before. Method acting at it's best. They were believable in their rolls and even after 50 years it's still watchable, enjoyable and a master class for acting. This alone put it streets ahead of any other western of it's time. Timing was its death knell. At the end of the western series trend it was up against some big shows, all of which had run for years. Even so, watching an episode of lancer and one of any other long run western and it's better, I go, and it's the acting and dynamic that did that.

Lancer - The Best Western on TV - Best Actors in a Series - Costumes recognized 50 years later.

[cflynnie-36859 · 10/10 · 2 August 2019]

Lancer was a unique Western for its time with enormous talented actors and Guest stars many who went onto starring roles in their own TV shows.

Lancer is the story of a rancher, Murdoch Lancer (Andrew Duggan), who struggles to hang onto his San Joaquin Valley holdings with the help of his sons Scott (Wayne Maunder) who grew up in Boston with everything money could buy and Johnny Madrid (Stacy), a half Mexican Gunfighter who grew up with nothing but whose exotic name comes by way of his Mexican mother.

Almost a modern day western version of the Prince and the Pauper, the two Lancer sons have no idea they are related to one another until they arrive on a stagecoach at a local town. The sons both agree to a partnership with their authoritarian father who wants to "Call the Tune". They will get their piece of land if the two sons help there father defeat a land pirate named Dey Pardee.

Duggan stars as the less than admirable Murdoch Lancer, the patriarch of the Lancer family. Stacy appears as half-Mexican gunslinger Johnny Madrid Lancer. Wayne Maunder was cast as Scott Lancer, the educated older son and a veteran of the Union Army, in contrast to Stacy's role of former gunslinger. Paul Brinegar also appeared as Jelly Hoskins, a series regular from season two after making a one off guest appearance during the first season. Elizabeth Baur (who later replaced Barbara Anderson in 'Ironside' from season five to eight) also was a series regular cast member as Murdoch Lancer's ward Teresa O'Brien.

"Lancer" premiered at the tail-end of the heyday of network TV Westerns such as NBC's "Bonanza" and ABC's "The Big Valley." Guest stars on "Lancer" included the popular actors of the day, such as Stefanie Powers, Cloris Leachman, Donna Tom Selleck, Sam Elliot, Quentin Dean, Shelly Fabres, Jo Don Baker, Warren Oats, Rory Calhoun, Scott Brady, Ellen Corby, Jack Elam, Sam Elliott, Bruce Dern, Kevin Hagen, Ron Howard, George Macready, Agnes Moorehead. and Morgan Woodward,

The best western ever!

[sdaigle-26897 · 10/10 · 2 August 2019]

Loved this 50 years ago and still do. Has a great story line, great characters, and such diverse characters. I love the idea of Johnny being a gunfighter from the border and James Stacy plays him to a T. I would love to see this released on DVD and would watch it almost every day.

Lancer was a good Western

[gennifer-53353 · 9/10 · 10 October 2020]

I remember watching this growing up and being upset when it was canceled after only 2 years or so. The acting was great and I had a huge crush on James Stacy. This is on now on the H&I Heroes and Icons channel. I still like watching it, even though some of the story lines seem a little outdated and contrived. I don't know what it was about these old shows, but every time a cast member fell for a woman, she would either die or leave by the end of the show. Not much point in writing in love interests when we all knew the outcome! Johnny Lancer apparently had his share of those love them and lose them!

One other point, it is so bittersweet seeing James Stacy young and vibrant before his horrific motorcycle accident. I still enjoy the shows though.

One of My Favorite Shows

[elbin878 · 7 April 2006]

This was one of my favorite shows of the 60's. I especially liked James Stacy's portrayal of Johnny Lancer. He was a very fine actor. The show was much more realistic than some of the TV westerns such as Bonanza. Had a good cast and the location shots were great. Would love to see it back on reruns. Many of the story lines focused on the conflict between the father, Murdoch Lancer, and his sons, Scott and Johnny. But the best shows featured the character of Johnny, as portrayed by James Stacy. Unlike some other TV westerns which also took place on ranches, this show actually was a realistic portrayal of everyday life on a ranch. You actually saw cattle, which I don't recall ever seeing on Bonanza. If you get a chance to see this show on cable, don't miss it.

