The show produced (and sometimes directed by) Michael Landon,
Father Murphy" is coming to DVD on
October 26. The title role was played by Merlin Olsen, who had shot to fame as a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, as a member of the "Fearsome Foursome" that terrified their NFL opponents. Olsen showed his gentler side in this series, and Image Entertainment is bringing the 1st Season to DVD:
Family is where you find it in the Wild West! Burly drifter John Murphy (Merlin Olsen) becomes the unlikely caretaker of a group of orphaned children growing up in America's Wild West. Touched by their plight, he poses as a priest with lovely local school teacher Mae Woodward (Katherine Cannon) and his miner buddy (Moses Gunn) assisting with the children. Together this makeshift family gets involved in a series of adventures, encountering unscrupulous businessmen, gamblers, horse rustlers, bank robbers and much more! Created by Little House on the Prairie's Michael Landon and originally aired from 1981 to 1983, Father Murphy provides quality entertainment for the entire family, touchingly exploring the bonds of family and friendship as tested by the trials of life on the rugged frontier.
List price is $49.99 for what looks like 20 episodes plus the double-length pilot. Video and Audio are in the original full-frame and English mono. Here's the cover art:
