Cheyenne: The Complete Second Season (10-Disc Set) (1956) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Cheyenne show is a fabulous trip to the Golden Age of television, to the days when the western genre was simple and pure, when manicheism was well established, good guys versus bad guys. We must urge Warner Bros. to release the second season of Cheyenne as soon as possible. The previous one was released on June 6, 06, so now it is the right time for a new release. The first season of Cheyenne was indeed very good, but the second one is much, much better in all aspects. Season one had only 15 episodes and each ran about 40 minutes each. Season two has 20 episodes running about 50 minutes each. The writing is much better for season two. The famous Cheyenne logo (Cheyenne's bust and the mountainous background)and the familiar theme song by William Lana & Stan Jones, both lacking in the first season, are largely featured starting with season two. The episodes also carry beautiful designs for the initial and final credits.
And finally a word about Clint Walker. He is a better actor in this season, proving that he was one of best western stars for television.
The second and third seasons of Cheyenne are the outstanding years of the show, a must to everybody that loved the great TV westerns of the 50s and 60s, and also a must to people that never had the opportunity to watch those fantastic and innocent shows of yesterday.
The episodes of the second season (1956/57)are as follow:
1 - The Dark Rider (guests: Diane Brewster, Myron Healey)
2 - The Long Winter
3 - Death Deals the Hand (guests: Leo Gordon, Arthur Hunnicut)
4 - The Bounty Killer (guest: Andrew Duggan)
5 - The Law Man
6 - The Mustang Trail (guest: Diane Brewster)
7 - Lone Gun (guests: Nancy Hale, Bob Steele)
8 - The Trap
9 - The Iron Trail (guest: Dennis Hopper)
10 - Land Beyond the Law (guest: Andrew Duggan)
11 - Test of Courage
12 - War Party (guest: Angie Dickinson)
13 - Deadline (guest: Ann Robinson)
14 - Big Ghost Basin (guest: Merry Anders)
15 - Born Bad
16 - The Brand (guest: Edward Byrnes)
17 - Decision at Gunsight (guests: John Carradine, Marie Windsor)
18 - The Spanish Grant (guests: Peggy Castle, Douglas Kennedy)
19 - Hard Bargain (guest: Richard Crenna)
20 - The Broken Pledge (guest: John Dehner)


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Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season One (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)One of the most memorable and famous characters of the '50's Western genre was Steve McQueen's "Josh Randall", who spoke softly (with the Southern drawl he cultivated in his early days roaming around the South, particularly Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and carried a Big Gun, the sawed-off Winchester lever-action rifle then known as the "Mare's Laig". I remember the excitement each week eagerly waiting for each episode of this great Western.
One of my fondest childhood memories was the weekend I spent with my Dad, helping him to hand make my own custom-made leather belt rig from scratch for my toy "Mare's Laig" in time for use as part of a Halloween costume when the plastic original proved to be a poor replica.
With all the second-rate wastage flooding the DVD market lately, it's really great to see New Line Ent. bring back such a great actor in a great Western!

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John Randall was not a typical rough-hewn bounty hunter of the Old West; he was a consummate gentleman who always gave half - or even all - of his reward money to charity. He was a man of few words and unlike most bounty hunters he carried a modified 1892 Winchester rifle which he wore on his belt and fondly called his "Mare's Lady." Randall's catch phrase "Let's go" launched him into unforgettable classic Western adventures. Steve McQueen stars in the classic hit TV series. Extras include documentary featurettes 3 colorized episodes photo galleries bios and more.System Requirements:TRT: 968 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating:NR UPC:787364766499

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Have Gun - Will Travel - The Complete Third Season (1957) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the entire Columbia House HGWT series, and still bought the first two seasons on DVD. Season three will be no exception.
Everything I wrote about HGWT in my seasons 1 and 2 reviews still holds. The best TV writers were still generating excellent scripts, and the marvelous Richard Boone carried everything they wrote and more. It is not possible to heap enough accolades on everyone involved in these productions.
Again, the pristine quality of the B&W cinematography is often breathtaking on locations. It is like Ansel Adams selected the sites and handled the photography.
Amazing series, not to be missed.

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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 responses to his business card: over the picture of a chess knight "Have Gun - Will Travel... Wire Paladin, San Francisco."

