IT HAD A DAMAGED DISK BUT I SENT AN E-MAIL AND THEY MAILED ANOTHER ONE OUT AND TOLD ME HOW TO SEND THE DAMAGED ONE BACK.
I WAS HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS WERE HANDLED.
A Western Saga With Heart
The Guns of Will Sonnett is one of the best "unknown" western series ever produced on TV. Walter Brennan (best known from his movie roles and as a regular on TV's "The Real McCoys") is an absolute revelation in the lead role of Will Sonnett, the father who, with his grandson, is searching for his son, "James," a gunfighter.
The series only ran from 1967-1969 and was one of the first produced by now TV-mogul Aaron Spelling. Each half-hour episode began with Brennan reciting a western ballad-like narration of the premise:
"We search for a man named Jim Sonnett,
and the legends folks tell may be true;
Most call him gunman and killer,
He's my son who I hardly knew.
I raised Jim's son from the craddle,
'til the day he said to me,
'I have to go find my father,'
And I 'reckonned,
that's how it should be;
So we ride,
Jim's boy and me."
Will's grandson, Jeff, is portrayed superbly by Dack Rambo, (who died tragically in the 1990's from AIDS.) In the show, Jeff had never met his father, portrayed throughout the series by Jason Evers. Jim Sonnett sent his infant son to live with his father, Will Sonnett, on an Army base where Will had worked as a Scout. A note penned to the baby from Jim told his father that few people have an opportunity for a second chance -- in this instance, to raise a child well.
Will's character is tortured by shortcomings as a father to Jim and blames himself for the "career" his only son chose and from leaving home and striking out on his own at a very young age. As a scout, Will was away from home much of the time, especially after his wife was killed by Indians. One day he returned to the fort to find that his young son, Jim, had left never to return.
An episode in the first-season set, "Alone," is a tour-de-force for Brennan who suffers a grazing gunshot wound to the head and imagines his reunion with Jim, and acts out all of the associated guilt he had felt for decades.
The series follows Will and Jeff as they look for the elusive Jim. While Jim is a fast draw, Jeff is faster and Will is the fastest, but neither man look for trouble. Jeff is innocent, while Will is tough as nails but has a heart of gold. Will's catch phrase, "No brag, just fact," became the mantra of the show over it's short run. Will and Jeff have a strong love for each other that is rarely depicted on TV between male family members, especially in westerns.
Along the way, the two encounter many whose lives were touched, some for good but most for bad, by Jim Sonnett or his legend. By the end of each episode, many wrongs have been righted, and a clearer picture of Jim's character emerges -- he's not a killer, but a man of integrity forced to defend his life by a never-ending series of gunslinging challengers.
Jeff must also contend with the stigma of having a notorious father and last name, which helps him grow up but maintain the human values instilled by his grandfather, Will.
The duo never find the illusive James during the show's short run, but that fails to diminish any of the power of this series or its viewing enjoyment decades later.
It remains the only Western series to end with a western trail poem recited by Brennan summarizing the blessings or challenges the two encountered in the episode; a western "sonnet," if you will.
If you enjoy good stories, great acting and western action and have not seen this series, the DVD releases of the entire run should be must see viewing. If you remember this show, no more needs to be said, it is simply a series that must be purchased. No brag; just fact!!!!
Will Sonnett Season Two Unites Three!
The second season set looks quite good as did season one. The picture quality is sharp although some of the graininess of the old 16mm shows up from time to time. One of the best things about this set is that the final episode, "Three Stand Together," is included as a bonus on disc three. This was filmed as not only the conclusion in which Will and Jeff catch up to Jim, but for a possible pilot, with the three Sonnetts standing together as lawmen. However, the show was cancelled after this. The bonus feature on disc one includes a biography on Walter Brennan which is also on the season one set. That was a bummer but at least the two other discs have new bonus material. The Branded season two set has interviews with creator Larry Cohen. I wish someone would have interviewed Jason Evers for this Sonnett release, as he is still alive, though in his early 80's now. Strangely, the cover has a picture of a younger Brennan and is not from "The Guns of Will Sonnett." My only complaint is what it was for the first set of season one--the shows are edited. But then again, we are fortunate to have this well written and well acted series on dvd in any form. Buy it!
