Western Classics Review

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(More customer reviews)50 westerns, seems like a bargain?! Well... maybe, depending on your tolerance for sub-par film transfers. There are some great films here to be sure, but at least a third are pretty bad transfers, and the rest are mostly just marginal at best. Virtually all of the more commonly available films offered here can be found in significantly better quality elsewhere.
Virtually all of the half dozen or so of the films from the 1960's are total trash - you can not watch these without getting a headache - totally unwatchable!!! For example, check out "The Grand Duel" starring Lee Van Cleef in the sixties - a totally washed out, blurry disaster, probably one of the very worst film transfers I have ever seen on DVD (note: a much better film transfer of this movie is available on the Platinum issued Lee Van Cleef DVD). On the other hand, in this collection you get an early 1940's era film like Howard Hughes' "The Outlaw" in near pristine condition. Most of the other films in this collection fall somewhere in between quality wise.
But, you should be aware that in most cases these same films can be found in significantly better quality in other generally superior DVD collections - see my other Amazon reviews for several examples. Check out "Tough Guys of the West" for a much better collection of 20 similar B-Westerns or check out any of the Platinum issued DVDs included in "The Great American Western" series.
Included in this collection are several commonly found Roy Rogers and Gene Autry films - however, these are mostly just copies from fuzzy VHS and as a result most of them have a slight out of focus look to them - you get used to it after awhile and you can watch them o.k., but just be warned that the quality is somewhat lower than your average VHS tape. I have found that the Madacy or Platinum issued Roy Rogers films are generally as good and in some cases better film transfers than what you find in this collection (see my review for the Madacy issued Roy Rogers DVDs). Also, you might want to check out the Roan Group issued DVDs for some other Roy Rogers titles not included here in this collection (see my review for more details on those great DVDs).
And then you have the Tex Ritter and Bob Steele films - these appear to be actually mastered from original 16mm or 35mm film - the only problem is that they tend to have a lot of scratches and splices at certain points. In one Tex Ritter film the soundtrack gets out of synch with the action and talking for about 20 minutes. But even so, you do get a reasonably sharp image direct from film instead of a third rate, fuzzy VHS copy. And often these films run for quite a long time without any problems and when problems do pop up it's only for a minute or two - in other words, you can mostly enjoy the films without eye strain. Even so, I will warn you that these particular early Bob Steele and Tex Ritter films are not really that great even considering the time period and the genre. Both Tex and Bob have made better films than the ones offered in this collection - these are mostly just "o.k." performances - nothing great.
If you like Bob Steele you should check out a superior performance in the film credited to Roy Rogers, "The Carson City Kid" which is included in this collection. This is an early Roy Rogers (pre-Dale Evans) film which co-stars Bob Steele. "Carson City Kid" is very enjoyable, but again, as noted above, the transfer of the Roy Rogers films here are not very sharp (the one put out by Madacy, for example, while still not perfect, is far better than the transfer included in this collection, while the one issued by Platinum easily has the best best picture of all, but that soundtrack is easily the worst! So, take your pick!) - but, in any case, my point is that Bob Steele's performance as the bad guy in this film is much better than the other earlier films he stars in that are included in this collection.
"Vengence Valley" with Burt Lancaster is in color and a great movie, but the image here is not very sharp and the color is severely faded out as if copied from a VHS copy someone left on the dashboard of the car a bit too long! I have the version issued by Platinum and it is nearly perfect with pretty good color and very sharp looking. Get the Platinum version and avoid the one in this collection!
"The Kansan" and "Abilene Town" are both really great movies, but here they are both particularly fuzzy looking - again, another case of bad transfers from VHS? "Abilene Town", for example, can be found in much, much better quality on the "Tough Guys of the West" DVD collection (see my review for "Tough Guys of the West"). "The Kansan" is also available on Alpha Video and while Alpha has a very mixed track record for some of these films, their version in this case is much better than the one in this collection - see my Amazon review).
The early John Wayne films are also a mixed bag - most are fuzzy looking, but some might actually be from film instead of VHS copies - it's hard to tell. "McLintock" from 1963 is basically trash in this collection - very fuzzy and very faded color. Please also note that "McLintock" is being released very shortly (or has been released by the time you read this) by the John Wayne estate on DVD - you will probably want get that one!
Better film transfers of some of these early Lone Star Production John Wayne films (at least not any worse and in some cases significantly better) can found on the Roan Group DVD, "The Early Years Collection." I have a much better, near perfect DVD transfer of "Angel and the Bad Man" (from Good Times) compared to the fuzzy version you find in this set.
A couple of other films are rare in that I have never seen them offered on DVD before, so you might need to get this set for those. "Billy the Kid Trapped" and "Arizona Stagecoach" for instance are ones I had never seen before on DVD - I found both to be very enjoyable and are from film transfers, but again with a lot of splices and scratches at various points - but still very enjoyable and very watchable. I don't think any of the Tex Ritter films are available elsewhere. The same Bob Steele films in this collection are also offered on Alpha Video DVDs, but I don't know if they are in any better condition on Alpha than what you find here in this collection, but my guess is you would likely be better off with the Alpha versions.
So, the bottom line is that you should get this if;
(1) You need a good copy of "The Outlaw" - it's the only film here that is in pristine condition.
(2) You need to have the few films that only appear in this DVD collection and nowhere else.
(3) You don't want to spend a lot of money, and don't care about quality, yet you want to sample a lot of early B-Westerns to get some idea of what the genre looks like. Actually, on second thought, you would be far, far better off in getting the 10 DVD 20 movie collection "Tough Guys of the West" if that is your goal. That collection gives you a much better bargain in terms of quality than the "50 Western Classics."
Here's another tip for you. If you are looking at B-Westerns for the first time you might want to check out the Hopalong Cassidy films offered by Platinium - there are 40 films total on 5 DVD volumes that you can get really cheap! Some vendors sell these for less than two dollars a disc (each disc has 5 films on it)! Do the math - with shipping you are looking at about $1 per film. And they are in absolute pristine condition! Check it out - the Hopalong Cassidy films are among the very best B-Westerns ever made. The Red Ryder series is also available on DVD issued by VCI and I have seen most of them - they are great films with pretty good film transfers - you will not be disappointed in those.
Here is the complete list of films in this set:
John Wayne:
Angel and the Badman
Blue Steel
McLintock
Sagebush Trail
Hell Town
Roy Rogers:
The Carson City Kid
Colorado
Young Bill Hickok
In Old Caliente
Rough Riders Round-Up
Sheriff of Tombstone
My Pal Trigger
Cowboy and the Senorita
Bells of San Angelo
Under California Stars
Tex Ritter:
Rollin Plains
Sing Cowboy Sing
The Mystery of the Hooded Horseman
Arizona Days
Song of the Gringo
Springtime in the Rockies
Gene Autry:
Round-Up Time in Texas
Man of the Frontier
Riders of the Whistling Pines
Bob Steele:
Paroled To Die
The Oklahoma Cyclone
Bruce Bennett:
Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer
Vengeance Valley starring Burt Lancaster
Billy the Kid Trapped starring Buster Crabbe
Kentucky Rifle starring Chill Wills
Painted Desert starring George O'Brien
It Can Be Done Amigo starring Jack Palance
Gone with the West starring James Caan
The Outlaw starring Jane Russell
White Comanche starring Joseph Cotton
Phantom Rancher starring Ken Maynard
The Grand Duel starring Lee Van Cleef
Mohawk starring Neville Brand
Abilene Town and 7th Cavalry starring Randolph Scott
Arizona Stagecoach starring Ray "Crash" Corrigan
Broadway to Cheyenne starring Rex Bell
The Santa Fe Trail starring Errol Flynn
American Empire starring Richard Dix
The Kansan starring Richard Dix
Gunfight at Red Sands starring Richard Harrison
Stagecoach to Denver starring Robert Blake
The Sundowners starring Robert Preston
China 9, Liberty 37 starring Warren Oates
Judge Priest starring Will Rogers