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Hopalong Cassidy: Complete Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)This item features 10 Hopalong Cassidy films from 1938 thru 1940, including the following titles (most of which appear on DVD for the first time):
Bar Twenty Justice (1938)
The Frontiersmen (1938)
In Old Mexico (1938)
Pride of the West (1938)
Law of the Pampas (1939)
Renegade Trail (1939)
Range War (1939)
Silver On the Sage (1939)
Sunset trail (1939)
Santa Fe Marshall (1940)
Also included in this 12 disc set are all 52 of the Hopalong Cassidy television shows which aired between 1952 and 1954. These 26 minute episodes include the 12 shows which were edited versions of the final 12 Hopalong Cassidy films produced by William Boyd between 1946 and 1948 along with the 40 episodes produced exclusively for TV in 1952 and 1954.
This item also includes the bonus documentary, "Public Hero #1". Produced by Starz Western Channel, it traces the life and career of William Boyd as well as the development of the Hopalong Cassidy character in both print and film. Dennis Weaver narrates with extensive comments from Hoppy's widow, Grace Bradley Boyd and film critic Leonard Maltin. This documentary is featured on Disc #4 and I highly recommend that it be viewed before watching the films and TV episodes.
The technical quality of all the films and television episodes is EXCELLENT: sharp picture, clear audio.
Each of the 12 discs are individually packaged in a keepsake case, each one featuring a different photo of Hoppy on the front.
Altogether you get over 35 hours of enjoyable, exciting family entertainment which I found well worth the purchase price which came to about $2 per hour.
I highly recommend this item to all fans of Hopalong Cassidy, westerns and classic film and television.

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Sky King, Vol. 1 (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have nothing against this four episode release from Critics Choice of the "Sky King" series . . . the episodes look fairly good (though far from pristine), the price is right, and a couple of the episodes even include original vintage commercials (a real plus among collectors). So why the "Buyer Beware" title? The episodes included on this DVD are the exact same four episodes that were released on another DVD from Alpha Video which Amazon also carries. Apparently, only four episodes from the series lapsed into the public domain and that's why multiple releasing companies are offering the same episodes.
The four star rating is well deserved for this entertaining show that many of the Baby Boomer generation enjoyed during the 1950s and 1960s and can again, thanks to this DVD release.

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The Rifleman: Mail Order Groom/Day of the Hunter/Outlaw's Inheritance Review

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(More customer reviews)while this set is ok,and doesn't look bad you get more band for your buck by getting the box sets. they have extras,out-takes, and many other things that make them a much better deal!

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The Rifleman (Vol. 4) (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)Chuck Connors stars as Lucas McCain, also known in some parts as "The Rifleman". McCain lives on a small ranch outside of the town of North Fork, New Mexico, with his son Mark (Johnny Crawford). His good friend is Marshal Micah Torrance (Paul Fix). This is the fourth collection of their adventures. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).
Man From Salinas (4): Lucas is acting marshal, when a bank robber drifts into town. McCain wounds the man when he attempts to escape, after robbing the town bank. The news that the man is badly hurt and expected to die, is telegraphed to Salinas, the town the man just came from. There, an unscrupulous fellow (Robert Culp), aware that there is a large reward on the dying man, schemes to come and claim the body. A suspenseful episode, featuring the acting of the charming, smooth-talking Culp.
Two Ounces of Tin (4): Sammy Davis Jr. guest stars as "Corey" a trick shooting gunfighter. Out to avenge the death of his father, he has a huge grudge against the lawmen of North Fork. Corey threatens to kill whoever wears the Marshal's (tin) badge. Unaware of this, Mark does the stranger a good turn, and in return he receives a jaw-dropping exhibition of lightning fast gunhandling and trick shooting. Lucas however is not impressed. As acting marshal, he is Corey's next target. Davis's fine performance as a lonely man with too much pride is both emotional and tragic.
Waste (4): This two-part adventure finds Lucas, Mark and Micah traveling near the Mexican border where they run into a gang of banditos in an abandoned town. Veteran character actor Vito Scotti, who specializes in portraying ethnic characters, is truly loathsome as the leader of the banditos (lovely dental work). They capture Lucas and Mark, and lead them to Micah who is buried up to his neck in the ground. Soon McCain is digging a hole preparing to join him in the dirt. Only Lucas's quick action saves them from the ruthless band of outlaws. McCain has all he can handle trying to save their lives, and is also called on to do an unexpected service, receiving feminine gratitude for his trouble. Mark is a real pain, not following his father's instructions and constantly asking questions. Micah is too injured to be of any help whatsoever. Of interest, is the fact that this tale was written by actor Robert Culp.
The Deadly Image (3): It seems almost every TV program from the 60's used this gimmick sooner or later, as Chuck Conners plays a dual role. "Earl Bantry" is a lookalike for Lucas McCain. When Bantry commits murder, a witness believes that McCain is guilty. The lookalike and his partner reach North Fork, causing a ruckus. Marshal Torrance gets careless, and winds up unconscious on the floor. Then the men head for the McCain ranch for more "fun". "Bantry" is particularly dislikable, and it is probably a safe guess that Conners enjoyed being the "bad guy" for a change.
The Rifleman Volume 4 is the best of the collections in this series so far. The stories are well written, and action packed. The guest stars are excellent, with depth to their characters. Justice is swift and McCain exceeds his average of one kill per episode. As usual, women are almost nonexistent. The transfer to DVD is excellent, the only complaint about this series is that there could easily be more than five episodes per disc. At this rate, it will take 34 DVD's to present all of The Rifleman episodes. Do you have the shelf space?

