I remember seeing this three part episode as a child but it was nice just seeing it again as an adult. The Grand Canyon trip was a nice addition to the show and broke up it's mundane routine of always being at home/school. I had forgotten about the Ghost Town. Since the producer and Jim Buckus were such good friends it was not surprising to see him. What was strange though is the parents willingness to easily forgive him after leaving them stranded in a jail cell with no food or water and no one around to rescue them. But that's the Brady's. They are never are negative about much at all. Then in the second part it was okay for Cindy and Bobby to wonder off by themselves? Do parents not watch their kids when on vacations? Where were the older siblings? It's not like they were on their smartphones or something. Just didn't find that believable. Also it's obvious the parents don't punish them after they got lost as they felt it was okay to do again to sneak food off the the young Indian boy in the middle of the night. Cindy is awake enough to hear Bobby whistling and can leave the tent without waking anyone esp. Alice? Not believable. Anyway then they end with the family being invited to a tribal ceremony. Not sure how much of that was believable. But all in all I did enjoy watching it again.
5 Reviews
Cowboys and...
safenoe20 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The Brady Bunch wraps up the three-part arc where America's most favorite family travel to the Grand Canyon, and it's interesting with the reference to Indians (this was over half a century ago, yes over 50 years ago!) rather than Native Americans but interestingly if this episode was broadcast in India, the people there would be confused by the reference to Indians I guess.
Anyway, there's a sense of resolution but also loss when the Bradys leave their holiday destination but still, we enjoy it while we can. I would have loved for the Brady Bunch to visit New York City, Florida, Detroit or Oregon.
Anyway, there's a sense of resolution but also loss when the Bradys leave their holiday destination but still, we enjoy it while we can. I would have loved for the Brady Bunch to visit New York City, Florida, Detroit or Oregon.
Questions
anntroxel28 February 2021
Pretty nice cultural treatment for 1969. I don't understand though why they can't say the boy and grandfather are Navajo (ya ta hey grerting). But then the grandfather in the ceremony references buffalo, etc. Which is more Sioux and plains area people. The dancers at the beginning are said to be Hopi. Hopi are near, but Navajo mostly occupy the area. I think the Hopi and Zuni mainly live in towns close together in reservation that sits inside main Navajo reservation. The word "squaw" now known to be offensive to many is used, but for 1969 this was pretty decent, and Jay Silverheels was really native from Canada, not just some white guy woth painted on "Texas mud."
Incredibly awkward Indian portrayal
jdollak23 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This opening three-part episode of the Brady Bunch going to the Grand Canyon is a very strange experience.
First episode, a peculiar gold prospector suspects that the Brady family wants to steal his claim, so he locks them in a jail cell, with no food or water, in a ghost town. Second episode, after escaping the cell, and running into the prospector again, they forgive him, and make it to the canyon. They look around. They watch a variety of native Americans put on stereotypical rain dance. They make their way down the canyon, where Cindy and Bobby wander off and get lost. Third episode, a young native American boy helps point Cindy and Bobby in the right direction. The family gets involved in some conflict between the boy and his family, and everything resolves with an awkwardly stereotyped Indian celebration, which involves doing awkward dances around a fire, giant headdresses, and ceremonial Indian names being conferred on the Brady family.
I have no idea how accurate the portrayal of Native American culture is. But it feels like it was an effort to imitate clichés of older westerns.
Now, it just feels tacky.
The structure of these episodes is unusual, which is probably more interesting. There's a cliffhanger at the end of the first two episodes. However - the way that the Brady family just brushes off the problem of a stranger locking them in a cell without food or water, in the middle of nowhere - is downright bizarre. I can understand optimism, but this seems like they only view their situation as a minor inconvenience.
During the second episode, there's a rare moment of what seems like genuine concern, as Carol worries about the two kids that have gone missing.
Overall, this trio of episodes is underwhelming, but interesting as an artifact of the changing times. It's also indicative of what is a trend toward sillier storytelling, which will probably make the show more endearing over the next season or two.
First episode, a peculiar gold prospector suspects that the Brady family wants to steal his claim, so he locks them in a jail cell, with no food or water, in a ghost town. Second episode, after escaping the cell, and running into the prospector again, they forgive him, and make it to the canyon. They look around. They watch a variety of native Americans put on stereotypical rain dance. They make their way down the canyon, where Cindy and Bobby wander off and get lost. Third episode, a young native American boy helps point Cindy and Bobby in the right direction. The family gets involved in some conflict between the boy and his family, and everything resolves with an awkwardly stereotyped Indian celebration, which involves doing awkward dances around a fire, giant headdresses, and ceremonial Indian names being conferred on the Brady family.
I have no idea how accurate the portrayal of Native American culture is. But it feels like it was an effort to imitate clichés of older westerns.
Now, it just feels tacky.
The structure of these episodes is unusual, which is probably more interesting. There's a cliffhanger at the end of the first two episodes. However - the way that the Brady family just brushes off the problem of a stranger locking them in a cell without food or water, in the middle of nowhere - is downright bizarre. I can understand optimism, but this seems like they only view their situation as a minor inconvenience.
During the second episode, there's a rare moment of what seems like genuine concern, as Carol worries about the two kids that have gone missing.
Overall, this trio of episodes is underwhelming, but interesting as an artifact of the changing times. It's also indicative of what is a trend toward sillier storytelling, which will probably make the show more endearing over the next season or two.
Good Conclusion To The Grand Canyon Story
Jimmy_the_Gent421 July 2020
Bobby and Cindy meet up with the Indian boy Jimmy, who helps them find their camp.
There's a nice scene when the two little kids meet up with their mom, she has tears of joy, she also tells them she cried when they were lost. Bobby says "I guess we make her cry no matter what we do". Jimmy tells Bobby and Cindy he has run away from his grandfather and they promise not to tell they saw him. They meet him later that night to give him some hot dogs. Bobby also brings him some beans in an empty flashlight. The family then meets Jimmy, who tells Mike that he ran away because his grandfather talks only of old Indian ways. He is reunited with his grandfather Chief Eagle Cloud (played by Jay Silverheels who was Tonto on "The Lone Ranger:) I liked the ending where he gives the Brady family Indian names.The entire 3 part episode was one of the best of Season 3.
There's a nice scene when the two little kids meet up with their mom, she has tears of joy, she also tells them she cried when they were lost. Bobby says "I guess we make her cry no matter what we do". Jimmy tells Bobby and Cindy he has run away from his grandfather and they promise not to tell they saw him. They meet him later that night to give him some hot dogs. Bobby also brings him some beans in an empty flashlight. The family then meets Jimmy, who tells Mike that he ran away because his grandfather talks only of old Indian ways. He is reunited with his grandfather Chief Eagle Cloud (played by Jay Silverheels who was Tonto on "The Lone Ranger:) I liked the ending where he gives the Brady family Indian names.The entire 3 part episode was one of the best of Season 3.
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