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Get an instant library of some of the greatest western classics ever to come out of Hollywood on twelve double-sided DVDs. Never has such a comprehensive collection of great classic western features been assembled in one exciting package, all for an amazingly low price!
Included:
Abilene Town
American Empire
Angel and the Badman
Arizona Days
Arizona Stagecoach
Bells of San Angelo
Billy the Kid Trapped
Blue Steel
Broadway to Cheyenne
Carson City Kid, The
China 9, Liberty 37
Colorado
Cowboy and the Senorita
Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer
Gone with the West
Grand Duel, The
Gunfight at Red Sands
Hell Town
In Old Caliente
It Can Be Done Amigo
Judge Priest
Kansan, The
Kentucky Rifle
Man of the Frontier
McLintock
Mohawk
My Pal Trigger
Mystery of the Hooded Horsemen, The
Oklahoma Cyclone, The
Outlaw, The
Painted Desert
Paroled To Die
Phantom Rancher
Riders of the Whistling Pines
Rollin' Plains
Rough Riders' Round-Up
Round-Up Time in Texas
Sagebrush Trail
Santa Fe Trail
Sheriff of Tombstone
Sing, Cowboy, Sing
Song of the Gringo
Springtime in the Rockies
Stagecoach to Denver
Sundowners, The
Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts
Under California Stars
Vengeance Valley
White Comanche
Young Bill Hickok

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Pawn Stars: The Complete Season One Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the only show I watch regularly because I learn about collectible items, about the pawn business, and negotiating. It is set in Las Vegas and is truly watchable and unique. The show is corny and unintentionally funny but the episodes are well constructed and edited which keeps your interest and the characters are genuine.

Rick Harrison is the main character of the show. He is a competent and likable guy who laughs at his own jokes. He has the most screen time each show. Often people have items that he does not know the value of, and they have to call an expert in to appraise it. Rick has a bunch of experts who probably wish they never met him because he constantly calls them, but that is what makes the show interesting. The funniest thing is that the expert then appraises the item right in front of the seller. Rick's negotiation style is to listen to what the customer wants and then counter with 40% of whatever they want. So if they want $100 he offers $40 and then talks about how the item is deficient, how he has to make a profit, blah blah blah. Then whether he buys the item or not they have a cut away interview with him and he'll say, "This time the price wasn't right so we couldn't make a deal."

Old Man is the patriarch of the family and by far the best negotiator. It does not matter what price the seller wants for an item, Old Man acts like he is offended, surprised, and automatically says "no way." He is such a tough bargainer that I don't think I have ever seen him actually buy anything. If it wasn't for Corey and Rick they would have an empty store. Also, he keeps a big calendar by his desk so we know exactly the month of the show, so the Christmas show was going on and his calendar said "October".

Corey is the youngest and likable enough because he has so much disdain for the people who come in his pawn shop. He is perpetually buying things that need massive restoration. A guy will come in with a big block of aluminum with fiber glass sticking out of it and say it was an expensive plane that caught on fire and that if restored will be worth major money and he wants $4000.00 for it. Then Corey will buy it for $5,000 and then we get the drama with his dad, Rick. Then Rick will be in a cut away interview and act upset and be like "Corey needs to learn that he can't buy crap like this." And then Corey will say, "But it will be worth a million dollars once we get it restored." Lulz. I like the restorers though especially if it's a boat because then we see Bill the boat restorer who talks funny. He will say: "Dish boat ish a clashick, back in da day dish was cutting edgish."
Chumlee is reality TV comic relief driftwood. People will bring in an item that is old like a record player or something and he will make the same Old Man is Old joke. "Hey Old Man, this guy has..um... your ... um.. childhood ipod here...huh huh." Anyway, best show on TV, check it out.


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It s one of the oldest forms of banking, and until the 1950s, it was the leading form of consumer credit in the U.S. See the fascinating past and present of the pawning business in Pawn Stars, an inside look at the only family-run pawn shop in Las Vegas, where three generations of men grandfather, father and son use their sharp-eyed skills to carefully assess the value of items ranging from the obscure to the historic. From a 15th-century samurai sword to a Picasso painting, there isn t much the Harrison family hasn t seen or heard, inevitably making Richard, Rick and Corey experts in rare collectables and negotiating. Each episode of Pawn Stars features an array of quirky characters attempting to sell, purchase or pawn items that the Harrisons must carefully appraise, determine if they re real or fake and then reveal the often surprising answer to What s it worth? Everything and everyone has a story and it s the Harrisons job to decipher fact from fiction, because in this business the customer isn t always right.

