Grey Holden (Darren McGavin) wins a river boat in a poker game which he then captains, along with his crew, in various adventures along the Mississippi river. This action series is set in 19th century America.This was a very well produced, gripping Western series with excellent production values and terrific writing to match a top-notch cast. Some of the guest stars not mentioned above that you will see are a young and alluring Elizabeth Montgomery, the dashing Ricardo Montalban (look for a quick glimpse of Mary Tyler Moore as an extra), a guy from another ship called “Enterprise” – DeForest Kelley, Charles Bronson, Suzanne Pleshette and a familiarly scruffy-looking Buddy Ebsen (playing the role that might well have landed him the spot of the Beverly Hillbillies Jed Clampett) in “The Waters of Gorgeous Springs”.
You will enjoy Burt Reynolds in his first TV role too – he manages to hang around for 21 episodes (before he goes overboard) and its too bad that he leaves the show. There is a line of continuity – at least in the episodes with Reynolds and you will want to watch them in the correct order. There are a couple of episodes where Darren McGavin is missing from the cast – and that unfortunately leaves a void that Noah Berry Jr. cant really fill but the omission is brief and McGavin’s brilliant performances carry Riverboat all the way to its final stop.
Character to watch: Darren McGavin as Captain Grey Holden.
Journal your answers to the following questions after you watch the series.
- How does this particular character’s journey compare with yours?
- Did the character develop certain characteristics during the movie that you have or that you would like to have? If so, what are those characteristics?
- What obstacles did this character face? What was his or her biggest challenge?
- What would you have done differently if you had been in the same position as the character?
- Is this character the type of person you would be friends with? Why or why not?