Westerns,Westerns,and more Westerns (1 Viewer)

[marco55]

There could be a gush of westerns coming out on tv.AMC starts it off with a post civil war show about the transcontinental railway called Hell on Wheels.Then in various stages of development are Hangtown and Gunslinger for ABC,Frontier for NBC,Ralph Lamb for CBS.TNT has one about 1880's Colorado called Gateway and A&E is making one called Longmire set in Wyoming.Don't know how many of these will see the light of day.It will depend on HoW does.The success of True Grit is one of the main reasons for all these being developed.
Mark

 

[lancer]

Certainly a welcome development for this old fan who grew up on the westerns of the 50's and 60's. -- Al

 

[chris2269]

It's prime time TV so a little soap operaish but AUS TV has "Wild Boys" - about Bush Rangers. Good actors in the series; just wish it was a bit darker.

 

[marco55]

I hope these are gritty,more realistic,not some pc bull.
Mark

 

[trooper]

I hope these are gritty,more realistic,not some pc bull.
Mark

Quite agree with you there, Mark, there was a time back in the early 60s when westerns changed. It got to the stage where I was expecting Gunsmoke's Matt Dillon to start pyschoanalising the villain rather than shooting him. Let's hope they keep it simple. Him good, him bad, bang bang.Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Never really understood why "Hoppy" wore a black hat though???^&confuse

 

[lancer]

Quite agree with you there, Mark, there was a time back in the early 60s when westerns changed. It got to the stage where I was expecting Gunsmoke's Matt Dillon to start pyschoanalising the villain rather than shooting him. Let's hope they keep it simple. Him good, him bad, bang bang.Trooper

The early b/w 30 minute and 60 minute Gunsmoke episodes were great shows. They had an edge to them that can actually be a bit shocking to today's TV audience. I lived from week to week to see Matt Dillon clobber some scumbag with that huge, sweeping backhand smack of his. Matt wasn't shy about using his Peacemaker, either.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[Scott]

Never really understood why "Hoppy" wore a black hat though???^&confuse

Right! There was an explanation of the Lone Ranger's mask in the story.

 

[Scott]

The old 1960s American TV westerns had to go to deeper character driven stories just to come up with new plots. Like science fiction, some westerns made statements about current events, but in a historical setting. The great old show Wagon Train had the regular characters each week but a new character on the "Train" was the focus of the episode.

Any new shows like Dead Wood would be welcome to me!

 

[johnnybach]

Right! There was an explanation of the Lone Ranger's mask in the story.

I always thought that it was highly unlikely that nobody would recognise LR - just because he had a little mask over his eyes - perhaps he'd been to a party? ......but what do I know?

Do tell Scott.................. We will leave Roy Rogers playing his ukalylee on a horse for a later time!.............. Can't beat the old harsh, gritty realism of Westerns like those , can yuh pardners?............. yee..haaa......johnnybach^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Just had a thought! Perhaps some of our younger readers are getting a bit puzzled as to the names being bandied about - so I raided the archives and dug out a few "hot potatoes" to show just who my Saturday morning heroes were - and what they looked like.

My first was of Hoppy (in the incongruous black hat - 'cos he was a Goody really), having an unexplained gritty cuddle with Roy - who has forgotten his banjo on this occasion. Next up - Roy Rogers in more familiar pose..... "Hand over yore guns stranger...or I'll sing you a song!"

Whilst lastly - we have The Lone Ranger in classic pose. Never really understood why he was Lonely - as he always had his horse- Silver and great buddy - Tonto around? Odd that.............however, of such stuff are memories made....well over half a century since. My sixpences paid at the Regent Cinema on Saturday mornings were not in vain! johnnybach - with fondest memories...... Those wuz the days............Doncha just love them thar six-guns?

 

[Scott]

I always thought that it was highly unlikely that nobody would recognise LR - just because he had a little mask over his eyes - perhaps he'd been to a party? ......but what do I know?

Do tell Scott.................. We will leave Roy Rogers playing his ukalylee on a horse for a later time!.............. Can't beat the old harsh, gritty realism of Westerns like those , can yuh pardners?............. yee..haaa......johnnybach^&grin

Westerns from the "modern" times like Roy's 1940s 50s leave me cold. I did LIKE Roy as an entertainer especially his racy funny Pecos Bill cartoon for Disney.