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Alias Smith And Jones: Seasons 2 & 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)Updated on April 11, 2010.
I have not yet received the AS&J Seasons 2 and 3 DVD set that I ordered from Amazon (because the official release date has not yet arrived). However, I do have a copy of this set that I purchased at a brick and mortar store.
The video and audio quality is excellent! This is the first time that I've seen a bright, vivid, clear version of the second season opener "The Day They Hanged Kid Curry" since 1971! It is absolutely wonderful. The other episodes are great, too. The recordings on the DVDs appear to be the wonderfully remastered versions of the 50-minute episodes that Starz Encore Westerns aired on TV from 2005-2007.
Since the Amazon listing does not provide much detail at present, here's what the set contains. There are 35 episodes on 6 DVDs. All have 6 episodes per DVD except the first one, which include the 75-minute episode "The Day They Hanged Kid Curry." There are no "extras" on the DVDs. The DVDs are in three black plastic cases and the entire set is in a cardboard case. I think that the case graphics are gorgeous. There is a great picture of Heyes and Curry on the front (which can be seen at the website for Timeless Media Group, who was licensed from Universal Studios to put out the DVDs). On the back of the black cases, there is a short description of each episode. The descriptions are helpful, although they aren't always totally accurate (e.g., the blonde female character in "Only Three to a Bed" wasn't married as the box says). The show's description on the back on the main cardboard case also has some errors (e.g., AS&J originally aired on ABC, not NBC). But, this certainly does not take away from the wonderful DVDs.
"Alias Smith and Jones" is my favorite TV show of all time. I'm an original fan from 1971. The series is a wonderful mix of charm, action, humor, and wit. It has held up over time extremely well. I am very happy that all 50 episodes are now available on commercial DVD sets.
Thank you to Timeless Media Group and Universal Studios for this wonderful release. I'm sure that it will be a big hit with fans of "Alias Smith and Jones." I hope that this release and its availability at Amazon.com will cause new people to discover this wonderful show.
Edited on April 11, 2010: Now that I have had time to watch more of the DVDs, I have a few comments to add.
The second reviewer questioned whether these episodes were remastered. I believe that they are the remastered versions which aired on Starz Encore Westerns from 2005-2007 (except with more file compression, as I'll mention below). For example, take the scene from "Smiler with a Gun" where Heyes and Curry find Seth's body in the desert. In the original films, including the unremastered version airing online at Hulu (Hulu appears to be airing a remastered season 1, but unremastered seasons 2 and 3), there's a boom mike hanging over Heyes and Curry as they discuss the dead Seth. This boom mike is gone from the remastered episode that aired on Encore Westerns. It is also missing from the commercial DVDs, showing that they were remastered. However, even on the remastered prints, there are flaws in frames of the film in the stock desert footage; the remastering was not perfect and some episodes look better than others.
Also, it's obvious that the second season opener, "The Day They Hanged Kid Curry," was not remastered at the same time as the other episodes. This episode originally aired in a 90-minute timeslot and was not shown on Encore Westerns in 2005-2007, when they aired remastered versions of the 48 episodes that originally aired in 60-minute timeslots. "They Day They Hanged Kid Curry" that is on the commercial DVDs has very vivid colors (sometimes too vivid, which I compensated for by setting down the chroma on my TV), with more color saturation than the other episodes. It was remastered, but probably by a different person than remastered the other episodes. (By the way, I have 5 versions of this episode that were recorded from TV to VCR over the past 25 years and the version on the commercial DVD set is far better than any of them-with brighter colors and a sharper picture. For me, just getting a good version of "They Day They Hanged Kid Curry" was worth the price of the DVD set.)
In 2005, I recorded all of the 50-minute AS&J episodes at the highest quality homemade DVD mode from digital cable TV when they aired on Starz Encore Westerns. My personal recordings have a picture quality that is somewhat sharper than those on the commercial DVDs. As for the color and audio of the commercial DVDs, both are excellent, although I do occasionally see a faint purple band running vertically through the commercial versions on some episodes that I don't see in my own recordings from Encore (e.g., the initial chase scene in "The Posse That Wouldn't Quit"). This may be a compression artifact. I believe that commercial DVDs used the gorgeous remastered versions from Encore Westerns, but in order to fit 5 or 6 episodes onto a disc they compressed the file size to about 1.5 Gb. My recordings from Encore Westerns in highest quality homemade DVD mode are 3.8 Gb per 50-minute episode. On smaller screen TVs or computer screens or older lower quality TVs, the loss of sharpness is probably not obvious, but on a larger flat screen high definition TV it could be noticeable.
Incidentally, the AS&J season 1 DVDs, produced by Universal Playback and released in 2007, were 4 episodes per DVD, meaning less compression. I suspect that this is why the second reviewer observed them to have better picture quality than the seasons 2 and 3 DVD set.

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Alias Smith and Jones - Seasons 2 & 3! One of the most popular Western series of the 1970's, "Alias Smith and Jones" aired on NBC for three years, from 1971-1973. In the tradition of the hit movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, "Alias Smith and Jones" follows the exploits of former Devil's Hole Gang leaders Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes, a pair of successful and popular outlaws trying to go straight after a lifetime of mostly non-violent banditry.Settling in a small western town, Curry/Jones and Heyes/Smith must stay out of trouble for an indefinite period of time to earn the pardon the Governor will grant if they can keep to the straight and narrow. In the meantime, they are fair game for the bounty hunters and the long arm of the law trying to put them away for good. Only the silver tongue of Heyes/Smith and the fast draw of Curry/Jones, (plus occasional help from their friends on both sides of the law!) keep them out of the hoosegow.Starring Ben Murphy and Pete Duel as the two charming rogues, the series features a strong cast of recurring characters, including Burl Ives (Big Mac McCreedy) and Walter Brennan (Silky O'Sullivan), as well as an outstanding roster of guest stars including Rory Calhoun, Jack Cassidy, Neville Brand, Anne Archer, Chill Wills, Slim Pickens and John Russell, many of whom made multiple appearances on the show.Narrator Roger Davis took on the role of Hannibal Heyes, following the untimely and unfortunate death of Pete Duel during the second season.

