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| Have Gun Will Travel - The Complete First Season | 
 enlarge | Directors: Andrew V. Mclaglen, Lamont Johnson, Lewis Milestone
Actors: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham, Stewart East, Lisa Lu
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.98
Buy New: $29.50
You Save: $10.48 (26%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $24.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  (99 reviews)
Sales Rank: 15206
Format: Box Set, Black & White, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 1009 minutes
Number Of Items: 6
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.5 x 1.8
MPN: PARD875234D
UPC: 097368752344
EAN: 0097368752344
ASIN: B0001JXQ2Y
Release Date: May 11, 2004
Theatrical Release Date: September 14, 1957
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
The first season of Have Gun--Will Travel makes it easy to see why this Western series was an overnight success. Making its debut on September 14, 1957, the half-hour show ranked no. 4 in the ratings for its entire first season, which ran almost completely uninterrupted (minus a one-week preemption) until June of 1958--a punishing schedule unheard of in present-day television. (It ranked even higher in subsequent seasons, holding the no. 3 spot, behind Gunsmoke and Wagon Train.) Richard Boone was perfectly cast in the lead role of Paladin, a cultured gunslinger whose West Point education, impeccable style, literate sophistication, and distinguished Civil War service made him unique among Western heroes, and the prototype for many dashing figures to follow. Based in San Francisco's ritzy Carlton Hotel, he scans newspapers to locate trouble throughout the wild West, then cagily markets his services (via his legendary calling card, "Have Gun--Will Travel") as a hired gun, moral arbiter, voice of reason, and reluctant killer of badmen. Understanding the complexities of frontier justice, Paladin (whose full name is never revealed) could turn on those who hired him if he suspected dubious motivations. He wore black, but he traveled in an ethical gray zone. Running about 25 minutes each, these 39 episodes are consistently good and economically plotted, since Have Gun boasted stellar talent on both sides of the camera. Each episode began with the memorable theme by legendary film composer Bernard Herrmann, and most of the first season was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, who worked regularly on Gunsmoke, Rawhide, and Perry Mason before graduating to a prolific big-screen career. Regular writers included Gene Roddenberry (who created Star Trek six years later), and budding maverick Sam Peckinpah co-wrote episode #22, "The Singer." In addition to series regular Kam Tong as Paladin's Chinese-American manservant Hey Boy (a "Coolie" stereotype, but Tong handles it with dignity, especially in "Hey Boy's Revenge"), Have Gun offered a who's-who of 1950s and '60s guest stars, from genre stalwarts like Victor McLaglen (Andrew's father), John Carradine, Strother Martin, and R.G. Armstrong, to promising newcomers like Angie Dickinson, Warren Oates, and Charles Bronson (the last starring in "The Outlaw," one of the season's finest episodes). Each episode is accompanied by background information and guest-star profiles, and while picture quality is quite good overall, the audio quality suffers from a low-level mix with noticeable hiss from aged source materials. Fortunately, this won't prevent anyone from enjoying a first-rate TV series that thrived for another five seasons, until cancellation in 1963. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 94 more reviews...
 Sir Richard Boone November 3, 2008
I hadn't seen one of these since my boyhood in the 50s and 60s. I remember waiting anxiously for the original episodes on the same day and time each week, but I didn't exactly recall why I liked it so much.
It's all Richard Boone. The show is not especially well written, although the music is pretty good and premise is great--a rich, San Francisco dandy/black dressed lethal gunfighter who quotes literature and always does the right thing. But Boone is what makes it work. Even in these relatively primitive productions in the late 50s, he just shines as an actor, far and away the best and most appealing in that genre. He has perfect pitch for the role.
Have Gun-Will Travel : Paladin is back July 26, 2008
Have Gun-Will Travel, Paladin fans will not be disappointed. The first season has 39 episodes of great viewing quality and sound. The special features shouldn't be missed with cast biographies. Lots of guest stars that became stars in their own right. This was an "adult, thinking-man's" western. Paladin, a professional, educated, former military officer who is now a private detective, bodyguard, bounty hunter, courier,knight righting wrongs in the old west. You won't be able to quit watching each adventure so plan on a whole week-end of watching. One of the best western tv series of all time.
 Pikaru's review July 5, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The recording needs a lot of improvement. There were some episodes that were not viewable. I suggest that the master be remastered and try again. I still like the item and can't wait to get the last 3 seasons of the series.
Have Paladin Will Watch June 16, 2008
I picked this up after hearing a paper at a conference on Westerns on TV back in March. I got it to add to my growing research on the characteristics of the hero in American culture. But I really enjoyed watching all the episodes. What a wonderful series! And some of the episodes were written by one of the greats of TV, Gene Roddenberry.
I wasn't old enough to watch Have Gun Will Travel when it was first on, but I remember watching episodes in reruns in the late 60s or early 70s; however, I didn't remember how good it was. I highly recommend it.
hgwt June 5, 2008
one of my favorite shows,good scripts,leaves you with a good feeling.richard boone very strong dramatic actor.this is considered aclassic classic western
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