Well, there's WAGON TRAIN, HAVE GUN....WILL TRAVEL and, of course, THE RIFLEMAN, worthwhile mainly because of great photography and Sam Peckinpah's involvement.... Got to say, though, the best Bonanzas, for this viewer, were the oldest ones, which seem to be currently out of circulation. THE BIG VALLEY I thought was pretty useless, too much soap opera, an affliction BONANZA shares with it. The above series have more nitty gritty, and, IMO, weightier actors, also. Still, a good way to waste an afternoon, as my sister could tell you, I think she watches both of these as well, when she has the time.
I'm a fan of the whole Western thing in general, but now have a problem with the cleaned-up, PG version of Western scenarios. This is why the current HBO show Deadwood is awesome.
The profanity in DEADWOOD is hilarious in the same way it is in Schwarzenegger's TOTAL RECALL: so excessive and over the top you gotta laugh! But, at the same time, it's dishonest, since DEADWOODS may look like 1900(or whenever)but sounds 2004....still, entertaining!
The language on the show is based on research which confirms that people did really talk like that. A lot of the clever swearing we think is so modern is really quite old. Either way, the language on Deadwood is leagues more historically accurate the aw-shucks Gary Cooper talk of Hollywood silver screen's "Golden Age."
I'm a big fan of Westerns as well. I saw Rio Bravo the other day and it's great! A great cast and it's funny too
I have wonderful memories of sitting with my father and watching "Have Gun Will Travel," "Bonanza," and, his favorite "The Rifleman." I remember him saying on that cold February night in '64, as the Ed Sullivan credits rolled and that great David Rose Bonanza theme song came up "now, we get some good TV after that infernal racket." The racket, of course, being the Beatles.
Ed, Do not forget WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE with Steve MacQueen. Now that was a very tough and violent show... Bob
I've been a "TV Western" fan since Childhood, Wyatt Earp was one of my favorites, I have an old 8X10 pic when I was 4 or 5 dressed in my Wyatt Earp outfit! I would switch with the lawman and outlaw/gunfighter as my favorites. Glenn Ford made some neat westerns...check out ,"The Fastest Gun Alive", 3:10 To Yuma, Finally, some Westerns have made it to DVD..(in decent quality) most are PD and suck! There are 8 Volumes of the Rifleman (great quality!)...of course the recent "Have Gun, Will Travel"...I'd love to see more Season Box Sets!
Wild Wild West. Great TV series, awful movie. As a kid, I'd always look forward to The Adventures of Spin and Marty on the Mickey Mouse Club. Friday was round-up day!
My favorite TV western (followed closely by the early 1/2 hour B&W episodes of Gunsmoke) ... I have almost all of the Columbia House VHS ... at a fraction of the $25+ issue price ... thanks to eBay ... what is on DVD? Never mind, I found HGWT on DVD ... I am glad they are putting the episodes out in order ...
Anyone out there remember Cimmaron Strip on CBS? An hour-long show. My favorite western by far. Stuart Whitman as Marshall Jim Crown and Jill Townsend as Dulcey. Jim W