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Gunsmoke: The Second Season, Vol. 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is classic TV at its best. The transfers are beautiful, the sound is excellent and show, what can I say. This is television the way it was meant to be. I only hope they continue to produce this series until the end. I see so many vintage TV shows start off only to be pulled after one or two seasons. I for one will continue to buy these releases regardless of cost of how they are split up. Lets face it, the studios do not have to release these wonderful shows on DVD. It is just a little extra cash for them. So they can pull the plug anytime they wish. So fans, lets keep supporting the release of this and other great TV from the 50's and 60's.

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Marshal Matt Dillon is responsible for keeping the law and respectability in Dodge City in this western action-drama. Gunsmoke captured the courage, character and spirit of the Western Frontier.

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Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season Two Review

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(More customer reviews)The Second season was the peak in this short lived show, it lasted for only Three seasons and 94 episodes. After placing 16th out of the best 30 TV shows in the First Season, the Second season placed even higher when it placed 9th out of the best 30 TV shows during the period from October 1959 until April 1960, having 28.7% of viewers, according to the Nielsen rating (The Nielsen rating is the percent of all TV-equipped homes tuned to the program on an average night, as measured by Nielsen Media Research).
The Second season consisted of 32 episodes and they are as follows:

37- Montana Kid 9/5/1959
38- The Healing Woman 9/12/1959
39- The Matchmaker 9/19/1959
40- Breakout 9/26/1959
41- Estralita 10/3/1959
42- The Hostage 10/10/1959
43- The Empty Cell 10/17/1959
44- Bad Gun 10/24/1959
45- The Tyrant 10/31/1959
46- Reckless 11/7/1959
47- Desert Seed 11/14/1959
48- Twelve Hours to Crazy Horse 11/21/1959
49- No Trail Back 11/28/1959
50- Man on Horseback 12/5/1959
51- Chain Gang 12/12/1959
52- Vanishing Act 12/26/1959
53- Mental Lapse 1/2/1960
54- Angela 1/9/1960
55- The Monster 1/16/1960
56- The Most Beautiful Woman 1/23/1960
57- Jason 1/30/1960
58- The Partners 2/6/1960
59- Tolliver Bender 2/13/1960
60- A House Divided 2/20/1960
61- Triple Vice 2/27/1960
62- Black Belt 3/19/1960
63- The Pariah 3/26/1960
64- Vendetta 4/9/1960
65- Death Divided by Three 4/23/1960
66- The Inheritance 4/30/1960
67- Prison Trail 5/14/1960
68- Pay-Off at Pinto 5/21/1960
I am very happy that we only have the Third season left before we own the whole set. I hope the 3rd season will follow soon after this season.
Thank you for reading my review and have a wonderful day :)


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Josh Randall (McQueen) was not a typical rough-hewn bounty hunter of the Old West; he was a consummate gentleman who many times gave away half - or even all - of his reward money to charity. He was a man of few words and he carried a Winchester sawed-off shotgun, which he wore on his belt and fondly called his Mare's Leg. Originally aired on CBS from 1958 - 1961, Wanted: Dead or Alive was the TV series that launched Steve McQueen back into the film industry in the western classic The Magnificent Seven. This long awaited second season release features all 32 episodes from the 1959-1960 season.

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The Virginian - The Complete Season Two - 30 Full Color Episodes 10 DVD Set in a COLLECTIBLE EMBOSSED TIN Review

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(More customer reviews)I started out watching westerns about two years ago and my passion for them was mostly due to The Big Valley. This show never even crossed my radar until about 4 weeks ago and even then it took a while for me to get into, but now I'm so addicted to it that hardly a moment passes when I don't mention it. People are starting to get irritated too. It's a great show and worth a watch! The episodes are restored wonderfully on the release of Season 1. I can't wait for the release of season 2!

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The Virginian - The Complete Season Two - 30 full color episodes! Special Embossed Tin!Owen Wister's 1902 western novel The Virginian was one of the first great novels of the American West. Set in the semi-mythical town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming in the 1890s, it chronicled the lives and relationships of the people who came west and settled the wild land. Starring James Drury in the title role, The Virginian was the first 90 minute television western, airing in prime time on NBC from 1962-1971. The stellar cast included Lee J. Cobb, Doug McClure, Gary Clark and Roberta Shore, and each week brought talented guest stars to The Virginian. Season Two's line-up includes Joan Blondell, Broderick Crawford, Everett Sloan, Pat O'Brien, Iron Eyes Cody, Jane Wyatt and many more!

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Tate Review

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(More customer reviews)Timeless Media Group has done Western lovers a huge favor by releasing episodes from some classic television Westerns that have been largely forgotten. They released collections for Cimmarron City (starring George Montgomery), The Tall Man (Barry Sullivan), Laredo (Neville Brand, Peter Brown, William Smith, Phillip Carey), Riverboat (Darren McGavin and Burt Reynolds), and the fantastic Restless Gun (John Payne).
But the other collection they have released would be even easier to overlook. A 13 episode series aired as a summer replacement with a possibilty to be a midseason replacement. Shot on tape instead of film. The star was famous as the Marlboro Man on TV commercials (and would eventually die of lung cancer). A gunfighter hero with only one arm. The series, called Tate, never caught on. And all we have to remember it by are these 13 episodes.
But what a great Western Tate was, and it is great to be able to enjoy the series almost fifty years later. David McLean played Tate, who fought with the Confederacy during the Civil War and lost the use of his left arm at Vicksburg. After the war, he covered the arm is black leather, put it in a sling, and went to work as a gunfighter for hire/bounty hunter. With only a Kansas City PO Box for an address, Tate rode all over the West, hoping to make enough money to afford surgery that a St Louis doctor said might help his arm.
McLean's Tate was very much like the typical genre-issue gunfighter, but in some ways he was very atypical. Like most, he was fast on the draw, hired out to good guys only, was nice to kids and women, and figured out a way to win every time. But unlike other gunfighters of the time, he could be crusty, harsh, and at times unpleasant - kind of precursor to the Man With No Name and other 60's-70s era gunfighters.
Tate would have made a great 60's Western. Too bad it never had the chance, but at least we have this collection to remember it.