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The Lone Ranger - The Original Series, Vol. 1 (1949) Review

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(More customer reviews)We'll Rhino In their lack of research or un-caring have released edited and/or time compressed versions of this classic series! Traditionally t.v. shows produced prior to the early 80's were made with more show and less commercials in mind. The Lone Ranger went to color It's last two seasons. These shows run 25 unhurried minutes when seen without commericials. Rhino was given edited and worse yet time compressed episodes as their dvd masters. Notice how everything seems rushed and un-natural. Movements are compromised by the digital manipulation of the originl 24 frames per second to the now 30 to 40 frames a second. Nick at Nite and T.V. Land both show edited/time compressed prints. When we buy ANY films or t.v. shows on dvd, we expect them to look fantastic and be UN-CUT and UN-TAMPERED with. These shows are neither. Worse yet, the great black and white origin of the Lone Ranger was originally a THREE PART adventure. Here Rhino provides us with two edited parts leaving the climactic episode off! I understand that Rhino has announced they are releasing 19 Lone Ranger episodes in a box set. Will these be un-cut? Will these be un-fair examples of our t.v. heritage that generations to come will be cheated by? Write your letters kiddies. Let Rhino and the rest know that you want to see these shows as your parents and grandparents saw them.

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Have Gun Will Travel - The Complete Second Season (1957) Review