#1 HIT SHOW Lancer

[chebeebennett · 10/10 · 22 March 2022]

I watched Lancer on DVD & I saw Man Without A Gun & I did not see very gorgeous Wayne Maunder as very gorgeous Scott Garrett Lancer starring on the show, Blooming James Stacy had to steal the show & THIS IS NOT FAIR at all-Drats, so very lovely Wayne starred in 49 episodes so far. I really missed seeing very handsome Scott Garrett Lancer. Footnote very gorgeous Wayne Maunder was not on 5 episodes-The Heart Of Polly Alice, The Man Without A Gun-The Measure Of A Man-The Lion & The Lamb & To Dream Of Falcons- I will not be seeing these episodes again. I bought the LANCER DVD set because very lovely Wayne played very gorgeous Scott Garrett Lancer ever so very well indeed & I give 10000% & he gave his all in his acting career with the rest of the cast.

Short lived western of the late 60s

[greenmountainsme · 5 May 2006]

Lancer is about a man, Murodoch Lancer, who emigrated from Scotland in the mid-1800s, who lives on a 100,000 acre ranch where he raises cattle and horses.

When land pirates kill his foreman and seriously wound him he sends for his two sons whom he has not seen in many years.

Scott,portrayed by Wayne Maunder,is somewhere around 25, and living in Boston where he was raised by his maternal grandfather after the older man took him east when his mother died either from a fever or from childbirth. Scott served in a cavalry unit during the war and rose to the rank of Lieutenant while serving under General Phil Sheridan.

Johnny, portrayed by James Stacy, is a few years younger. Known as Johnny Madrid in certain parts of the country, Johnny's mother was Murdoch's second wife - a Mexican woman named Maria. Johnny, unlike Scott, was born at Lancer and spent approximately the first two years of his life there. For reasons known only to herself Maria deserted her husband and left Lancer with Johnny in the company of "some sort of gambler" according to Murdoch's ward, Teresa O'Brien. Johnny is saved from a firing squad by the Pinkerton agent hired to find him.

The brothers know nothing about each other's existence until they are "introduced" to each other by Teresa when they arrive on the same stage in Morro Coyo - a usually sleepy little village near the ranch.

After a rough start the boys, Murdoch and Teresa eventually become a close-knit family and share the trials and tribulations of cattle ranching and the occasional visitor from the past - be it Johnny's past as a gunfighter, Scott's past as a soldier or scion of Boston society or, occasionally, Murdoch's own past.

It is similar to, but definitely not a clone of, Bonanza. For one thing we have no idea if Murdoch is still married to Maria or if she is dead. Johnny doesn't talk about his mother much outside of the pilot episode and Cut The Wolf Loose.

I just loved this show!!!

[sammi4049442 · 24 August 2003]

This was a great show that unfortunately wasn't provided the budget that it deserved to stay on the air. Wayne Maunder and James Stacy had the type of chemistry that made you feel as if they really were brothers. Andrew Duggan played an excellent Murdoch Lancer. Oh, how I loved to hate him.!!!! Loved watching this show with my sister. Wayne Maunder was my favorite as Scott!!!

Comments to DKOSTY post

[westernlady8 · 29 December 2008]

I have to NOT agree on this last comment about Lancer. One reason you have it all wrong, Johnny never did have his eye poked out in any episode, as I know I have all of them. And two, It was very well produced and the stories were down to earth and very enjoyable to watch. You must have seen another show that reminded you of Lancer, and I couldn't go by and not correct this mistake. I truly loved this show and hope it does come out on DVD soon, short lived or not, it was one of the best for that time. I do say if you haven't seen it and it does come out on cable or DVD I suggest to take a look and see for yourself. You will not be sorry that you did.