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Tate is a unique western in many respects, although it aired as a summer replacement for only one season. One of the only westerns ever produced on video tape, not film, Tate stars David McLean (well known as The Marlboro Man in countless commercials) as Tate, a veteran of the Civil War who wanders the west looking for work as a bounty hunter and gun-for-hire, much like Paladin in Have Gun-Will Travel. Tate cut an imposing figure, his left arm covered in black leather from his finger tips to the elbow from a gunshot wound suffered in the War. This three DVD set contains all thirteen well-crafted episodes of Tate, with appearences by many outstanding guest stars, including Robert Redford, Warren Oates, James Coburn, Martin Landau, Royal Dano, Leonard Nimoy and one episode directed by the great actress Ida Lupino.

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Have Gun Will Travel - The First Three Seasons (1957) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, I love half-hour dramas. They are a holdover from radio where executives thought that a half hour was as long as they could hold an audience. When TV began they took what they learned on radio and transferred it. (Interestingly, HGWT was the only TV show to spawn a radio show - usually it was the reverse.) The format trims the fat and makes for taut story-telling. So you've got a great format and another key ingredient - Richard Boone, a terrific actor. He was Paladin "a soldier of fortune in a savage land" named by TV Guide as one of the all time 100 top tv characters. A refined gentleman in San Francisco who dons a black cowboy outfit to work as a troubleshooter to afford his refined tastes. Oh, and let's not forget the writing. Many of the episodes were written by none other than Gene Roddenberry, honing his skill that would be evident in Star Trek. His scripts are always clever and thoughtful - a must for trek fans especially the episode where three lovely mail-order brides arrive under suspicious circumstances for some lonely ranchers (shades of Mudd's Women!)The bottom line is this series will spoil you for real entertainment. And the transfers are top of the line quality. If you love westerns, you've got to have this series. If you don't love westerns, get this series anyway. You'll see the error of your ways.

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Professional gunfighter Paladin (Richard Boone) was a West Pointe graduate who, after the Civil War, settled into San Francisco's Hotel Carlton where he awaited responoses to his business card: over the picture of a chess knight "Have Gun - Will Travel...Wire Paladin, San Francisco."

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Rawhide - Season Two, Vols. 1 & 2 (1959) Review

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(More customer reviews)This 2 pack is an outstanding value and is a dream come true! Thank you Paramount! The series is outstanding and details of the old west are staggering. Gil will stagger you and Rowdy is amazing!
New episodes are finally available! I'm overjoyed that Paramount is continuing the series The episode "Incident at Red River Station" in this set alone is worth the price of the entire boxed set many, many times over. I'd pay a lot more than what they are charging for Rawhide, the finest of the Silver Screen Westerns.
Clint is fantastic. Rowdy sings in "Incident of the Hostages", "The Pitchwagon", and several other episodes. Clint is fantastic!
Eric/Gil is so much a man that he reminds us all of the bygone he-man era! Great role model. I can't wait to see Eric in these episodes. Both Clint and Eric are outdoorsmen and it shows.
Eric lived outdoors much of his life, so stands that he looks and feels so comfortable in the outdoor settings.
Guest stars are the finest I've ever seen. (James Coburn is excellent in `Incident of the Hostage Child" coming up in later seasons)
I've been waiting for years for the continuation of the series. This boxed set release is the farthest anyone had marched forward with in the series and in fact these episodes have never before been viewed by the general public in their uncut versions! Our dream of perfectly remastered, uncut episodes is finally starting to come true!
This is a tremendous series. The per episode cost is almost exactly the same as the Season 1 boxed set. ($1.87 per episode vs. $1.67 per episode for season 1)so it's very affordable. The half season format is great as it keeps the overall cost low so as to be affordable for all. After waiting 40+ years for this series, (40 painful agonizing years), I can only call this a dream come true from Paramount! After the cruel betrayal of Columbia House this release is a critical step in the continuation of the series (CH started making DVDs in 2003 and then stopped in 2004 but they did a poor job of marketing, now in the capable hands of Paramount we are finally making real progress.) ( CH had made episodes available through early episodes in season 2, at the price of approximately $28 per 3 or 4 episodes)! (Columbia House had so cruelly betrayed us in 2004 when they stopped making DVDs and only got as far as a few episodes into Season 2 at seven times the price!)
Thank you, Paramount for continuing with the series farther than anyone else and making dreams come true! Please continue with the remaining episodes! And thank you also for making this series so low cost!
I eagerly await viewing uncut, perfectly remastered episodes. Sure will look great on a big screen and I can't wait for more! I sure am getting tired of the series they make nowadays, all flash and color and little substance and attention to detail. The series is focused on human feelings instead of special affects which makes it far superior to so many shows they make nowadays. They have really forgotten how to tell a good story nowadays. That's why we need Rawhide in our viewing all the more.
Here's a great editorial review for Rawhide below
Like anyone growing up in the late fifties and early sixties I watched as much television as possible. Remember that this was the era of the eleven inch, black and white screen, the single three inch speaker and the universal remote was the youngest family member who had to get up to turn the knobs. This was also the golden years of television. The series that were around back then created the genres that are still around decades later. There was also something special about TV back then, it was the era of the western. Every single boy had a cowboy hat, boots and play six shooter. Even the girls refused to be left out and clamored for a fringe skirt cowgirl outfit and hat. The vast majority of television programming was dedicated to the American old west. Every network, all three of them, filled their schedules with one variation of the theme after another. Most of those series are now only a small footnote in the history of television. Several remain today as cult classics and the undisputed leaders in this field. After `Gunsmoke' one TV western still stands above the rest `Rawhide'. This was `THE' show to watch back then. We kids would put on our cowboy gear, make the coffee table into a covered wagon and sit there mesmerized by the action. This is more than an old television show; for many of us this is a piece of our personal history.
The folks over at Paramount Pictures have the most incredible vault of classic television series imaginable. Anybody would love to be able to sit there for a month or two watching the myriad of shows they have on tap. Since this is not a likely prospect it is very fortunate that Paramount has been in a sharing mood. Lately they have been bringing out DVD set after set of series from these golden years. Now they have the second volume of the second season and like the previous ones, it is fantastic. The thing about `Rawhide' is it may have been one of the most famous television westerns but it was not very typical of the genre. Most westerns had the required action. There were good guys with white hats and bad one wearing black and the Native Americans, `Indians' back then, where rarely more than savages. Rawhide took a different slant. It was a dramatic series that just happened to be set in the old west. The six-shooter was there but not as important as the moral and emotional dilemmas the characters faced each week. The stories were centered on the characters over mindless action. It was possible to do this back then. Now so much of television has degenerated into mindless pap that it is easy to forget just how powerful this medium is. In those days everything was new and the studios were willing to take a chance. Rawhide stands the test of time because it dared to be different. So bring in the youngsters and let them see television the way it was meant to be. If they complain just make them stand behind the TV holding a set of rabbit ear antennas like we had to.
The premise of the series is elegant in its simplicity following the lives a group of cowboys working on a cattle drive. Many westerns showed cowboys riding around, shooing cattle now and again but it always felt like the cowpokes really didn't have a whole lot to do. This series depicted the arduous struggle to move a heard of cattle from one location to another. It was a daily hardship battling the weather, rustlers, the cattle and even each other. The drama of the series came organically from the realism of the characters and stories. These were the kind of men that built the west. At the head of the chain of command is Gil Favor (Eric Fleming), the trail boss. He is the one in command of the drovers and support staff on the drive. He is a man who has been around and seen it all. Although he is grizzled and tough he is also fair. His right hand man is Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood), the ramrod. It is up to him to work along side the men making sure they do things right. While the men keep the cattle in line it is up to Rowdy to keep them moving in the right direction. Also in constant attendance is Wishbone (Paul Brinegar) the camp cook. He you are responsible for providing a group of hungry cowboys with chow you have to be ready for just about anything. He depends on his assistant Mushy (James Murdock). One of the senior wranglers is Hey Soos (Robert Cabal) he is not a stranger to getting into trouble. Usually there to scout out the land ahead is Pete Nolan (Sheb Wooley).
This series doesn't look or feel like a television show at all. It is more like short, 50 minute, movies. The production quality here is spectacular. There is more emphasis on the plot than action. The fight scenes are just a small part of the series and this set it apart from the large pack of westerns back then. Life on a long cattle drive was shown in a realistic fashion. On such a trek boredom was the real enemy. Cowpokes looking for some excitement on their down time would head off to the nearest town and typically get into some mess or another. There are also plenty of slice of life shots. In one the men side around the chuck wagon, the center of cattle drive society, and grab a snack, mend their clothes, get in a snooze or tend to their saddles. These quite times were usually disrupted by some form of mayhem. Either it is a group of cattle rustlers out to steal the heard or an Indiana attack that forces the cowboys into action. Each episode was titles `Incident at ...' which is extremely fitting. These stories are notable incidents on an otherwise routine cattle drive.
Every episode begins with Gil waxing philosophically about some aspect of his line of work. Whether it is how the good Lord swells a little stream so it takes days to cross or the economics of bringing in the heard on time and in sellable shape Gil gets to show off his deeper side. This was also the series that made a star out of Clint Eastwood. He is more than an actor; he is a true renaissance man who has achieved fame as an actor, director, jazz musician, composer and even a politician. This is where it all began for him. He could stare down the meanest bad guy with a single stare and if necessary back it up with his six-shooter. Also gaining a good deal of fame here was the singer of the theme song, Frankie Lane. This song has lived on long after the series was cancelled and is known throughout the world.
Paramount certainly took care of the original elements of this series. The black and white full screen video is incredibly clear. There is a little speck every so often but over all the video is excellent. This is better than I remember the show ever being. the Dolby 2.0 mono is clear and without flaw. These episodes are completely re-mastered and it shows. Typical of an older television set for Paramount there are no extras included. That really doesn't matter here; the series is a great buy on its own. This is a must have for everyone that appreciates quality television.

