Father Murphy is an American Western drama television series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981, to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and directed the show in partnership with William F. Claxton, Maury Dexter, Victor French, and Leo Penn.
Synopsis
1870s frontiersman John Michael Murphy teams up with prospector Moses Gage to shelter a group of orphans who are being threatened with internment in a
workhouse. Murphy disguises himself as a priest and befriends a schoolmarm to help the children find a home.
At the end of the first season, John's true identity is revealed to the head of the workhouse, and the orphans seem destined for a life of labor. Instead, Murphy marries the schoolmarm and they get custody of the children.
Production
Many of the episodes were filmed at the Old Tucson Studios and theme park just outside Tucson, Arizona. The main village featured in the show was located at Big Sky Movie Ranch in
Simi Valley, California; this was also the filming location for the television series
Little House on the Prairie. The village was located about uphill from the Ingalls' farm set.
Father Murphy is an NBC production and is syndicated outside of the U.S. by MGM Television, but MGM does not own the video rights.
Cast
Notable guest appearances on the series include:
Shannen Doherty, Mykelti Williamson,
Kellie Martin, John M. Pickard,
Eddie Quillan, Christina Applegate,
Amanda Peterson,
Donna Wilkes,
Tina Yothers, Mary Beth Evans, Wilfrid Hyde-White,
Jerry Hardin,
James Cromwell, and Christopher Stone.
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (1981–82)
Season 2 (1982–83)
Home media
Image Entertainment (under license from NBC Studios) released both seasons of
Father Murphy on DVD in Region 1 in 2004/2005.
|
| | Season 1 | 22 | October 26, 2004 |
| | Season 2 | 13 | January 25, 2005 |
External links