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(More customer reviews)Richard Boone stars as Paladin in this six-disk dvd set of the first season of HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL (1957-1958).
CBS broadcast an incredible thirty-nine episodes that first season, each episode lasting 23 to 25 minutes. Most episodes begin with the spiffily dressed Paladin (we're never given a last name) scouring the thick stacks newspapers brought to him by the ever helpful Hey Boy (Kam Tong), bellboy at Paladin's residence, the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. Eventually Paladin reads of a missing child in Colorado, or a rash of robberies occurring in Montana. Paladin slips his business card - a chess knight with the legend Have Gun, Will Travel, Wire Paladin, San Francisco - into an envelope and mails it to the injured party.
Slowly enough as we wend our way through the first year we learn something of Paladin. He has a passion for justice and a taste for the good things. His going rate is $1000, although he will take on a pro bono job if the cause is just. In town he dresses to the nines and in sundry other ways consumes conspicuously. When traveling with a gun he dresses in black. Somewhere along the line he picked up a military education, quotes Shakespeare and Pliny, savors a first-edition of Dryden. His taste in and knowledge of fine wines is commented upon in a couple of episodes....
I don't know if any of this matters, but going through fifteen hours of HGWT over a week or so it's kind of fun to have an aha moment or two. Paladin is an enigma, and Boone, a little more credible as the gunslinger than the city dandy, was an inspired choice to play him. Boone has a commanding presence and, believe me when I tell you buckaroos, was pretty darn quick on the draw.
Twenty-three minutes is a pretty tight box to fit a action story in, which might explain why we don't waste a whole lot of time on Paladin's backstory. Of course, the storytelling is made a lot easier when you consider the talent involved. The talent rundown has to start with Boone, who was nominated Best Leading Actor as Paladin in 1959 and 1960. The great majority of the first season episodes were directed by action veteran Andrew McLaglen (son of actor Victor McLaglen), although a couple were helmed by Oscar winning director Lewis Milestone. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wrote a few scripts for the first season as well. Sam Peckingpah even co-wrote one episode (The Singer).
The talent in front of the camera was as formidable as that behind. Major established stars like Victor McLaglen and John Carradine appeared in episodes - weak ones, in my opinion, especially the McLaglen episode (directed by son Andrew) in which the old actor played a construction foreman threatening to cut a town off from its source of water. McLaglen simply wasn't getting around very briskly and it's a little painful to watch. Another major movie star fares much better. Charles Bronson wasn't established yet, but he plays a robber who more or less forces Paladin into a gunfighting showdown in an episode that paints fatal violence as both regrettable and, sometimes, unavoidable. Strother Martin (Cool Hand Luke) appears in two episodes, once as an unscrupulous frontier lawyer and earlier in a more affecting role as a high wire walker who'd lost his nerve somewhere along the way. Warren Oates plays one of the bad offspring in a truncated take on King Lear.
That's just the beginning. Future television stars appear in almost every episode. Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker (Bonanza) appear as scruffy tough guys in relatively small roles in separate episodes. Jack Lord (Hawaii 5-0) is a cowardly kidnapper. June Lockhart (Lassie, Lost In Space) appears twice as a frontier doctor. Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) plays a young woman whose brother was murdered and threatens to incite a lynch mob. Mike Connors (Mannix) plays a cattle rustling bad guy in one of the early episodes.
Okay, I'm enthusing here. Still haven't got to the best stuff. What gave me the biggest kick was watching the people I'd never heard of. Peter Whitney, who the intro blurb that precedes each episode tells us made a film career out of playing slow-witted big guys and menacing big guys, plays a mentally challenged ranch hand who's goaded into placing a burr under boss's Stuart Whitman's saddle, with dire consequences, in "The Last Laugh." The diminutive B-western star Bob Steele plays a crooked mine boss in "The High Graders" - the Wire Paladin blurb tells us Steele had developed a quick draw during his B-career, which McLaglen pays homage to in a draw down between his character and Paladin. My favorite discovery, though, has to be Marian Seldes, a tremendous actress who is featured in two episodes. First as a mail order bride who Paladin escorts to her new home in "The Bride" and later as a small town teacher who the local bullies try to intimidate in "The Teacher."
Very strongly recommended, especially for fans of traditional westerns.


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HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL follows the story of professional gunfighter Paladin who, after the Civil War, settles into San Francisco's Hotel Carlton where he awaits responses to his business card.Upon receipt of $1,000, Paladin will leave his suite to chase down whatever mission of mercy or justice his clients commission.Featuring a photo of a white knight chess piece, the business card simply says "Have Gun - Will TravelWire Paladin, San Francisco."

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Daniel Boone - Season One (1964) Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this for my wife for her birthday. She has been wanting this on DVD for a very long time and we are glad it is out.
To the reviewer who claimed the picture quality was not good, remember this was a B&W TV from the early 1960s, what did you really expect? It was not recorded with modern hi-def digital cameras, it was recorded over 40 years ago.
I found the picture quality to be quite good, as good or better than other shows I have seen from the same era.
If you are a fan of the show, or just want to get some quality family DVDs to watch, get this set.

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Treasure Box Collection; Digitally Remastered: Wagon Train Review

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(More customer reviews)This has two episodes in B/W, 1st episode has John McIntyre as wagon master. The second episode Robert horton does the ramroding. I was hoping to see Ward Bond but I guess all of the ones with him have been lost.
It was a kick to see the old crew again anyway.