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Item Name: Rawhide - Season Two, Vols. 1 & 2; Studio:Paramount

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Alias Smith & Jones - Season One (1971) Review

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(More customer reviews)Finally this classic western is released to DVD! Universal has done a fine job the shows themselves look extremely good (with just a bit of dirt and grit during the opening montage for each episode--probably due to the original source elements). We get the entire first season of the series as well as the TV movie that essentially served as a pilot episode for the series. While the tone differed a bit from the pilot, the series is equally as good with top notch production values and acting.
The story revolves around Hannibal Heyes (Pete Duel) and Kid Curry (Ben Murphy)a pair of robbers who never killed anyone as they broke the law (although interestingly, Roger Davis who went on to play Hannibal Heyes played a villian that WAS killed by Curry)during the regular season. They're given an option to go straight by the governor (they see a handbill offering amnesty to criminals who haven't committed any murders)--if they can stay clean for an entire year. It'll be their secret until the 12 months (probably in case it fails) are up but that also means the guys are fair game for bounty hunters who may discover their identity. Trouble follows them wherever they go though and they end up performing one good deed after another hoping that they don't get caught in the gun of someone's crosshairs since the original wanted poster still says "Dead or Alive".
The first season set include the pilot movie plus the first 14 episodes of the show (the show was a mid-season replacement which is why it doesn't have a full season of 22-24 episodes). While clearly inspired by "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" the film achieves its own quirky tone by the first regular season episode. Duel and Murphy's charm and chemistry on camera is immediately evident. 30 plus years later the show still retains its charm.
The show looks good in its first ever DVD presentation. Colors have faded a bit (but that's to be expected given the age of the show)and some of the stock footage (including the opening for the pilot)has some dirt, grit and a bit of wear and tear evident but overall the show looks darn good. The guest star list is a who's who of TV from the 70's including Early Holliman, Forrest Tucker and Susan Saint and James Drury--just in the pilot episode alone! Later guest stars would include Burl Ives, Slim Pickens and Sally Field among many others.
The lone extra here is a commentary track by co-creator/co-writer/producer Glen A. Larson. While there are some stretches of silence Larson's comments are intelligent, observant and has trivia about how the series came to be produced. He notes that the amnesty plot that makes the series different from other westerns was real and, in fact, was offered to Butch and Sundance as well as the real Kid Curry. When news of the amnesty was delayed, they got mad and robbed a bank blowing their chance of receiving it!
While we did get Alias Smith And Jones: Seasons 2 & 3 the second set looks a bit rough at times (although the best looking episodes rival those seen here). Unfortunately, the second boxed set with seasons 2 & 3 don't have any extras that are worthwhile although the longer season opener from season two is included. You can also buy the entire series repackaged as Alias Smith and Jones - The Complete Series! 50 episodes on 10 DVDs!.