The TV series version of The Magnificent Seven with Ron Perlman and the Young Riders series were fun. When we were kids TV was mostly doctors and Westerns.

 

[Scott]

Locally we had Rex Trailer's BOOM TOWN! Rex was cool and my father was friends with him. Rex really was from Texas, could ride, shoot, sing, and do rope tricks plus he flew planes and scuba dove. My "hippie" friend and I ran into him at a local party and we were in awe of our childhood hero.

Rex's character was in the Roy Rogers mold.

 

[binder001]

The early b/w 30 minute and 60 minute Gunsmoke episodes were great shows. They had an edge to them that can actually be a bit shocking to today's TV audience. I lived from week to week to see Matt Dillon clobber some scumbag with that huge, sweeping backhand smack of his. Matt wasn't shy about using his Peacemaker, either.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

Except for that silly idea about "not drawing first"... The original Gunsmoke episode had Matt shot by a faster gunman in a "fair" fight. Anybody knows that is pure hokum. Real gunfights were usually conducted across saloons. The Clint Eastwood movie "Unforgiven" had the best treatments, the arrest of the gunfighter by a half-dozen armed deputies and Gene Hackman's description of the realities of a saloon gunfight. James Arness was an imposing figure of a western marshall though.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Talking of Westerns I caught an episode of Alias Smith and Jones the other night. Had not seen it for over 30 years.

Some may remember the show starring Pete Duel and Ben Murphy. Had forgotten what happened to Duel and Googled him to find he shot himself in 1971.

Loved Deadwood and Lonesome Dove so hope some of the series mentioned are well done.

Regards
Brett

 

[lancer]

Talking of Westerns I caught an episode of Alias Smith and Jones the other night. Had not seen it for over 30 years.

Some may remember the show starring Pete Duel and Ben Murphy. Had forgotten what happened to Duel and Googled him to find he shot himself in 1971.

Loved Deadwood and Lonesome Dove so hope some of the series mentioned are well done.

Regards
Brett

I well remember the show. Duel also had a meaty part as Billy the Kid in the John Wayne western "Chisum". Too bad about his death. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Except for that silly idea about "not drawing first"... The original Gunsmoke episode had Matt shot by a faster gunman in a "fair" fight. Anybody knows that is pure hokum. Real gunfights were usually conducted across saloons. The Clint Eastwood movie "Unforgiven" had the best treatments, the arrest of the gunfighter by a half-dozen armed deputies and Gene Hackman's description of the realities of a saloon gunfight. James Arness was an imposing figure of a western marshall though.

I have a great like for "Unforgiven". Just a terrific show that doesn't care much for the western myths. Hackman was fantastic as Little Bill. Loved the saloon shootout sequence and Hackman's stunned realization that he is going to die. As he lay on the floor, shot, he says "I don't deserve this." Eastwood just looks down at him and says "Deserves got nothing to do with it." as he raises the Spencer to finish Hackman off. A great scene, a great movie. -- Al

 

[johnnybach]

This thread re-ignited my old passion for the short western films of my childhood - so it was with great surprise that when nostalgically looking up details for "Hoppy" (Hopalong Cassidy) - I came across these little beauties from Timpo - a manufacturer no longer making them.


Aren't they great - needless to say - I will have my eyes open for these from now on! johnnybach

 

[maddadicus]

Open Range with Kevin Costner and Bob Duval is easily my favorite Western. The original True Grit, High Noon, and just about any cavalry vs Indians plot...are sentimental keepers..Michael

 

[lancer]

Open Range with Kevin Costner and Bob Duval is easily my favorite Western. The original True Grit, High Noon, and just about any cavalry vs Indians plot...are sentimental keepers..Michael

People will say what they want to about Kevin Costner, but the man has made some great westerns. He hasn't made a bad one, IMO, with only Wyatt Earp being a little long. Open Range is his best, but Silverado and Dances With Wolves are great shows, as well. I like his baseball movies, too.:wink2:^&grin -- Al