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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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Have Gun Will Travel - The Complete First Season (1957) Review

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(More customer reviews)Richard Boone stars as Paladin in this six-disk dvd set of the first season of HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL (1957-1958).
CBS broadcast an incredible thirty-nine episodes that first season, each episode lasting 23 to 25 minutes. Most episodes begin with the spiffily dressed Paladin (we're never given a last name) scouring the thick stacks newspapers brought to him by the ever helpful Hey Boy (Kam Tong), bellboy at Paladin's residence, the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. Eventually Paladin reads of a missing child in Colorado, or a rash of robberies occurring in Montana. Paladin slips his business card - a chess knight with the legend Have Gun, Will Travel, Wire Paladin, San Francisco - into an envelope and mails it to the injured party.
Slowly enough as we wend our way through the first year we learn something of Paladin. He has a passion for justice and a taste for the good things. His going rate is $1000, although he will take on a pro bono job if the cause is just. In town he dresses to the nines and in sundry other ways consumes conspicuously. When traveling with a gun he dresses in black. Somewhere along the line he picked up a military education, quotes Shakespeare and Pliny, savors a first-edition of Dryden. His taste in and knowledge of fine wines is commented upon in a couple of episodes....
I don't know if any of this matters, but going through fifteen hours of HGWT over a week or so it's kind of fun to have an aha moment or two. Paladin is an enigma, and Boone, a little more credible as the gunslinger than the city dandy, was an inspired choice to play him. Boone has a commanding presence and, believe me when I tell you buckaroos, was pretty darn quick on the draw.
Twenty-three minutes is a pretty tight box to fit a action story in, which might explain why we don't waste a whole lot of time on Paladin's backstory. Of course, the storytelling is made a lot easier when you consider the talent involved. The talent rundown has to start with Boone, who was nominated Best Leading Actor as Paladin in 1959 and 1960. The great majority of the first season episodes were directed by action veteran Andrew McLaglen (son of actor Victor McLaglen), although a couple were helmed by Oscar winning director Lewis Milestone. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wrote a few scripts for the first season as well. Sam Peckingpah even co-wrote one episode (The Singer).
The talent in front of the camera was as formidable as that behind. Major established stars like Victor McLaglen and John Carradine appeared in episodes - weak ones, in my opinion, especially the McLaglen episode (directed by son Andrew) in which the old actor played a construction foreman threatening to cut a town off from its source of water. McLaglen simply wasn't getting around very briskly and it's a little painful to watch. Another major movie star fares much better. Charles Bronson wasn't established yet, but he plays a robber who more or less forces Paladin into a gunfighting showdown in an episode that paints fatal violence as both regrettable and, sometimes, unavoidable. Strother Martin (Cool Hand Luke) appears in two episodes, once as an unscrupulous frontier lawyer and earlier in a more affecting role as a high wire walker who'd lost his nerve somewhere along the way. Warren Oates plays one of the bad offspring in a truncated take on King Lear.
That's just the beginning. Future television stars appear in almost every episode. Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker (Bonanza) appear as scruffy tough guys in relatively small roles in separate episodes. Jack Lord (Hawaii 5-0) is a cowardly kidnapper. June Lockhart (Lassie, Lost In Space) appears twice as a frontier doctor. Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) plays a young woman whose brother was murdered and threatens to incite a lynch mob. Mike Connors (Mannix) plays a cattle rustling bad guy in one of the early episodes.
Okay, I'm enthusing here. Still haven't got to the best stuff. What gave me the biggest kick was watching the people I'd never heard of. Peter Whitney, who the intro blurb that precedes each episode tells us made a film career out of playing slow-witted big guys and menacing big guys, plays a mentally challenged ranch hand who's goaded into placing a burr under boss's Stuart Whitman's saddle, with dire consequences, in "The Last Laugh." The diminutive B-western star Bob Steele plays a crooked mine boss in "The High Graders" - the Wire Paladin blurb tells us Steele had developed a quick draw during his B-career, which McLaglen pays homage to in a draw down between his character and Paladin. My favorite discovery, though, has to be Marian Seldes, a tremendous actress who is featured in two episodes. First as a mail order bride who Paladin escorts to her new home in "The Bride" and later as a small town teacher who the local bullies try to intimidate in "The Teacher."
Very strongly recommended, especially for fans of traditional westerns.