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ALIAS SMITH AND JONES:SEASON ONE - DVD Movie

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Tales of Wells Fargo - The Best of the Color Season - 22 episodes Review

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(More customer reviews)The first 4 years of imaginative and action-packed B&W episodes were much better. This final color season (expanded from 30 to 60 minutes) was a disappointment. The combination of a recurring supporting cast (who frequently over-acted), the tiring backdrop of Jim Hardy's ranch & nearby town, and a drawn-out (sometimes silly) story-line resulted in a boring TV experience. I devoured the B&W boxed set of earlier episodes, but couldn't get past the first two discs here. Even Dale Robertson (whom I love) couldn't rescue the series. Sorry, my expectations were much higher.

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Tales of Wells Fargo - The Best of the Color Season - 22 episodes!Dale Robertson, the iconic western actor whose narration and on-camera presence as Agent Jim Hardie gave this show charm and realism. He was joined week after week by the cream of Hollywood and tv actors, in tightly scripted stories of life in the mid 1800's American West. For the sixth and last season, the show expanded to a full hour, in color.

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The Virginian - Complete First Season on 10 DVDs - Limited Edition Embossed Collector's Tin Plus Bonus Interview DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)I couldn't wait for the May release of this fine series either so I picked it up at Sam's Club. This has to be the most beautifully photographed of all the classic TV Westerns. Another reviewer mentioned each episode was like a mini-movie, and this is true.
The storylines are credible and entertaining, and the cast is stellar. LJ Cobb is in a category by himself, of course, but having watched the first two seaons on Encore Westerns (and then again on the DVDs) I'd forgotten what a genuinely good actor James Drury was. Ditto for Clu Gulagher and Doug McClure. And while I am enjoying the later episodes, I must confess I miss Gary Clarke's "Steve" and the chemistry the three main leads--Drury, McClure and Clarke--displayed during the first two seasons.
One of the things I find enjoyable is how "real" the series plays. The guy that played Randy carps about this in the book written about the series (especially how the horses were handled?) but I beg to differ. Within the constraints of the time it was filmed--the 60s and 70s when all the actresses had the wrong hair and makeup for the Victorian Era, and even the dim saloon interiors were lit up bright as day--The Virginian looked as real as it could get. It's one of the few Western series that actually took advantage of the vistas--we get plenty of sweeping shots of Shiloh, etc.--and low and behold! When the script called for it, Drury and Co. were actually portrayed as scruffy, dusty and *bearded*.
And another thing: They actually herded real cattle and horses. I don't recall that happening on any episode of The Big Valley. And did any of Ben and his sons ever sport a five o'clock shadow, even when they'd been out riding the trail for days, away from the ranch house and hot water?
Finally, the leads could all actually RIDE. I'm talking about Drury and McClure here, especially, as both of them are perfectly at ease with horses, on the ground as well as astride, but all actors that were supposed to be working cowboys look credible riding. LJ Cobb, not so much--I can see where they shot and edited some scenes to cover his unease but even that doesn't detract. After all, the Judge is the boss--he's not a range rider. It's conceivable that while he might be comfortable around horses that he wouldn't be a crack rider as his hands would have to be.
Now, as to the quality of the DVDS: They are excellent. They look sharper played in my upscaling Blu-Ray player than they look on Encore, and that's saying something. I was afraid we would be short-changed when it came to the transfer quality but someone took pains to make the DVDs as pristine as possible. I'm sure it helps that the original series was such a high quality production to begin with. I haven't gotten to the bonus tracks yet as I am still savoring the episodes.
So when do we get Season Three?

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Owen Wister's 1902 western novel The Virginian was one of the first great novels of the American West. Set in the semi-mythical town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming in the 1890s, it chronicled the lives and relationships of the people who came west and settled the wild land. Starring James Drury in the title role, The Virginian was the first 90 minute television western, airing in prime time on NBC from 1962-1971. The stellar cast included Lee J. Cobb, Doug McClure, Gary Clark and Roberta Shore, and each week brought talented guest stars to The Virginian. Season One's line-up of luminaries reads like a who's who of Hollywood, including George C. Scott, Lee Marvin, Bette Davis, Robert Duvall, Brian Keith, Colleen Dewhurst, Hugh O'Brian, Ricardo Montalban, Eddie Albert, Tammy Grimes, Clu Gulager, Fabian, Vera Miles, Michael Rennie, Ida Lupino, and many more!

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The Restless Gun Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm surprised and quite pleased that this often forgotten 1957-59 western has found it's way to a DVD release by Timeless Media Group. Rugged John Payne stars as Vint Bonner in the "Restless Gun." Bonner travels the southwest trying to live down his reputation as one of the fastest guns in the post-Civil War era. Bonner tries to avoid trouble, but it most often finds him. The set starts out with the 30-minute pilot episode first aired on "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars." Payne is surrounded by one terrific set of supporting players in the pilot -- William Hopper ("Perry Mason"), Michael Landon ("Bonanza"), and Andrew Duggan ("Lancer"). Many TV western icons guest star in the remaining 23-episode set, including Morgan Woodward ("Wyatt Earp"), Dan Blocker ("Bonanza"), Claude Akins, Jack Elam ("The Dakotas"), Ben Johnson, Robert Fuller ("Laramie"), James Coburn, Royal Dano, Edgar Buchanan, and Denver Pyle. The prints drawn from the Universal/NBC archives are not pristine (some streaks, very dark evening shots, specks) but quite watchable. As someone who has collected 16mm prints of numerous westerns over the years, I would grade the overall picture in the set an 8, on a 1-10 scale; the audio is first-rate. Snap this set up along with other TMG/NBC releases of "The Tall Man" (Clu Gulager, Barry Sullivan), "Laredo" (Neville Brand), "Riverboat" (Burt Reynolds) and "Cimarron City" (George Montgomery).
Disc 1
Episode (pilot) Restless Gun
Episode 10 Man and Boy Emile Meyer, Dan Blocker
Episode 11 Cheyenne ExpressRoyal Dano
Episode 12 Thicker Than WaterClaude Akins
Episode 14 The Child Dan Blocker, Tony Caruso
Episode 21 Hornitas Town Jack Elam, John Larch
Episode 24 Woman From Sacramento
Episode 26 Hand Is Quicker John Ericson, Gregg Palmer
Disc 2
Episode 40 Jebediah Bonner James Best, Read Morgan
Episode 45 Bonner's Squaw
Episode 66 The PawnJames Coburn, Denver Pyle
Episode 47 Remember The Dead Frank Ferguson
Episode 48 No Way To KillBen Johnson, Scott Morrow
Episode 50 Multiply One Day
Episode 51 Paligroso Robert Fuller, Dabbs Greer
Episode 53 Way BackMorgan Woodward, James Coburn
Disc 3
Episode 54 Painted BeautyRuta Lee
Episode 69 Code For Killer Lane Bradford
Episode 56 Lady And The GunMala Powers
Episode 57 Blood of CourageJ. Carrol Naish, Lee Farr
Episode 61 MelanyClaude Akins, Gregg Palmer
Episode 65 Bluefield IncidentMorgan Woodward, Alan Hale Jr.
Episode 35 Gold Star Edgar Buchanan, I. Stanford Jolley

