Father Murphy - Season 1 (1981)

Synopsis: An accidental family thrown together by fate and circumstance perseveres in the face of hardship on the old American frontier in this heartwarming family TV drama. John Murphy is a drifter who has... An accidental family thrown together by fate and circumstance perseveres in the face of hardship on the old American frontier in this heartwarming family TV drama. John Murphy is a drifter who has arrived in a lawless mining town, immediately clashing with the evil tycoon who runs the community. Joining forces with a fellow miner, Moses, and a homeless young boy, Will, Murphy fights the tycoon's iron rule. When the parents of some local children are killed during a strike at the mine, Murphy becomes their guardian. Posing as a priest, he starts an orphanage, aided by the town's beautiful schoolteacher, Mae. During the eventful first season, the group's adventures range from battling unscrupulous businessmen, run-ins with various gamblers, misfits, villains, and eccentrics. Love blossoms between Murphy and Mae, and the school, while constantly in danger of being shut down by the powers that be, triumphs in the end. Interesting new characters are constantly being introduced into their lives as the story unfolds with humor, compassion, and a nuanced perception of ethics, combining to present an exploration of love, family, friendship, and tolerance. [More]

Starring: Merlin Olsen, Katherine Cannon, Moses Gunn

Starring: Merlin Olsen, Katherine Cannon, Moses Gunn