I never cease to be amazed at what a misjudged man can do with a broken saber. Calling him a coward is not enough, you must also bother the ladies. This is a character study, a moral play, a religious experience. Watching this series in the 60's helped me prepare for the US Marines in the 70's.
More Info about this DVD Actor(s): William Bryant DVD Release Date: Released the 24 August 2005 Special Order
List Price: $34.98 Your Price: $31.48YOU SAVE $3.5!
Buy it
Episode for episode, the second season of Have Gun, Will Travel (1958-59) is even better than the first. With a bona fide hit on their hands, CBS didn't mess with success, and these 39 episodes pushed ratings even higher with sharp direction (mostly by first-season veteran Andrew V. McLaglen), a wide variety of attention-grabbing plots, and intelligent, sensible dialogue. All of the first season's strengths are carried over, and while 41-year-old star Richard Boone (as the refined gunslinger-for-hire Paladin) is rarely given a serious test of his talents, he commands his role with depth, humor, and impressive displays of physical agility. (By comparison, series regular Kam Tong had almost nothing to do this season; he's relegated to routine duty as Paladin's Chinese hotel valet... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Richard Boone DVD Release Date: Released the 10 May 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $44.99 Your Price: $35.99YOU SAVE $9!
Buy it
The uniquely cool talent that propelled Steve McQueen to movie stardom is fully evident in the debut season of Wanted: Dead or Alive. Having just boosted his big-screen potential with a starring role in The Blob, 28-year-old McQueen was reluctant to accept the role of bounty hunter Josh Randall in this trend-setting series; he balked at the demanding schedule and thought himself too contemporary for a Western series, but the producers (including Four Star Productions cofounders Dick Powell and Ida Lupino) were convinced that McQueen was perfect for the role, and the still-struggling actor couldn't refuse a $750-per-week salary. Once committed, McQueen developed Randall into an antihero with conflicting qualities of danger and compassion: With his infamous "Mare's Leg" (an... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Steve Mcqueen DVD Release Date: Released the 07 June 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $39.92 Your Price: $31.94YOU SAVE $7.98!
Buy it
What a shame.
The company that transfered these episodes to DVD should be "Branded" for doing such a poor job.
The sound is bodged into a strange 5.1 effect and on my DVD player the episodes show no run time or chapters (except bonus items which have a onscreen DOG (Digital Onscreen Graphic)).
Episodes seem cut and even a part of the end credits is cut from every episode (near credits end).
Bonus episode of Rifleman is cut badly at the point a chicken is killed. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Chuck Conners DVD Release Date: Released the 24 August 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $28.00 Your Price: $25.20YOU SAVE $2.8!
Buy it
All I can say is: It's about time Clint Walker's Cheyenne has come to DVD- too long a wait. All 3 episodes were very good picks. Top quality reproduction. I can tell they are all complete. A lot of people have forgotten in the series closing seasons, Cheyenne became "The Cheyenne Show" which first rotated Cheyenne one week and Bronco the next instead of them having their own weekly shows. Even Sugarfoot was added I believe in the final year. This DVD is great and I strongly suggest that complete seasons of this series be released onto DVD A.S.A.P. I rate this disc as a great sampler. Clint Walker has been well remembered by me as one of the top western heroes of the late "50's-'60's era, and the series western stories are timeless. Bring them on. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Leslie H. Martinson - George Waggner - Irving J. Moore - James P. Yarbrough - Herbert L. Strock DVD Release Date: Released the 27 September 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $9.97 Your Price: $9.97YOU SAVE $0!
Buy it
