Watched the 1972 Hec Ramsey pilot "The Century Turns" the other day on YouTube.
Richard Boone plays Hector (Hec) Ramsey, a turn of the century gunslinger-turned-lawman, who uses early forensic techniques to solve crimes in Prospect, Oklahoma, rather than use his gun. Tools in his arsenal include early forms of ballistics, finger-printing, and plaster casts, which he uses to solve a double-murder, to the amazement of his younger and inexperienced Police Chief superior (Rick Lenz). The pilot co-stars Harry Morgan, Sharon Acker, Perry Lopez, Paul Carr, and R.G. Armstrong.
The mystery is rather predictable, but damn. Boone is always great to watch; blustery, no-nonsense, and authoritative.
The show was produced by Jack Webb, (Dragnet) and was part of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie wheel. There were 10 movie-length episodes (2 seasons). I read the show was cancelled due to a contract dispute with Boone and Universal. Two of the episodes were written by John Meston, co-creator of Gunsmoke.
Currently unreleased on home video. It would be great if MeTV or Get TV could run this series. There was also short-lived western series (9 episodes) in 2003 called Peacemakers, that starred Tom Berenger, whose character also used forensic science to solve crimes. Evidently, Mystery Science Theater 3000 did a series of running Hec Ramsey gags.
someone mentioned (and then deleted) the comment that you can see s. 4 &5 on cable tv.
This is true. You can watch them in between the commercials for hemorrhoids and Tom Selleck shilling reverse mortgages You can 'enjoy' the edited versions shown in the incorrect aspect ratios. All for "free".
But, if you really want to appreciate these shows you need to get the dvd sets. Or catch them on non-commercial premium cable networks like Encore.
I was going to post about how much I love BONANZA, but I see that everyone in this thread hates the show.
Nice way to include all tv westerns.
I'll fully admit: I'm a sucker for Westerns but Bonanza is lost on me. Grew up on The Rifleman, Have Gun Will Travel and Gunsmoke (discovered Wanted: Dead Or Alive many years later, love that one too) but for some reason Bonanza never clicked. Wish I knew why.
I have been trying to watch the Roger Moore MAVERICK eps but I can not go on. As much as I like Moore he is not right for the role. More to the point, the eps are dreadful.
Like other WB westerns (e.g CHEYENNE), the shows are littered with stock footage from 'classic' WB westerns. Now, W & Member might enjoy seeing this footage , and Riotengine might not even notice it doesn't match the tv footage ( ) but i hate it. brm
someone mentioned (and then deleted) the comment that you can see s. 4 &5 on cable tv.
This is true. You can watch them in between the commercials for hemorrhoids and Tom Selleck shilling reverse mortgages You can 'enjoy' the edited versions shown in the incorrect aspect ratios. All for "free".
But, if you really want to appreciate these shows you need to get the dvd sets. Or catch them on non-commercial premium cable networks like Encore.
Thank you for your time. Bruce
Watched se. 4 on dvd. Pretty much nothing new here.
Just watched a s.5 episode of RIFLEMAN . It rererererecycled the plot about the famous gunfighter who wants to retire and settle down in Tombstone/Dodge City/Laramie blah, blah ..
What was cool about this ep was that Lee Van CLeef was the star and was channeling the character that would , in a few years , become Col. Mortimer/Angel Eyes!!!!!
Just watched a s.5 episode of RIFLEMAN . It rererererecycled the plot about the famous gunfighter who wants to retire and settle down in Tombstone/Dodge City/Laramie blah, blah ..
What was cool about this ep was that Lee Van CLeef was the star and was channeling the character that would , in a few years , become Col. Mortimer/Angel Eyes!!!!!
Just watched a good Gunsmoke episode called, Love Thy Neighbor, directed by Dennis Weaver (Chester). Two families engage in a bloody feud, pretty much wiping out both. Well-written, tragic, and a testament to economic storytelling in a 30-minute format. Weaver does a good job directing and gets to work with an amazing cast; Warren Oates, Jack Elam, Harry Dean Stanton, and Jeanette Nolan.
And best of all, a nice Jerry Goldsmith score. I noted a previous Goldsmith score in an episode for season six, The Wake.
¶ It was conceived as Warner Brothers' answer to CBS' Gunsmoke. Marshal Dan Troop was the equivalent of marshal Matt Dillon, Deputy Johnny McKay was the Chester and Miss Lily was Miss Kitty. I find Troop's team much more elegant that the cheap ones of Matt Dillon.
¶ Apart from the character comparison, what makes Lawman better than Gunsmoke is the tense leaning and Warner's Film Noir trade mark, especially during season 1 when the series was only focused on Dan Troop—whose behavior and look are a blend of Clark Gable and Clint Eastwood.
¶ From the pilot “The Deputy” which is an excellent introduction, we are witnessing the quality of the series and, above all, it guest stars Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam: two notorious heavies. What I also like during season 1 is Troop’s cafeteria where a lovely waitress named Dru Lemp—Grace Kelly type—serves him a light meal. For the record, Dru Lemp is the wife of the late marshal.
PS: I never liked the leading characters of Gunsmoke and I tried the first season but the chemistry didn't work on me.
Interestingly, GUNSMOKE on radio was initially pitched as "Philip Marlowe out west"!!!! They changed it from P.I> to Sheriff, thankfully.
I have said it before but you have to LISTEN to GUNSMOKE to appreciate it. Had the tv version cast John Russell instead of Lame Arness.... oh what might have been!! b
¶ It was conceived as Warner Brothers' answer to CBS' Gunsmoke. Marshal Dan Troop was the equivalent of marshal Matt Dillon, Deputy Johnny McKay was the Chester and Miss Lily was Miss Kitty. I find Troop's team much more elegant that the cheap ones of Matt Dillon.
¶ Apart from the character comparison, what makes Lawman better than Gunsmoke is the tense leaning and Warner's Film Noir trade mark, especially during season 1 when the series was only focused on Dan Troop—whose behavior and look are a blend of Clark Gable and Clint Eastwood.
¶ From the pilot “The Deputy” which is an excellent introduction, we are witnessing the quality of the series and, above all, it guest stars Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam: two notorious heavies. What I also like during season 1 is Troop’s cafeteria where a lovely waitress named Dru Lemp—Grace Kelly type—serves him a light meal. For the record, Dru Lemp is the wife of the late marshal.
PS: I never liked the leading characters of Gunsmoke and I tried the first season but the chemistry didn't work on me.
¶ During season 1, another semi-regular character has a key position: newspaper man Harry Tate played by Jon Lormer. Too bad, they make him kill during that season.
) but i hate it.