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Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 05/23/2006Rating: Nr

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The Wild Wild West - The Complete First Season (1965) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are no words to adequately express the excitement created by this DVD boxed set release of the complete first season of The Wild, Wild West. While several episodes were only available on DVD in recent years through a pricey enrollment club, this represents the first time the ENTIRE first season of this landmark TV Western icon has been available in ANY format!
Starring Robert Conrad as Agent James T. West, along with the late and deeply lamented, Ross Martin, who portrayed his partner, Artemis Gordon, master of disguise and invention, the series ran on CBS from 1965-1969.
The series focused on their adventures as the country's first secret service agents, working for President Ulysses S. Grant, to thwart all manner of evil doers who directed their villainy at individuals and/or the nation. Mixing espionage, thrilling adventure, western cliff-hanger suspense and high-tech, sci-fi gadgetry the likes of which had never been seen on network TV, the series propelled the actors into international stardom. On the series, West and Gordon traveled in style on a personal train equipped with the amazing gear they used each week to save the day and/or world (the interior of which was used in the epic Gunsmoke episode, "Death Train.")
(Note: Martin, who suffered a heart attack during the first season, was replaced during the last season by the network because they were concerned about his health, which probably resulted in the series' demise. Actor Charles Aidman joined the cast, portraying Jeremy Pike, also a master of disguise, who was supposedly West's former partner. Two later made-for-TV movies, The Wild, Wild West Revisited in 1979, and More Wild, Wild West in 1980, reunited Conrad and Martin.)
The series (set in 1868 primarily in or around San Francisco) continues to be a source of fevered worldwide fan devotion. Like The Avengers, which also aired in the 1960s, The Wild, Wild West was made into a simply awful "blockbuster" big-screen feature film in the 1990s, which failed in every way to capture the quality, fun, adventure, action and entertainment of the original, beloved series.
The brilliant actor, the late Michael Dunn, guest starred in 10 episodes during the show's run (several considered the best in the series) as the diabolical nemesis of West and Gordon, Dr. Miguelito Loveless, who suffered from delusions of grandeur. (At 3 feet-10-inches tall, Dunn suffered from chondrodystroyphy, which eventually took his life. He was also a child prodigy with an IQ of 178 and became a concert pianist at age 15, and was a remarkable singer.)
Dr. Loveless was ably assisted by the devoted Voltaire, portrayed by Richard Kiel (best known for his portrayal of the evil "Jaws" in the James Bond films, "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker"), who is a towering 7-feet-two-inches tall! The juxtaposition of the two actors increased the pathos that Dunn used in his unforgettable performances expressing the doctor's jealousy and hatred of West for his "perfect body" and society in general for its embrace of physical beauty and harsh rejection of those who do not meet that superficial, rigid criteria.
Throughout the series, Conrad insisted on performing all of his own stunts (which were minion) and viewed himself as a tough-guy, developing a devoted stunt crew "family." Dunn, who was no slouch himself, also performed his stunts at the urging of Conrad, despite network fears that both actors would be seriously injured (Conrad did suffer numerous injuries and Dunn injured an ankle.)
As of this writing, the studio had not announced what, if any, special features would be included in the boxed set. The first season (the only one in black and white) had 28 episodes: The Night of the Inferno; The Night of the Deadly Bed; The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth (introducing Dr. Loveless); The Night of Sudden Death; Night of the Casual Killer (the only episode in the entire series to omit "The" before "Night of" in a title); The Night of a Thousand Eyes; The Night of the Glowing Corpse; The Night of the Dancing Death; The Night of the Double-Edged Knife; The Night that Terror Stalked the Town (also featuring Dr. Loveless); The Night of the Red-Eyed Madmen; The Night of the Human Trigger; The Night of the Torture Chamber; The Night of the Howling Light; The Night of the Fatal Trap; The Night of the Steel Assassin; The Night the Dragon Screamed; The Night of the Grand Emir; The Night of the Flaming Ghost; The Night of the Whirring Death (third Dr. Loveless episode); The Night of the Puppeteer; The Night of the Bars of Hell; The Night of the Two-Legged Buffalo; The Night of the Druid's Blood; The Night of the Freebooters; The Night of the Burning Diamond; The Night of the Murderous Spring (Dr. Loveless' final appearance in Season 1); and The Night of the Sudden Plague.


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The first season of the WILD WILD WEST follows the adventures of James West (Robert Conrad) and his sidekick Artemus Gordon comes as an unlikely pair of Secret Service Agents who work to protect President Ulysses S. Grant and investigate federal crimes in the old west. The 7-disc set is packed with 28 digitally remastered episodes, rare footage, audio commentaries and a special introduction to each episode from Robert Conrad.