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Based on a radio teleplay starring James Stewart, Restless Gun follows the exploits of Vint Bonner, (John Payne), a retired gunfighter and restless drifter who wanders the Southwest in search of adventure. Payne's fine, easy-going performance made Bonner a very appealing western hero. Preferring to find peaceful resolutions to the problems he faced, Bonner was often given no choice but to fight and his proficiency with a gun made him a fearsome opponent to those who dared cross him. With a fine supporting cast, including guest appearances by Dan Blocker, James Coburn, Royal Dano, Claude Akins, Denver Pyle, Alan Hale. Restless Gun consistently ranked in the Neilsen Top Ten during its run.

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Definitive TV Western Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)Mill Creek entertainment is pleased to present the definitive TV Western Collection!
This compilation of rare and in some cases, never before seen television programs from the golden age of Hollywood represents the largest assortment of TV shows ever released! Relive your childhood or discover a truly unique brand of entertainment for the first time with 600 Episodes to choose from! Enjoy over 265 hours of family friendly entertainment with over 40 exceptional shows spanning the last six decades!
Shows include: Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, The Lone Ranger, Dusty's Trail, The Cisco Kid, Annie Oakley and many more!
Stars include: Roy Rogers, Henry Fonda, Bob Denver, Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Jackie Coogan, Forrest Tucker, Gabby Hayes, Lash LaRue, Clayton Moore, Buddy Ebsen, Tim conway, Chuck Connors, Dale Evans and many more!
* One of a kind branded keepsake wood box
* 24 page collectable booklet featuring an episode guide, synopses, index and
rare photographs!
* Featuring episodes from 40 different TV series
* 600 complete episodes
* over 265 hours of entertainment
* 48 DVDs
Complete Episode and Disc Information - See Comment Section Below

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Mill Creek entertainment is pleased to present the definitive TV Western Collection!This compilation of rare and in some cases, never before seen television programs from the golden age of Hollywood represents the largest assortment of TV shows ever released! Relive your childhood or discover a truly unique brand of entertainment for the first time with 600 Episodes to choose from! Enjoy over 265 hours of family friendly entertainment with over 40 exceptional shows spanning the last six decades!Shows include:BonanzaWagon TrainThe RiflemanThe Lone RangerDusty's TrailThe Cisco KidAnnie OakleyAnd many more!

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TV Classic Westerns Limited Edition (20-DVD Pack) Review

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(More customer reviews)If Amazon wants to sell it, they need to say what is on each disk!

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Over 55 Hours containing 110 Episodes featuring: Judge Roy Bean, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Shotgun Slade, The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Annie Oakley, Hawkeye and The Last of The Mohicans.

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Whispering Smith - 25 Episodes - starring Audie Murphy Review

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(More customer reviews)I took a bit of a chance in buying this set, firstly, as I don't remember anything of this television series when I was younger, and secondly, I hadn't bought anything from Timeless Media Group before, and the low price is usually indicative of the saying, "you get what you pay for." After viewing a few episodes of "Whispering Smith" I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. The video quality is good, not excellent, but definitely more than just "watchable." There is a very slight jittery quality to the picture, and the contrast is on the bright/faded side, but overall it's a decent picture. The audio quality is somewhat muffled and I have to crank it up louder than usual but that is to be expected, as I am sure it's because Timeless Media Group has used older-generation prints. There wasn't any effort to remaster this series, which is unfortunate. Regardless, because of my satisfaction of this title I am considering buying other Western television reissues from Timeless Media Group, as these shows would otherwise probably never see the light of day on DVD.

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Whispering Smith starring Audie Murphy - The Complete NBC TV Series!One of the rarest and most sought after of all television westerns, Whispering Smith featured Audie Murphy, America's most decorated soldier in WWII, as a Denver-based railroad private eye in the Old West. Many of the episodes were based on actual Denver police cases, and Smith has to use all his wits, as well as his skill with a Colt .45 to bring justice to those who would defraud the railroad. His superior was played by Sam Buffington, his partner by Guy Mitchell, and although it aired for only 20 episodes, the show had a great cast of guest stars, including Les Tremayne, Forrest Tucker, Marie Windsor, Alan Mowbray, Minerva Urecal, Alan Hale Jr. and Marjorie Reynolds.Bonus Feature: Medal of Honor: The Audie Murphy Story - The complete story of one of America's true heroes, Audie Murphy, who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery under fire in WWII, as well as 32 other medals including the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Award.

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Big Valley - Season 2, Volume 1 (1965) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Big Valley" reruns were my childhood favorite, and after buying this set and season one, I can say the show lives up to my memories. It would be a shame if Fox stopped releasing the DVDs--which brings me to the info:
After searching for a way to complain about the price-gouging on season two, I finally contacted a site that monitors DVD releases. They said sales of season one were poor and that Fox raised the price to recoup their losses. But since this half-set isn't selling well either, they probably won't release the rest.
Maybe if all the people who bought season one decide to buy this set they'll release more. Maybe not. Personally, I think Fox bungled the whole thing. When it comes to short-run series (Big Valley only ran four seasons), it makes more sense to release the complete series (with extras) at a premium price. Most fans would pay more up front to get the whole series and not have to worry about studios dropping the project. As it is, Fox has done nothing but shortchange consumers and undermine its own profits.

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BIG VALLEY Season 2 Volume 1 continues the adventures of the wealthy and powerful Barkley family in the untamed Old West.

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