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Zane Grey Theatre Complete Season One Review

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(More customer reviews)I remember seeing this show in syndication years ago as a child and teenager, and I had no idea Mr. Powell had had such a diverse career. Starting out as a crooner in Busby Berkeley musicals in the 1930's, evolving into a star in film noir, and then transitioning to television in a number of shows including this one from the golden age of TV westerns in the 1950's. He was in good company with other stars such as Robert Montgomery, who hosted his own first-rate TV show in the 1950's.
This show is not really a series. Instead it was in the mold of the weekly playhouse kind of show that was so popular in the 1950's. Each episode stood alone and featured different stars each week, some being quite popular figures from the silver screen. The show first used material from Zane Grey, but as time passed material had to come from elsewhere as well. The following is a listing of the episodes of that first season as well as the stars that were featured.
1.01 - You Only Run Once- Robert Ryan, Cloris Leachman
1.02 - Fearful Courage- James Whitmore, Ida Lupino
1.03 - The Long Road Home - Mr. Powell, Ray Collins
1.04 - The Unrelenting Sky - Lew Ayres, Phyllis Avery
1.05 - The Lariat - Jack Palance, Constance Ford
1.06 - Death Watch - Lee J. Cobb, Bobby Driscoll
1.07 - Stage for Tucson - Eddie Albert, Mona Freeman
1.08 - Quiet Sunday in San Ardo - Wendell Corey, Gerald Mohr
1.09 - Vengeance Canyon - Walter Brennan, Ben Cooper
1.10 - Return to Nowhere- John Ireland, Steven McNally
1.11 - Courage is a Gun - Mr. Powell, Beverly Garland
1.12 - Muletown Gold Strike - Rory Calhoun, Barbara Eiler
1.13 - Stars over Texas - Ralph Bellamy, Gloria Talbott, James Garner
1.14 - Three Graves - Jack Lemmon, Nan Leslie
1.15 - No Man Living- Frank Lovejoy, Margaret Hayes
1.16 - Time of Decision - Lloyd Bridges, Diane Brewster
1.17 - Until the Man Dies - Stuart Whitman, John Payne
1.18 - Backtrail- Mr. Powell, Catherine McLeod
1.19 - Dangerous Orders - Jack Elam, Mark Stevens
1.20 - The Necessary Breed - Sterling Hayden, Jean Willes
1.21 - The Hanging Tree - Robert Ryan, Cloris Leachman
1.22 - Village of Fear- David Niven, George D. Wallace
1.23 - Black Creek Encounter- Ernest Borgnine, Jan Merlin
1.24 - There Were Four- John Derek, Dean Jagger
1.25 - Fugitive - Eddie Albert, Celeste Holm
1.26 - A Time To Live - Ralph Meeker, Julie London
1.27 - Black is for Grief - Mary Astor, Beulah Bondi, Chester Morris
1.28 - Badge of Honor - Gary Merrill, Tom Tully, Robert Culp
1.29 - Decision at Wilson's Creek - John Forsythe, John Dehner
1.30 - Man on the Run - Scott Brady, Nancy Hale
Each episode is 30 minutes in length and features such diverse talent as James Garner at the beginning of his career and Chester Morris near the end of his career. Mr. Powell stars in three of the thirty episodes. VCI, though not widely known, has taken part in some quality restorations before, so I am hoping these great western dramas will be carefully restored.

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The Rifleman, Boxed Set 1 (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)There's something very zen-like about this show. I've loved it since I was a kid. The dialogue is brilliant in its simplicity at times. Very aware people were writing this, I think. Directors include Sam Peckinpaw, other luminaries. The extent of the affection tough Lucas shows Mark is quite incredible for the 50's. This is like no other 1950's show, that's for sure. Chuck Connors managed to perfectly balance drama with a tongue-in-cheek sensibility. Some episodes are light, others most profound. Lucas McCain is the toughest hombre ever, and yet he is as wise as a sage and plants marigolds all around the ranch-house and actually holds and kisses his son (remember Jim Anderson? I loved Father Knows Best too but Jim reserved his hugs and kisses for Princess and Kitten, poor Bud had to be content with shaking hands). At other times Lucas is funny and mischievous- Chuck Connors did a really fantastic job of making this guy seem staightforward and yet complex. But best of all are the outtakes with the cast cussing, playing practical jokes, etc. I love this set and intend to get more volumes as they come out.

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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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